The Dutch rider, who competes for Team Sunweb, launched a solo attack on the only categorised climb of the day.

She caught compatriot Janneke Ensing and then Ukraine’s Tatiana Riabchenko, who had broken clear earlier on the 141 kilometres stage, which began in Baronissi.

Brand joined and passed Riabchenko as the race entered the final three kilometres to appear on course for victory.

A crash threatened the outcome but she got back on her bike to cross the line in a winning time of 3 hours 46min 10sec.

Riabchenko ended 12 seconds behind as the runner-up.

"We have fought so hard and have been really close to a result all week so it’s brilliant to win today on such a difficult stage," Brand told the Team Sunweb website.

"When you come close all of the time it only makes you more motivated and hungrier for the win.

"I knew that the final really suited me with the descent so I knew that I had to go for it.

"I felt really good all day and on the climb I decided to try to get away and chase the other breakaway riders down.

"I had great support from the team all day so it’s really an amazing victory on one of the hardest stages of the Giro Rosa."

The general classification was unchanged, with last year’s winner Megan Guarnier of the United States leading the main contenders over the line 1:03 down.

Anna van der Breggen remains in the leader’s jersey.

The Dutchwoman, riding for Boels–Dolmans, is 1:03 clear overall of Italy's Elisa Longo-Borghini.

Annemiek van Vleuten is third, with the Dutch rider 1:39 down.

The International Cycling Union Women’s WorldTour race is due to continue tomorrow with a 122km stage from Palinuro to Polla.

The Valcar-PBM team have also confirmed their cyclist Claudia Cretti has undergone surgery on serious head and shoulder injuries.

The Italian crashed on yesterday’s stage and has now been placed in an induced coma, with the team revealing she is in a critical but stable condition.