Italy's Stefano Garzelli snatched victory in the Tirreno-Adriatico on Tuesday after finishing on the same overall time as last-year's winner Michele Scarponi but prevailing because of stage placings.

Only two seconds separated the pair heading into the seventh and final stage from Civitanova Marche to San Benedetto del Tronto but Acqua & Sapone's Garzelli drew level in the intermediate sprints before securing his triumph.

The 36-year-old's success is his first major victory since winning the 2000 Giro d'Italia.

Androni Giocattoli rider Scarponi held the race lead since the fourth stage of Italy's first big race of the season and continued to compete despite a bad crash on stage five.

World champion Cadel Evans of Australia was third overall.

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen took the final stage of the week-long race in a high-speed finish along the palm tree-lined promenade of San Benedetto del Tronto on Italy's eastern Adriatic coast.

Britain's Mark Cavendish was involved in one of two heavy crashes as the tightly-packed peloton flew down the flat, wide roads.

Many of the riders will now move on to the Milan-San Remo on Saturday, where Lance Armstong has confirmed he will race but big rival Alberto Contador will not compete.

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