If there was a shred of doubt about who was going to win the 89th Giro d'Italia going into Tuesday's climbing stage up Monte Bondone, Ivan Basso emphatically erased it with a dramatic statement high in the Italian Dolomites.

If Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) was racing on pride on his "home mountain," Basso was looking to carve a defining moment in what's been a flawless and dominant performance for the 28-year-old Varenese. With just under seven kilometers to go on the steep Bondone climb, Simoni could only watch Basso and the race leader's pink jersey slip away as Basso took it home to win for the second time in this year's Giro and to widen his lead to more than five minutes.

"I wasn't trying to make a statement," Basso said. "It's not often I get to win so I have to take advantage of it when I can. It was more special to win in the maglia rosa. That's something I can remember from this day."

The 173km stage from Rovato to Bondone's summit was supposed to open a final week of brutal climbs and merciless attacks, giving hope to the Italian mountain goats hoping to get out from under the boot of Basso's iron-fisted rule of the opening two weeks of the corsa rosa.
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Indeed, there were still some optimists who even suggested that Basso might crack, like he did last year when the weight of the maglia rosa perhaps proved too heavy and he lost more than 40 minutes and all hopes of the overall up the unforgiving steeps of the legendary Stelvio climb.

But, unlike last year, Basso isn’t plagued by the illness that sapped his strength in 2005 and this newer, leaner and meaner version of the CSC captain just isn’t going to fold. Instead, on Tuesday, he poured it on just when it hurt the most and left a string of Giro hopefuls in ruins behind him.

Phonak's Jose Enrique Gutierrez, who finished fourth on the day, confirmed he's no one-trick pony and delivered yet another inspiring performance to consolidate his hold on second place, but only means that he’s the only rider who is less than nine minutes behind Basso. Defending champion Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel), remains in third overall but now at 9:17 back.

"I already knew any chances for winning were finished even before today started," said Savoldelli. "I am still having trouble breathing and I was at the red line right at the beginning of the climb. It's frustrating and I am trying to find the motivation to keep fighting."

An early escape by Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Panaria) animated the early part of the race, but this was a show for the big dogs, and he was gobbled up before Team CSC drove the peloton onto the Bondone climb.

First used in the 1956 Giro d’Italia, the Bondone was the scene of CharlyGaul’s historic win that year, as the Luxembourgian charged into the climb in blizzard conditions, winning the day by more 12 minutes and locking up the overall title for the ’56 Giro. With an average of 8 percent over 17.5km, with ramps as steep as 13 percent, it’s a long, steady climb that more than anyone favored Basso and his ever-steady Armstrong-esque pedaling style, but the others had to dream. Basso's comrades at Team CSC laid the foundation with some early prods to start the pain early on.

It wasn't long before it was Basso, Gutierrez, 2004 champion Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Simoni that were left to go mano-a-mano, and even that didn't last long. Simoni tried his best and his motivation left just Basso to do the heavy-lifting up the long climb.

But Basso sensed a moment and he dropped Simoni with about 6.5km to go and rode alone, climbing higher, spinning his legs and leaving a trail of destruction in his path.

"It's one of the most beautiful wins of my career," Basso said. "But this Giro is not over. There are still some hard days and I won't do anything out of the ordinary. I won't be the winner until I get to Milan."

Simoni fought proudly to come through second at 1:26 back followed 11 seconds later by his teammate Leonardo Piepoli who edged the impressive Gutierrez for third. Simoni was hoping to win one for the home crowd and go out like a fight champion, but there are no freebies in cycling.

"Basso can do what he wants," said Simoni, who clawed his way to within 17 seconds of Savoldelli's third place. "I was determined to stay on his wheel as long as I could, but he was too strong. I attacked early because I saw Gutierrez looking good earlier and I was hoping to gap him for the podium. There are still some hard days to come to look for more chances."

Indeed, the race is on for the podium and Gutierrez shows no signs of giving up. The Spanish rider took two minutes on third-place Savoldelli and continues to show remarkable resilience against the determined Italians.

Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) didn't quite have the snap he was hoping for and perhaps the hard efforts to help Savoldelli over the past week finally caught up with him and he forfeited seven minutes on the day, finishing 38th. He's still in the hunt for a top 10, now 11th overall at 15:55 back.

The 89th Giro continues Wednesday with the 133km 17th stage that ends up the brutally steep Plan de Corones in the Giro's third summit finish. The short stage should be spectacular and hits the Passo delle Erbe before the final approach up the Corones' recently paved sections. With ramps as steep as 24 percent, it should be the climactic high point of this year's Giro.

Results - Stage 16
1. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, at 173km in 4:51:30
2. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 1:26
3. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, at 1:37
4. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp), Phonak, at 1:37
5. John Gadret (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 2:40
6. JulioPerez Cuapio (MEX), Ceramica Panaria, at 2:45
7. Wladimir Belli (I), Colombia - Selle Italia, at 3:12
8. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 3:25
9. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros, at 3:27
10. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:27

Overall, after 16 Stages
1. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 64:35:17
2. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp), Phonak, at 5:24
3. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 9:17
4. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 9:34
5. Wladimir Belli (I), Colombia - Selle Italia, at 11:07
6. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 11:59
7. Sandy Casar (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 12:40
8. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, at 13:55
9. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col), Phonak, at 14:59
10. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 15:18

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