Australia's Simon Clarke sits in fourth spot after the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico race in Italy.
Zdenek Stybar of the Czech Republic timed his attack to perfection to win the stage and move into an overall lead of nine seconds on Thursday.
The Czech rider went clear at the top of the tricky final climb, opening up a gap on the short descent and holding off the chasing pack to win the 207km stage from Camaiore to Pomarance.
Peter Sagan of Slovakia was second, leading home an elite group of chasers finishing a second behind Stybar. Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway was third.
Local favourite Diego Ulissi attacked on the slopes of Il Cerreto but he was reeled in and passed by Stybar near the summit.
Vincenzo Nibali gave chase in the final kilometre but was unable to bridge the gap and the Italian was swallowed up by the peloton in the sprint to the line.
American squad BMC Racing won the opening team trial stage on Wednesday to put Daniel Oss into the leader's blue jersey but the 10-second stage winner's time bonus saw Stybar take over the overall lead.
The Etixx-Quick-Step rider has an advantage of nine seconds over Oss' teammates, Greg Van Avermaet and Tejay van Garderen.
The seven-day Tirreno-Adriatico continues on Friday with a 176km ride from Castelnuovo Val di Cecina to Montalto di Castro.
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