Home favourite Gianluca Brambilla seized the Giro d'Italia leader's jersey from Tom Dumoulin after a brilliant ride on stage eight in Umbria on Saturday.
Starting one minute and 56 seconds behind Dutchman Dumoulin at the start of the 186km stage from Foligno to Arezzo, Etixx Quick Step rider Brambilla was rewarded for an audacious attack.
Part of an 11-man breakaway group, the Italian surged away before the Alpe di Poti and powered to the line, 1:06 ahead of compatriot Matteo Montaguti.
On a day of searing pace, Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) had a torrid day and suffered badly on the dirt roads on the day's final climb, losing touch with a group that included pre-race favourites Vincenzo Nibali, Michel Landa and Alejandro Valverde.
Brambilla, who celebrated his first Grand Tour stage win, now leads by 23 seconds from Russian Ilnur Zakarin and will try and hang on to the pink jersey (Maglia Rosa) in Sunday's 40.5km individual time trial.
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