Former champion Stefano Garzelli, of the Acqua & Sapone team, made up for a series of disastrous mountain displays on the Tour of Italy by winning the 16th stage mountain time trial yesterday.

Held over 12.9km, with the last 5km on a rustic, unasphalted road, Garzelli picked up his first win on the Giro since 2007 as Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans continued their respective bids for overall victory.

Spaniard David Arroyo, of Caisse d'Epargne, retained the race leader's pink jersey but saw his overall lead on Italian Basso reduced to 2min 27sec after the current race favourite finished sixth.

Liquigas team leader Basso, who moved back into contention by winning an epic mountain stage to Zoncolan on Sunday, now sits ahead of two Australians - Richie Porte, of Saxo Bank and Evans, who rides for BMC.

Evans boosted his own chances of winning the Giro by finishing an impressive second at 42sec behind Garzelli and 28secs ahead of Basso to move up from fifth to fourth.

Porte, who has been one of the sensations on what is his major Tour debut, finished over two minutes behind Garzelli to drop from second overall to third.

In the overall standings Porte is 2:36 behind Arroyo with Evans fourth at 3:09.

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