Nibali wins stage; Horner maintains Tirreno lead

PRATI DI TIVO, Italy (AP) -- Italian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali won the toughest stage of the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race Sunday with an impressive solo breakaway on the uphill finish, while 40-year-old American Chris Horner retained his overall lead.

After Horner accelerated, Nibali made his mover with 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to go and opened a gap over the five-man chase group.

Nibali was timed in 5 hours, 46 minutes, 33 seconds over the 196-kilometer (121.8-mile) leg from Martinsicuro to Prati di Tivo, a ski resort in central Italy.

Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic was 16 seconds back in second place. Horner was third.

Horner leads Kreuziger by 5 seconds in the overall standings with two stages remaining.