Pellizotti wins Giro mountain time trial

Italy's Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas team won the 16th stage mountain time trial in the Giro d'Italia yesterday, while Spain's Alberto Contador extended his overall lead. Pellizotti set a time of 40 minutes and 26 seconds for the 12.9-km...

Italy's Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas team won the 16th stage mountain time trial in the Giro d'Italia yesterday, while Spain's Alberto Contador extended his overall lead.

Pellizotti set a time of 40 minutes and 26 seconds for the 12.9-km course.

He was only fifth fastest on the 7.6-km road section but sealed victory by setting the fastest time on the steep final 5.3-km section on dirt roads.

Fellow Italians Emanuele Sella and Gilberto Simoni were second and third at six seconds and 17 seconds behind respectively.

Contador finished fourth at 22 seconds and extended his overall lead over Italy's Riccardo Ricco to 41 seconds.

"My objective was to keep the pink jersey and perhaps gain a few seconds, so I'm happy with the result," Contador told reporters.

The riders enjoy the second rest day of the three-week race today, before the Giro resumes tomorrow with the 146-km 17th stage from Sondrio to Locarno in Switzerland.

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