Cycling: Lloyd powers to Giro stage victory

Australia's Matthew Lloyd won stage six of the Giro d'Italia yesterday as Vincenzo Nibali held on to the race leader's pink jersey for a third successive day.

Lloyd, of the Omega Pharma-Lotto team, went clear along with Androni Giocattoli rider Rubens Bertogliati of Switzerland, but attacked on the final climb of the 172 km stage from Fidenza to Marina di Carrara to claim his first major victory.

Italy's Nibali, of the Liquigas team, finished safely in the peloton to retain the maglia rosa with a 13-second lead over compatriot and team-mate Ivan Basso.

Lloyd and Bertogliati broke clear early on in the day and established a lead of more than five minutes midway through the day.

The Australian showed his superior strength on the final climb, the Bedizzano, and attacked with 11km to go. Bertogliati could not respond and finished one minute six seconds behind.