Bertolini sprinted clear to win the stage by five seconds

Giro d'Italia leader Giovanni Visconti was taken to hospital for X-rays on his left elbow and right wrist after crashing during the 11th stage.

Visconti fell in the rain with 30km to go but managed to finish in the peloton and retain the overall race lead.

Fellow Italian Allesandro Bertolini took the stage win, finishing five seconds ahead of Spain's Pablo Lastras.

David Millar was the first British rider home, finishing in the main pack with Geraint Thomas and Steve Cummings.

Millar was the 56th rider over the line, quickly followed by Barloworld duo Thomas and Cummings who were 69th and 70th.

Of the other British riders, Charles Wegelius was 76th, Mark Cavendish - who turned 23 years old today - was 150th and Bradley Wiggins was 157th.

Bertolini, Lastras and Fortunato Baliani had been part of a five-man breakaway that dominated a wet 199km stage from its start - in Urbania - to its finish - in Cesena.

That trio escaped near the end but Baliani crashed in the last turn - hampering Lastras, who had repeatedly tried to break away himself, and allowing Bertolini to triumph.

It was the 36-year-old's first stage win in the Giro in 16 years as a professional.

Not so fortunate was Barloworld rider Mauricio Soler, who was forced to retire halfway through the stage by pain from a hand fracture sustained in a fall on Sunday.

Thursday's 12th stage is a flat 172km ride from Forl� to Carpi and is expected to be ideal for sprinters.

Giro d'Italia stage 11 results:
1. Alessandro Bertolini (It) 5hr 44min 22sec
2. Pablo Lastras (Sp) @ 5 secs
3. Fortunato Baliani (It) @ 15"
4. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (It) @ 41"
5. Laurent Mangel (Fr) @ 1:33"
6. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) @ 1:33"
7. Daniele Bennati (It) @ 3:53"
8. Erik Zabel (Ger) @ 3:53"
9. Mirco Lorenzetto (It) @ 3:53"
10. Davide Rebellin (It) @ 3:53"

General classification:

1. Giovanni Visconti (It) 49 hrs 17 secs
2. Gabriele Bosisio (It) @ 5:50
3. Alberto Contador (Sp) @ 6:59
4. Marzio Bruseghin (It) @ 7:52
5. Andreas Kloden (Ger) @ 7:54
6. Vincenzo Nibali (It) @ 8:04
7. Paolo Savoldelli (It) @ 8:09
8. Riccardo Ricco (It) @ 8:32
9. Danilo Di Luca (It) @8:33
10. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) same time

Selected others:
56 David Millar (GB) @ 3mins 53secs
69 Geraint Thomas (GB) same time
70 Steven Cummings (GB) same time
76 Charles Wegelius (GB) @ 5.53
150 Mark Cavendish (GB) @ 21.54
157 Bradley Wiggins (GB) same time

General classification:
1 Giovanni Visconti (It) 49hrs 17secs
2 Gabriele Bosisio (It) @ 5.50
3 Alberto Contador (Sp) @ 6.59
4 Marzio Bruseghin (It) @ 7.52
5 Andreas Kloden (Ger) @ 7.54

Selected others:
77 David Millar (GB) @ 44mins 53secs
111 Geraint Thomas (GB) @ 1.10.34
118 Steven Cummings (GB) @ 1.14.54
124 Charles Wegelius (GB) @ 1.19.03
149 Mark Cavendish (GB) @ 1.38.16
155 Bradley Wiggins (GB) @ 1.42.12