Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) dominated the competition once again in stage sixteen of the Giro d'Italia, winning the 12.7 kilometer uphill time trial in Nevegal by more than 30 seconds over Italians Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD).  The Spaniard never looked in difficulty in the test against the clock, pedaling smoothly in and out of the saddle to further increase his hold on the coveted Maglia Rosa.

Today's stage of the Giro d'Italia again began with sadness, as the peloton joined in a minute of silence to honor the memory of Movistar rider Xavier Tondo, who died tragically in a training accident at a ski resort in Spain the previous day.  This marks the second time this Giro has been struck with tragedy.  Belgian Wouter Weylandt (Leopard Trek) died as the result of injuries sustained in a crash during stage three of the race, and the riders were still trying to come to terms with his passing.

"It's not a sad triumph - every triumph is nice," Contador said after being asked whether the death of Tondo affected the taste of success.  In fact, he said it was his compatriot that fueled his motivation.  "But Tondo is a very good human being and I wanted to win for him today and dedicate it to him," he confirmed.

Second place finisher Nibali still hasn't given in his fight for the overall victory, and wasn't disappointed with his second place performance today.  "Alberto showed that he is strong," he said.  "I made a nice showing. I am very content."

His compatriot Scarponi wasn't far behind 'The Shark', and also tipped his hat to the Spaniard saying,"I did the maximum [I could], Alberto showed that he is the strongest."

Dutchman Stef Clement (Rabobank) was the man to put in the early best time when he crossed the line in 30 minutes and 28 seconds.  It was Movistar's Branislau Samoilau who knocked the Rabobank rider off the hot seat, completing the stage 7 seconds quicker.  Geox-TMC's Carlos Sastre was the next big name climber to fire off, with the Spaniard catching his minute man as he attacked the slopes of the climb.  Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF Inox) came close to the Belarusian's time, clocking a strong time of 30 minutes and 34 seconds, just 13 seconds slower.  Sastre completed his ride in 30 minutes and 51 seconds, well back of the expected winning time.

HTC-Highroad's Marco Pinotti hit the course and shredded the bottom half of the mountain.  He hit the intermediate time check close to the Movistar rider's time.  Shortly after Stefano Garzelli, last year's uphill time trial winner on the Plan de Corones began his ride.  Ahead, Pinotti continued to push himself up the climb, and passed RadioShack leader Tiago Machado.  The Portuguese rider struggled to shadow the Italian.

Kanstantsin Sivtsov (HTC-Highroad) was off shortly after his teammate, passing the first check point just 1 second behind the fastest time.  Last year's second place overall in the Giro, David Arroyo (Movistar), was the next big name on the course.  He started his effort as his teammate Vasili Kirienka notched himself into third, 32 seconds behind the current leader.  But it wasn't meant to be, as he was soon knocked out by Astana's Paolo Tiralongo.

Pinotti finished his effort in the hot seat, shaving 1 second off of Samoilau's time, as Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez began his ride.  Roman Krueziger (Astana) was on the course looking strong further up the mountain, as Denis Menchov (Geox-TMC) powered out of the start.  Garzelli was next to finish, and clocked a time 12 seconds faster than the five-time Italian time trial champion to take over the lead.

Frenchman John Gadret (AG2r La Mondiale) began his effort after an impressive showing in the mountains during the past week of this year's Giro.  Sivtsov continued to power up the slopes with a smooth cadence, but faded away from the leaders in the final kilometer.

Current third place overall Vincenzo Nibali was next out of the start block, with the Italian looking for a solid ride to sure up his place on the podium.  He was off to a fast start and overcooked a nasty turn on his way out of town to narrowly miss a yellow barrier.  Three minutes later his compatriot Michele Scarponi took to the road, with Maglia Rosa Alberto Contador waiting in the wings representing the last man to start.

Gadre rode through the checkpoint well back of the leaders, unable to match his third place effort from last year's uphill test on the day.  Further down the mountain Contador launched out of the start house with pink confetti being released by the organizers from above.  Ahead Nibali set a new best time at the intermediate checkpoint by 1 second.  Scarponi forged on behind looking strong and, unlike the others in the top spots, choosing to use a deep dish aero wheel on his machine.  Rodriguez was next to finish the course, putting in a time of 30 minutes even to put himself within the top five.

Contador continued to power up the course, arms resting on the bars in an aero position, and then grabbing the hoods as pitch began to increase.  Kreuziger finished at the top just 3 seconds off the pace to take over second place.  No rest for the weary today, as Gadret continued to fight his way up the mountain, while Jose Rujano scorched the course ahead to put in the new best time, beating Garzelli's effort by 7 seconds.

The Maglia Rosa continued to dance up the climb behind, looking comfortable and powerful, and spinning a fast cadence as he worked his way towards the finish.  Nibali continued to look good as he passed underneath the banner marking 3 kilometers to go.  His compatriot Scarponi wasn't looking as fast as the sea of spectators parted ways for him to pass.  Nibali continued his fine effort to finish it off with a new best time of 29 minutes and 29 seconds, 4 seconds faster than Rujano.

With 500 meters left, Scarponi jumped in and out of his saddle pumping his cranks towards the line, but it wasn't enough to dethrone his compatriot, with the Lampre-ISD rider missing the mark by 4 seconds.  An Italian victory wasn't meant to be though, as Contador crushed the pace all the way to the line to finish for the win in 28 minutes and 55 seconds.