Michele Scarponi won the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia in a sprint yesterday after a long breakaway, and Denis Menchov of Russia held on to the overall leader's pink jersey.

Scarponi, an Italian with the Diquigiovanni team, clocked 4 hours, 7 minutes, 41 seconds over the 182-kilometer (113-mile) leg from Sulmona to Benevento.

Felix Rafael Cardenas of Colombia finished second and Danny Pate of the United States was third, both with the same time as Scarponi.

"It was a pretty comfortable sprint," Scarponi said. "I even had time to zip up my jersey."

Scarponi also won the sixth stage in Mayrhofen Im Zillertal, Austria.

"It's more emotional in Italy," he said.

In March, Scarponi won the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race for his first victory since serving an 18-month ban for involvement in the Spanish doping scandal Operation Puerto.

All of the overall leaders - as well as seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong - crossed with the main pack, 3:37 after Scarponi.

Menchov retained a 26-second lead over Danilo Di Luca in the overall standings, with Franco Pellizotti third, 2:00 back.

Armstrong remained 12th overall, 12:17 behind Menchov

Menchov could virtually seal overall victory with a strong showing in the race's final uphill finish today to Mount Vesuvius. The Giro ends Sunday with a short individual time trial in Rome.

Scarponi averaged a relatively fast 44 kph (27 mph).