Italian Stefano Garzelli increased his overall lead in the Giro d'Italia after winning the fifth stage on Friday.

Garzelli, aided by his Mapei team-mates who turned up the pace over the final 15km, sprinted home from 300m out to take his second stage win of the Giro.

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He led home Spaniard Santiago Perez Fernandez of the Kelme team and Italian Gilberto Simoni of Saeco.

Garzelli boosted his overall lead to 43 seconds ahead of Italian Francesco Casagrande and a minute clear of Simoni.

But contenders Dario Frigo (Tacconi Sport) and Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) both lost time, with Pantani arriving at the finish seven minutes after Garzelli.

"My goal was to finish with the top riders and possibly achieve another stage win. I must say it was a positive day for me," Garzelli said.

But Pantani was less than satisfied with his effort: "i'm not really on top of my form right now. The pace is too quick for me and my legs just couldn't follow."

The stage was the first to be held inside Italy with other stages contested on foreign soil.

Saturday's sixth stage takes the Giro to the Mediterranean resort of Varezze.

Stage Five results:
Fossano to Limone Piemonte, 150km

1. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mapei 3hr 46min 45sec
2. Santiago Perez (Spa) same time
3. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) same time
4. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) same time
5. Vladimir Belli (Ita) at 7sec
6. Fernando Escartin (Spa) at 7 secs
7. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) at 9
8. Ivan Gotti (Ita) same time
9. Tyler Hamilton (USA) same time
10. Michele Scarponi (Ita) at 14

Overall standings:

1. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 26hr 21min 28sec
2. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) at 43 secs
3. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) 1min
4. Santiago Perez (Spa) 1min 3sec
5. Wladimir Belli (Ita) 1min 6sec
6. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) 1min 10sec
7. Fernando Escartin (Spa) 1min 11sec
8. Tyler Hamilton (USA) 1min 13sec
9. Cadel Evans (Aus) 1min 14sec
10. Davide Rebellin (Ita) 1min 19sec