Cadel Evans hangs on to second in Giro

VIDEO: RAMUNAS Navardauskas won the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia, while overall leader Vincenzo Nibali stayed ahead of Cadel Evans.

RAMUNAS Navardauskas won the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia, while overall leader Vincenzo Nibali kept his 41-second buffer over Cadel Evans.

Lithuanian Navardauskas pulled clear of escape companion Daniel Oss 5km from home on a steep climb to win the stage, a 182km ride from Tarvisio to Vajont, by more than a minute.

Italian Nibali kept hold of the leader's pink jersey ahead of 2011 Tour de France winner Evans.

The main peloton, including Nibali, Evans and Britain's 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, came across the line just under six minutes off the winner's pace.

Nibali said his day's riding had been "tranquil".

"We needed it. We arrive late at the hotel after the transfers," he said.

"If I have the chance to take more time, I'll do it.

"...It's not the first time I've had to handle a lead like this. I won the 2010 Vuelta as a favourite.

"The Giro still has a long way to go and I realise I've got to keep my feet on the ground but I'm definitely more aware of my abilities compared to then.

"The team worked great today, they set the pace the entire stage."

After an extremely rapid start to the stage, with 53.5km covered in the first hour, a group of 20 riders broke away at the 71km mark.

German Patrick Gretsch led down the first descent, 50km from the finish, but he was reeled back in by Navardauskas and Oss a further 30km down the road.

The 25-year-old Lithuanian pulled away in the steep climb up towards Vajont for his first stage win on the Giro.

Tonight's 12th stage has the riders tackle a 134km course from Longarone to Treviso, featuring a 400m run-in to the finish line.