CYCLING: Germany's Stefan Schumacher beat four breakaway rivals in a sprint finish yesterday to win his second stage at the Giro d'Italia.

Italy's Ivan Basso finished in the main peloton, 2:43 behind Schumacher, but retained the overall race lead, 5:43 ahead of second-placed Jose Enrique Gutierrez of Spain.

Gerolsteiner rider Schumacher has won stage three in Namur in Belgium and worn the Giro leader's pink jersey for two days. He had to work hard in the breakaway that formed after 50 km of yesterday's 207-km stage and then controlled several attacks before beating Italy's Marzio Bruseghin to the line.