Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) has tightened his grip on the overall lead in the 2011 Giro. The Spaniard finished second to Jose Rujano (Androni Giacattoli) in Stage 13, a mountainous, 167-km ride from Spilimbergo, Italy to Grossglockner, Austria, in 4:45:54. John Gadret (Ag2r) finished third at 1:27. Contador has extended his overall lead.

The day began with the usual abortive escapes. At 41 km, the break of the day formed. In it were Robert Kiserlovski (Astana), Jose Sarmiento (Acqua e Sapone), Pieter Weening (Rabobank), Pablo Lastras and Branislau Samoilau (both from Movistar), Rafael Valls (Geox), Alberto Losada (Katusha), Angel Vicioso (Androni Giacattoli), Craig Lewis (HTC), Lars Nordhaug (Sky), Andrea Noe (Farnese Vini), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r), Kristof Vandewalle (Quick Step), Cameron Meyer (Garmin), and Alessandro Spezialetti (Lampre). The peloton, which Euskaltel led, kept the escapees on a short leash, and their lead maxed out at 4:45.

On the Category 2 Iselsbergpass, with the gap between bunch and break reduced to 3:15, Kiserlovski said farewell to his companions. At the summit, he led the break by one minute. Behind, however, the peloton was going full bore. At the base of the climb to Grossglockner, Kiserlovski's advantage was 0:40 on the break and 2:20 on the peloton.

Sarmiento and Weening caught and dropped the Astana man. They could have saved themselves the effort. With 10 km left, the peloton reeled them in.

Rujano attacked, and Igor Anton (Euskaltel) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre) joined him. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and Roman Kreuziger (Astana) chased, and Contador joined the pair. When the three leaders were caught, Contador attacked.

Only Rujano could follow. He and Contador agreed that they would collaborate to distance themselves from the field and that Rujano would win the stage. That he did, with Contador just behind.

In the overall, Contador leads Nibali by 3:09 and Scarponi by 3:16. Stage 14 will be another challenging mountain stage. The 210-km ride from Lienz, Austria to Zoncolan, Italy will feature two Category 1 ascents, one of which will be the climb to the finish. Will Contador demolish the field as he did today? Will the other GC contenders recover from today's defeat and make up time on the Saxo Bank man? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!