Petacchi on the double

The Milram sprint star pipped Norway's Thor Hushovd and Italian compatriots Paolo Bettini and Danilo Napolitano to claim stage seven in a mass sprint.

Earlier in the week Petacchi won the third stage of the Tour of Italy.

The third-place proved a huge disappointment for world champion Paolo Bettini, whose Quick Step team rode at the front of the peloton for much of the 254-kilometre stage from Spoleto to Scarperia.

Italy's Marco Pinotti finished in the same time as Petacchi and so retained the overall race lead. Switzerland's Hubert Schwab is second, three minutes 30 seconds behind, with Danilo Di Luca of Italy third at 4:12.

Petacchi had a perfect lead out from his team mates and then sprinted at 70 kph up the finishing straight, where motorcycles usually race at 300 kph.

"I've never won a stage that is 250km long but I've shown I've still got great sprint," Petacchi said.

"The finish was on a motor racing circuit and I like sprinting at high speed but the funny thing is I'm actually scared of motorbikes.

"It's a year since I broke my kneecap in a bad crash at the Giro and the worst seems to be over. It was hard to come back at first but now I feel like I'm sprinting like I used to.

"It was hard today because it was a long stage with a climb near the finish but I was suffering less than other sprinters. I know I have to lead out the sprint and then not fade before the finish line if I want to win the big sprints."

It was Petacchi's 21st stage victory in the Giro and the 123rd victory of his 12-year professional career.

"I want to dedicate this victory to my team mates because they gave me a perfect lead out and especially to my usual lead-out man Marco Velo who is at home with several broken bones after a nasty crash," he said.

"The team has believed in me all season despite my problems and now I'm paying them back and getting better and better."

Petacchi could use his powerful sprint to win again at the end of Sunday's 200-km eighth stage from Barberino di Mugello to Fiorano Modenese near the Ferrari sportscar factory.