Contador lords it over the rest in Giro TT
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.
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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
Russell Downing
David Millar
Vincenzo Nibali
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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