Cipollini's victory was his 41st stage win in the event Latest photos from Italy

Australia's Robbie McEwen finished the 214km in second spot while Italy's Alessandro Petacchi was third.

Stefano Garzelli, another Italian, retained the overall lead after finishing with the same time as the stage winner.

Cipollini's victory equalled the late Alfredo Binda's record of 41 stage wins in the Giro, set in 1933.

"At last I've achieved the record," said Cipollini.

"This is the most important victory of my career. I've proved that, despite age and questionable form, I still can win sprints.

"I beat the two best sprinters of the moment. Now I'm looking forward to other stage wins."

The win also maintained his run of claiming at least one stage in every Giro he has competed in.

Cipollini had struggled earlier in the event, losing two head-to-head sprints with Petacchi.

The 36-year-old had even hinted at retirement after Petacchi took his third victory of the race in Friday's sixth stage.

Monday's ninth stage of 160km from Arezzo to Montecatini Terme is expected to suit the sprinters.

Stage eight results

1 Mario Cipollini (Ita) 5hrs 29mins 46secs
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) same time
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) same time
4 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) same time
5 Isaac Galvez (Spa) same time
6 Andris Nauduzs (Lat) same time
7 Jan Svorada (Cze) same time
8 Angelo Furlan (Ita) same time
9 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) same time
10 Crescenzo D'Amore (Ita) same time

Selected others

100 Charles Wegelius (Gbr), + 10secs
153 Julian Winn (Gbr), + 50secs
160 Bradley Wiggins (Gbr), + 1:07

Overall standings

1 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 37hrs 09mins 10secs
2 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) + 31secs
3 Andrea Noe (Ita) + 54secs
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) + 1:36
5 Marius Sabaliauskas (Ltu) + 1:38
6 Pavel Tonkov (Rus) + 1:50
7 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) + 1:56
8 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) + 2:04
9 Georg Totschnig (Aut) + 2:26
10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) + 3:12

Selected others