Brutt wins stage as Pellizotti keeps lead

CONTURSI TERME, Italy (AP) -- Russian Pavel Brutt won the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday, after an early breakaway with four other riders, while Franco Pellizotti retained the overall race lead for a fourth successive day.

Tinkoff rider Brutt sprinted away from his rivals on an incline with about 500 meters remaining, to finish the hilly 203km leg in five hours, four minutes, 52 seconds.

Johannes Frohlinger finished four seconds back, followed by Luis Laverde (10 seconds) and Francisco Perez (25 seconds).

Those four and David Millar rode ahead of the main pack for about 180km until Millar's chain broke with 1km left. Unable to continue, the Briton hurled his bike over the metal barriers and into a field in frustration.

The peloton, which was led in by world champion Paolo Bettini, finished about 30 seconds behind.

Pellizotti remains one second ahead of second-place Christian Vandevelde with an overall time of 21 hours, 46 minutes, 49 seconds. Defending champion Danilo di Luca is seven seconds back in third.

The race continues on Thursday with a 231lm leg from Potenza to Peschici.

Race organizers have cut 34km off the stage, which will still be the longest of the Giro, to give the riders more rest time following some long transfers after the previous stages.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.