Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) claimed his second stage-win at this year’s Giro D’Italia beating Marzio Bruseghin in a sprint on Thursday. The German wore the pink jersey for two days after winning Stage Three in the race’s opening week.

Schumacher beat four breakaway rivals in a sprint finish to win Stage 18.

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 hadGir to work hard in the breakaway that formed after 50 km of Thursday’s 207-km stage and then controlled several attacks before beating Italy’s Marzio Bruseghin to the line.

It was Schumacher’s 11th win of his five-year career.

“This is my first major stage race but it’s been incredible,” he said.

“I’ve won two stages and worn the leader’s pink jersey for two days. I couldn’t ask for more.

“This stage was much harder than in Namur because it was a tough mountain stage. We rode very hard to get a gap on the peloton and then there were a lot of attacks in the final kilometres. Luckily things went my way.”

The Giro now heads into the high mountains for the two decisive stages of this year’s race.

Friday’s 224-km 19th stage is from Pordenone to the summit of the Passo di San Pellegrino in the heart of the Dolomite mountains and includes three other major climbs.

Saturday’s 211-km 20th stage from Trento to Aprica goes over the 2,618 metre high Passo di Gavia, the highest climb in this year’s Giro, and the steep Passo del Mortirolo.

“I’ve got a five-minute lead but I’m worried about these final two mountain stages,” race leader Basso told reporters.

“I hope I’m as strong as I’ve been in the last two weeks so that I can respond to any attacks from my rivals.”