ANDALO, Italy (AP) — Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk strengthened his grip on the pink jersey by finishing second to Alejandro Valverde on the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday.
Pre-race favorite Vincenzo Nibali had another bad day and saw his faint chances of winning a second Giro title all but disappear.
Valverde edged Kruijswijk on the mountainous 133-kilometer (83-mile) leg from Bressanone to Andalo to claim a first stage win in the Giro.
It was a third successive second place for Kruijswijk, who increased his lead over Esteban Chaves to 3 minutes, and looks ever more likely to become the first Dutchman to win the Grand Tour.