Zanini takes Saturday stage

The seventh stage saw a great sprint finish

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Italy's Stefano Zanini sprinted to victory in Saturday's seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia.

The 239-kilometre (149-mile) stage was the longest of the race and Zanini showed great stamina to outsprint compatriot Gabriele Missaglia and Germany's Jan Ullrich in the final straight.

Since the good weather came back it's all changed for me

  Jan Ullrich, second on the stage

Ullrich said before the Giro that he was using the race merely to prepare for the Tour de France, but on Saturday he said he was delighted with his performance.

"When I saw the course for this stage I did not think I would be able to stay in touch with the best climbers," said the German.

"At the beginning of the Giro I was a long way from being 100%. But now it's better, much better. Since the good weather came back it's all changed for me."

Dario Frigo retained his 12-second overall lead, crossing the finish line in the central town of Montevarchi with the leading group.

Davide Rebellin and defending champion Stefano Garzelli tried to break away from the pack with 19 miles remaining.

And despite gaining a 26-second lead at one point, the chasing group soon caught up on the final decline.

Germany's Mathias Kessler and Italy's Wladimir Belli finished fourth and fifth respectively in the leading group of some 30 racers.

In general classification, Fassa Bortolo rider Frigo leads Spaniard Abraham Olano by 12 seconds with third-placed Gilberto Simoni a further second behind.

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1 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei 6hrs 48min 02sec

2 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) same time

3 Jan Ullrich (Ger) s.t

4 Matthias Kessler (Ger) s.t.

5 Wladimir Belli (Ita) s.t

6 Mickael Pichon (Fra) s.t

7 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) s.t

8 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) s.t.

9 Davide Rebellin (Ita) s.t

10 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) s.t.