Alberto Contador, Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 16 ITT

Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Alberto Contador won his second stage of this year's Giro d'Italia by storming to a convincing win on stage 16's individual time trial on Tuesday.

The Spaniard recorded only the 14th best time at the intermediate split, 13 seconds slower than Liquigas's Vincenzo Nibali, but as the road steepened, the Saxo Bank leader brought his superior climbing skills into play and tapped out a 34-second lead over Nibali by the finish.

Movistar's Branislau Samoilau set a decent marker for the 12.7km stage of 29-54, which held up for some time, but as the bigger names started to come home, led by HTC's Marco Pinotti - the man who had worn the race's first pink leader's jersey more than two weeks ago - who bested Samoilau by just a second.

But it was short-lived as Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone), clad in a green skinsuit as leader of the mountains competition, set a new best time of 29-41.

The race's best young rider, Astana's Roman Kreuziger, then went close, but Garzelli's time was only beaten by Jose Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) - by seven seconds - who was one of only a handful of riders to plump for clip-on tri bars, with riders choosing to ride road bikes rather than their time-trial bikes due to the amount of climbing on the stage.

Nibali then dipped just inside Rujano's time by five seconds, followed by Lampre's Michele Scarponi, who wasn't quite able to better his compatriot's time.

Top British finisher was David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) in 24th, 1-56 behind Contador. 

Last man out Contador, in his pink babygro-esque leader's skinsuit, looked way out of contention at the intermediate split but, like Rujano, charged up the hill to make up the deficit, and consolidated his lead in this Giro, now leading Scarponi by almost five miniutes, with Nibali in third, 5-45 down.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 16: Belluno-Nevegal, 12.7km TT

1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard in 28-55

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 34 secs

3. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 38 secs

4. Jose Rujano (Ven) Androni Giocattoli at 39 secs

5. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua e Sapone at 46 secs

6. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 49 secs

7. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC at 52 secs

8. Marco Pinotti (Ita) HTC-Highroad at 58 secs

9. Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Movistar at 59 secs

10. Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Acqua e Sapone at 1-04

Other

24. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Cervelo at 1-56

65. Peter Kennaugh (GB) Sky at 3-06

113. Russell Downing (GB) Sky at 4-04

Overall classification after stage 16

1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard in 62-43-37

2. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 4-58

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 5-45

4. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale at 7-35

5. Jose Rujano (Ven) Androni Giocattoli at 9-18

6. Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 9-22

7. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC at 9-38

8. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 9-47

9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 10-25

10. Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 10-58

Other

70. Peter Kennaugh (GB) Sky at 1-35-18

104. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Cervelo at 2-08-19

147. Russell Downing (GB) Sky at 2-43-28

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Russell Downing, Giro d

Russell Downing

David Millar, Giro d

David Millar

Vincenzo Nibali, Giro d

Vincenzo Nibali

Alberto Contador, Giro d

Alberto Contador asserted his position at the top of the overall classification with a second stage win

Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 24)

Controversial Crostis climb removed from Giro route

Sky leader Lofkvist loses more time at the Giro

Giro contenders struggle with Contador's dominance

Contador widens Giro advantage but Tour doping case waits

Porte reflects, one year after Giro success

Le Mevel goes on attack for Giro's pink jersey

Giro fines Contador for missing press conference

Cavendish responds to 'team car' accusations at Giro

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 15)

Giro's Sicilian cyclists proud to face Mount Etna

Contador surprises at Giro with attack ahead of mountains

Contador minds food at Giro as CAS decision nears

Weening supported by Rabobank and model Kroes

Local lad Appollonio bears fruit in Fiuggi

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 12 edition)

Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour

Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia

Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro

Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt

Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt

Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash

Giro news shorts (May 8)

Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow

Giro 2011: Who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage 15: Nieve wins mountain marathon as Contador continues at the top

Stage 14: Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened stage

Stage 13: Contador consolidates Giro overall as Rujano takes stage

Stage 12: Cavendish holds off Appollonio to take second victory

Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win

Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account

Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead

Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win

Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker

Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia stage 16 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 13 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 11 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

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