Intro:

Mikel Landa took his second stage win of this year's Giro D'Italia on Tuesday but Alberto Contador produced a superb ride to finish third and extend his overall lead.

Script:

Alberto Contador put on a demonstration of his climbing skills on the steep Mortirolo pass and extended his lead in the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday.

Spanish rider Mikel Landa posted his second consecutive stage victory after getting clearance from the Astana team to leave behind captain Fabio Aru, who again struggled.

Landa required just over five hours to complete the 174-kilometre (108-mile) leg from Pinzolo to Aprica, which included five categorised climbs.

Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk finished second, 38 seconds behind, and Contador crossed the line in third with the same time.

Aru finished nearly three minutes behind Landa, who moved ahead of the Italian into second.

Ryder Hesjedal was part of an early 11-man breakaway before going for glory himself.

The Katusha team led the chase from the peloton which fractured as Contador suffered a puncture on a descent.

Tinkoff-Saxo team-mate Ivan Basso, a two-time Giro winner, gave Contador his wheel but Aru and his Astana team attacked to try and put the Spaniard in trouble.

But Contador surged up the Mortirolo, passing one rider after another and catching the lead trio of Aru, Landa and Kruijswijk after Hesjedal had been caught.

With Kruijswijk clear at the front, Contador attacked and Aru suffered with his woes compounded by a puncture.

Contador, Kruijswijk and Landa were at the front and Landa launched an attack four kilometres from the finish which proved decisive.

Stage 17 on Wednesday is a 134-kilometre (83-mile) leg from Tirano to Lugano, Switzerland, featuring one Category 3 climb and some rolling hills.