QuickStep’s Servais Knaven claimed the fifth stage of the week-long Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in style in Saltara, Italy, on Sunday.

Spain's reigning world road race champion Oscar Freire of the Rabobank team retained the overall lead ahead of Tuesday's final stage, having won the three previous stages.

The 34-year-old Knaven, the 2001 winner of Paris-Roubaix, claimed his first victory of the season after seeing his brave attack 25km into the 170km race, which started and ended in Saltara, come to fruition. The Dutchman was soon joined by four riders and together they went on to build a decisive lead on the peloton. With less than 10km to the finish, however, Knaven upped the pace again and left his companions trailing.

CSC's Andrea Peron came over the finish line in second place after holding off Czech rider Pavel Padrnos of Discovery Channel.

Freire was happy to have a relatively relaxing day in the saddle. None of the escapees were a threat to his lead, and he ambled over the finish line with the bunch around two minutes behind Knaven.

The 29-year-old Spaniard will now hope for more of the same in Monday's 164km stage which starts and ends in Civitanova Marche.

In the event of overall victory in Tuesday's final stage Freire would bump American Bobby Julich from the top of the ProTour rankings.

Julich leads the UCI’s newly-introduced series on 50 points after winning Paris-Nice on Sunday; however Freire would take over the Pro Tour leader's jersey as he has also won three stages in this race, which would give him a total of at least 53 points, were he to take the overall title.