Countryman Daniele Bennati was second ahead of Germany's Erik Zabel, earning a six-second time bonus in the process.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Cycling | Solo break nets win for Contrini

But McEwen seems to revel in his solo sprinting, catching onto the Telekom train of Erik Zabel and pouncing when the time is right.

BBC: Lotto-Domo

Winning upset the established order of Erik Zabel, Robbie McEwen and Stuart O'Grady, who had been tipped to battle it out for the points prize.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Cycling | Baden Cooke