Spain's Angel Vicioso was second and German Paul Martens third, while Italian Luca Paolini retained the overall leader's pink jersey.

As the crash occurred in the last three kilometres of the 203 kilometre stage from Cosenza to Matera, Britain's Sir Bradley Wiggins, the pre-race favourite, was credited back the time he lost and stayed sixth overall in an unchanged top 10.

It was Degenkolb's Argos-Shimano team-mate Luka Mezgec who caused the crash, hitting the tarmac on a newly painted zebra crossing coming out of the final bend.

Degenkolb, winner of five stages on last year's Vuelta, showed remarkable bike-handling skills to avoid hitting the deck - and after one look back to survey the devastation in his wake, he set off in pursuit of the unlikely lone leader.

"My lead-out man crashed and there was just one guy in front," said Degenkolb after his first win of the season.

"I looked back and saw just [Italian Elia] Viviani behind and so I went full gas to catch the rider from Bardiani [Italy's Marco Canola]."

Sir Bradley's Team Sky team-mate Rigoberto Uran retained his second place overall despite puncturing 14km from the finish.

The Colombian managed to fight back into the peloton in time for the dramatic finale - and stays 17 seconds down on Paolini.

Degenkolb will be in the red points jersey when the race continues tomorrow with the flat 169km stage six along the Adriatic Coast from Mola di Bari to Margherita di Savoia in Puglia.

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