235km of racing, seven hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds in the saddle for stage winner Carlos Sastre and eight hours and eight seconds for the riders in the final gruppetto that finished 48-14 behind.
Monday?s stage 16 was always going to be the toughest of the centenary Giro but the roasting heat (38 degrees at the bottom of the final climb and a road temperature of 48 degrees) turned it into a battle of survival for most of the 172 riders left in the race.
Every rider who made it to the summit finish overlooking the Marche countryside was tired and dehydrated but fortunately everyone made it inside the 65-minute time limit.
FROOME IN TOP 30 OVERALL
All the British riders made it home with Chris Froome again putting up a strong ride after going close to victory in Bologna on Saturday.
Froome was disappointed not to stay with the leaders on the final climb but made another important step in his career. He celebrated his 24th birthday on May 20 but was 25th on the stage, just 7-10 behind Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre.
Frome is 29th overall at 41-31 but should be encouraged to be just one place behind veteran Gilberto Simoni (Diquigiovanni) and only five places from former best young rider Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia).
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?It was a really hot stage and a really hard day. I think a lot of guys were suffering out there,? Froome told Cycling Weekly.
?I?m a little bit disappointed because I was hoping to be up there today. It would have been nice. But I?m completely spent, so I?ve no regrets, I couldn?t have given it any more.?
BRITS IN THE GRUPPETTO
Dan Lloyd (Cervelo) finished in the front gruppetto at 38-14, while Ian Stannard (ISD), Charly Wegelius (Silence), Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo), Ben Swift (Katusha) and Bradley Wiggins (Garmin) all finished in the second gruppetto at 48-14.
They were all dog tired and thirsty and grabbed drinks, towels and jackets before heading back down the climb to their team buses. Swift and Wiggins looked the best, with Stannard the worst. He struggled to take off his sweat-soaked jersey and could hardly talk. He found it difficult to even put on a jacket, but was helped by team mate Dario Cioni, who also escorted him down the descent.
Fortunately, Stannard and the other riders still in the Giro can enjoy the second rest day on Tuesday. After surviving more than two weeks of intense racing, they all deserve it.
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Giro d'Italia 2009 links
Stage reports
Stage 16: Sastre wins stage to Monte Petrano
Stage 15: Bertagnolli gifted stage win by Cervelo mix-up
Stage 14: Gerrans solos to win
Stage 13: Cavendish takes his third Giro win and prepares to head home
Stage 12: Menchov storms to Giro TT win and race lead
Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win
Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet
Giro rest day review (May 18)
Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
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