Intro:

Nacer Bouhanni clinched his second stage win in this year's Giro d'Italia on Friday (May 16th), leading the field in a bunch sprint at the end of stage seven.

Script:

After Thursday's rain-soaked and accident-packed sixth stage, the dry conditions on Friday were a welcome sight for the field in the Giro d'Italia.

The 211-kilometre seventh stage from Frosinone to Foligno awaited them, and five riders soon pulled clear on the day's first climb.

The group, which included Bjorn Thurau, Robinson Chalapud, Winner Anacona, Nathan Haas and Nicola Boem attacked the peloton and led by as many as nine minutes before their advantage was gradually eroded.

The Orica Greenedge team-mate of overall leader Michael Matthews kept up the pace on the front of the peloton and the escapees were eventually caught with just under three kilometres to go.

The stage climaxed with a bunch sprint and Nacer Bouhanni took the day's honours, beating Italy's Giacomo Nizzolo across the finishing line by a matter of inches.

Frenchman Bouhanni's second stage win in four days - following his stage four success on Tuesday - came in a time of five hours, 16 minutes and five seconds.

Slovenia's Luka Mezgec finished the stage in third place, while Matthews took fourth to maintain his advantage over fellow Australian Cadel Evans in the general classification.