Giulio Ciccone won stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia after seeing off Czech Republic challenger Jan Hirt.
The Italian, who competes for Trek-Segafredo, edged out Astana rider Hirt in a sprint for the line following a 194km alpine stage from Lovere that was accompanied by mist and often heavy rain.
Overall leader Richard Carapaz tightened his grip on the race, though, holding a lead of one minute, 47 seconds from second-placed Vincenzo Nibali, with Primoz Roglic in third.
It was a particularly tough day for Slovenian Roglic, who dropped a place after struggling to make an impact on the gruelling mountainous terrain and is now more than two minutes behind Carapaz.
Carapaz finished sixth, just behind Britain's Hugh Carthy, while Ciccone extended his lead in the mountains classification ahead of Wednesday's 181km stage from Commezzadura to Anterselva Antholz.
Carthy's fellow British challenger Simon Yates holds eighth spot in the overall classification - six minutes, 46 seconds adrift of Carapaz.
