The Australian made an early break with second-placed Rubens Bertogliati and challengers never appeared as he sailed to the line with an advantage of over a minute.

"I'm shocked, it was incredible," the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider told reporters, almost in tears.

"This race was always in my heart. It's a romantic and special thing." The 26-year-old had never come close to winning a stage in a Grand Tour before.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali kept the leader's jersey and remains 13 seconds ahead of Liquigas teammate and 2006 Giro winner Ivan Basso.

Astana's Alexander Vinokourov moved up to fourth overall but stays 33 seconds adrift following the 172-kilometer hilly ride from Fidenza Village to Marina di Carrara on Italy's western coast.

The roads were wet and Britain's Bradley Wiggins, the leader after stage one, was involved in his third crash of the race before picking himself back up.

Saturday's seventh stage from Carrara to Montalcino has had to be altered slightly because of a landslide near the beautiful Tuscan town of Volterra.

The three-week race, missing big names Lance Armstrong and Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, finishes in Verona on May 30.