With the climbs of the Mortirolo, Stelvio and Umbrail Pass on the cards, as well as some technical, dicey descents to throw into the mix too, stage 16 was always likely to be an explosive affair.

But few could have predicted what would unfold on the Umbrail Pass when scores of riders were making bids to get into the day’s breakaway.

The move that eventually stuck only did so on the lower slopes of the Mortirolo – the climb dedicated to the late Michele Scarponi.

Fittingly, Scarponi’s former Astana team-mate Luis Leon Sanchez was allowed to take the Cima Scarponi points, with Omar Fraile sitting second wheel to reclaim the King of the Mountains lead.

Tensions were clearly running high in the peloton, as Dumoulin and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) lashed out at a fan trying to give Quintana a push on the Stelvio.

At the summit, meanwhile, it was Landa who claimed the Cima Coppi by crossing the summit first.

At the front, Amador, Kruijswijk and finally Landa were attacking the break on the run-in to the Umbrail Pass, but the real drama was to unfold further back in the reduced GC group.

Dumoulin pulled over for a clearly unscheduled comfort break at the foot of the climb, but his GC rivals showed little sign of letting up the pace.

Zakarin attacked first, and just as it looked like Bahrain-Merida and Movistar would be easing up, the pace was pushed on and Dumoulin was in big trouble.

Landa led the way over the top – taking the KOM lead for himself – but by that point Nibali, Quintana, Zakarin and Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale) were closing in fast.

And Nibali delivered another descending masterclass to catch the Spaniard, and got the better line on the final corner to claim victory.

Nibali’s descending, regardless of what had come before, was a masterclass, and his victory a fitting tribute to Scarponi.

Giro d’Italia 2017: stage 16 – result

1) Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) – Bahrain-Merida – 6.24.22hrs
2) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Team Sky – ST
3) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +12”
4) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +24”
5) Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) – Katusha +34”
6) Davide Formolo (ITA) – Cannondale-Drapac +1.26
7) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek-Segafredo +1.35
8) Bob Jungels (LUX) – QuickStep Floors – ST
9) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott
10) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ

General classification

1) Tom Dumoulin (NED) – Team Sunweb – 70.14.48hrs
2) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +31”
3) Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) – Bahrain-Merida +1.12
4) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ +2.38
5) Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) – Katusha-Alpecin +2.40
6) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +3.05
7) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek-Segafredo +3.49
8) Bob Jungels (LUX) – QuickStep Floors +4.35
9) Steven Kruijswijk (NED) – LottoNL-Jumbo +6.20
10) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott +7.00