Bronzini, who has announced her plans to retire after this year’s International Cycling Union (UCI) Road World Championships in Doha, was one of a host of sprinters eyeing victory at the end of the penultimate stage of the race.

A group of nine riders were aiming to prevent the sprint having broken away after nearly half of the 99 kilometres course, which began in Rescaldina.

The move failed to pose a threat to the lead of Boels Dolmans’ American rider Guarnier, but after the leading group was reduced to four riders in the closing stages, the peloton closed in.

After catching the group, a sprint finish became a formality with Bronzini surging to a win in a time of 2 hours 28min 48sec.

The 32-year-old, winner of the 2010 and 2011 Road World Championships, celebrated her second victory of the race having also won stage one.

Bronzini was followed over the line by her fellow Italians Marta Bastianelli and Maria Giulia Confalonieri, the duo completing the top three on the same time as the winner.

After finishing safely in the bunch, Guarnier retained her overall lead and remains 34 seconds clear of her Boels Dolmans team-mate and fellow American Evelyn Stevens.

Defending champion Anna Van Der Breggen remains third, with the Dutch rider 1:34 adrift of Guarnier.

The race, part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, is due to conclude tomorrow with a 105km stage in Verbania.