Russia's Mikhail Ignatiev of the Katusha team won the sixth stage of the 2010 Tirreno - Adriatico on Monday as race leader Michele Scarponi held a narrow advantage heading into the final day.

Stefano Garzelli, second on the stage, cut the gap on fellow Italian and defending champion Scarponi to two seconds but has it all to do in Tuesday's last stage to snatch victory.

World champion Cadel Evans was third on the 135 kilometer run from Montecosaro to Macerata to lie third overall, 12 seconds from Androni Giocattoli's Scarponi.

The race leader took his place in the peloton despite a crash on Sunday which led to him having x-rays on an injured wrist.

Scarponi was passed fit and did well to finish sixth on the stage after Ignatiev sped away from the pack in the tight streets of Macerata near Italy's eastern Adriatic coast.

Cadel Evans and Stefano Garzelli sprint. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.

A splinter group of riders tried to reel in the Russian but it was too late.

The first big race of the Italian season concludes on Tuesday with a 165 kilometer journey from Civitanova Marche to San Benedetto del Tronto.

Several riders will then move on to Saturday's 2010 Milan-San Remo, where Lance Armstrong has confirmed he will take part. Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com to watch video highlights of the 2010 Milan-San Remo on where else but Roadcycling.com.

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