Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel) has given his team its second stage win in two days. The Basque overtook Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone) on the day's last climb to win the mountainous, 229-km ride from Conegliano to Gardeccia Val di Fassa in 7:27:14. Garzelli finished second at 1:41, and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) finished third at 1:51. Contador remains the maglia rosa.

Seven riders made an early escape. They were Emanuele Sella (Androni Giacattoli), Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step), Yaroslav Popovych (RadioShack), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Alexander Kuchynski (Katusha), Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma), and Javier Aramendia (Euskaltel). Eleven other riders--Garzelli, Danilo Di Luca (Katusha), Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Movistar), Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago), Carlos Sastre (Geox), Pieter Weening (Rabobank), Philip Deignan (RadioShack), Alberto Losada Aguacil (Katusha), Evgeni Petrov (Astana), Nieve, and Johann Tschopp (BMC Racing)--joined the break, which ran up a 9:50 lead. Behind, Liquigas started to drive the peloton.

Hoogerland attacked his companions. With 60 km left, he led them by more than 1:20. Garzelli and Nieve, however, pursued the Dutchman and caught him on the Category 1 Passo Giau. Garzelli continued his surge and led Nieve by 0:45 at the summit.

A group of nine chasers formed. They trailed the 2000 Giro champion by 1:44 at the summit. Behind, attacks began in the peloton. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and David Arroyo (Movistar) attacked and took Contador, Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), Michele Scarponi (Lampre), Igor Anton (Euskaltel), Denis Menchov (Geox), and Roman Kreuziger (Astana) with him.   

On the descent, Nibali attacked. The reigning Vuelta champion closed to within 0:42 of Garzelli. On the Passo Fedaia, Contador attacked and took Jose Rujano (Androni Giacottoli) and Steven Kruiswijk (Rabobank) with him. Nibali was caught and dropped. So was Bakelants, which left only Garzelli and Nieve ahead of the maglia rosa group. At the base of the descent, Nibali rejoined that group.

At the base of the day's final climb, Garzelli led Nieve by 0:20. Nieve powered past the Italian. Behind, Contador attacked, and for a time, Garzelli appeared in danger of losing his second-place stage finish. He held off the Saxo Bank man, however.

In the overall, Contador leads Scarponi by 4:20 and Nibali by 5:11. Tomorrow will be the 2011 Giro's second rest day. Stage 16 will be a 12.7-km mountain time trial from Belluno to Nevegal. Who will win the stage? Contador? Anton? Scarponi? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!