Scarponi grabs second win of 2009 Giro d'Italia

ITALY'S Michele Scarponi has captured his second stage win of the Giro d'Italia as he outpaced Felix Cardenas just metres from the line to snatch victory in Benevento.

The 29-year-old, who secured his first Grand Tour win in stage six, clung to Garmin Danny Pate's wheel and struck in the closing 100m to win by a length.

It marks a significant U-turn in fortunes for the Diquigiovanni rider, who was implicated in the Operación Puerto doping scandal in 2007.

There was no change to the top of the overall classification as the Rabobank team of maglia rosa Denis Menchov led the Russian home, four minutes behind Scarponi.

Scarponi was part of an early breakaway pack that was reduced to seven as they entered the closing kilometre of the difficult finishing circuit in Benevento.

Belgium's Dries Devenyns was the first to make a break but he was reeled in by Cardenas, who drew with him Pate to within striking distance.

But Scarponi tracked the chasing pack and burst towards the line in the final metres to become the fifth man to win more than one stage of the 2009 Giro.

Tomorrow, the peleton head back to the mountains for an explosive 164km-stage that begins at Avellino and ends at Mount Vesuvius.