Piepoli wins; Noe in pink

Saunier Duval rider Piepoli took his third stage win in the Giro, following a double success last year, as he timed his attack on the concluding 8.8km climb to the finish at Notre-Dame de la Garde to perfection.

38-year-old Noe, the oldest man in the race, finished amidst an elite of bunch of riders in 10th place at 52 seconds, and took the maglia rosa after being part of the 22-man group that gained over four minutes on the race favourites in Sunday's stage.

Noe's Liquigas team-mate Danilo Di Luca followed Piepoli over the line, 18 seconds behind, and gained a further 12 bonus seconds to gain valuable time on GC rivals Gilberto Simoni (4th @ 32"), Paolo Savoldelli (6th @ 41") and Damiano Cunego (7th @ 43").

After a hectic opening hour following the early departure from Camaiore, a group of six riders formed - Fortunato Baliani (Panaria), Hubert Dupont (AG2r), Alberto Losada (Caisse d'Epargne), Ivan Parra (Cofidis), George Hincapie (Discovery) and Mauricio Ardila (Rabobank).

They built up a four and half minute lead as they crossed the second category summit of the Passo del Biscia after 144km of the 250km trek.

They split on the third category ascent of Campi, with 35km remaining, with Parra then going alone at the start of the final climb.

But his efforts were thwarted as Piepoli attacked with just under 5km remaining with the 35-year-old having the energy reserves to hold off the fast finishing Di Luca who jumped out of the pack in the final stages of the climb.

Di Luca is now eighth on GC at 2:58, with Noe leading Lampre's Marzio Bruseghin by 1:08.