Cycling: Weening wins to take lead in Giro

(AP)

The Netherlands' Pieter Weening produced an outstanding solo performance to claim victory on stage five of the Giro d'Italia and move to the top of the general classification.

The Rabobank rider perfectly timed his push for the line with little under 10 kilometres to go and managed to hold off the chasing pack to take over the pink jersey from David Millar after the 191km run from Piombino to Orvieto.

The British rider endured a tough day after he fell while competing for one of the intermediary sprints. The Garmin-Cervelo man did well to get back up to the peloton, but was left behind and lost three minutes.

BMC's Martin Kohler had led for most of the day as the field returned to racing following yesterday's ceremonial procession in the wake of the death of Wouter Weylandt on Monday.

Kohler forged a solo breakaway after just 12km, but Weening and John Gadret managed to haul the Swiss in as he tired in the final 10km. Weening launched his push for the win and, despite struggling during the steep final climb, held off Fabio Duarte and Jose Serpa to finish eight seconds clear.