Giro photos

The 22-year-old came home alone in the first mountain stage over a minute clear of compatriot Rinaldo Nocentini.

Cunego, who also won the second and seventh stages, lost the pink jersey last Saturday after a time trial.

But the Saeco rider regained it in style on the 217km stage from San Vendemiano to Falzes, leaving him 1:14 clear in the overall standings.

Defending champion and Saeco team-mate Gilberto Simoni was more than two-and-a-half minutes adrift, but helped set up the stage victory for the 1999 world junior champion.

The man who had replaced him in pink, Yaroslav Popovych, lost more than four minutes to Cunego.

The Ukrainian was unable to react to Cunego's attack on the third and penultimate climb of the day, Passo Furcia, some 59km from the finish.

Aided by his team, Cunego swept up the lead group - out on their own for the majority of the stage - before making his solo break on the final climb with 12km to go.

Stage 16 results:

1. Damiano Cunego (It) Saeco 6hr 11min 23sec
2. Rinaldo Nocentini (It) at 1min 16sec
3. Alexandre Moos (Swi) at 1:38
4. Raffaele Illiano (It) at 1:38
5. Giuseppe Di Grande (It) at 1:38
6. Julio Perez Cuapio (Mex) at 1:38
7. Christophe Brandt (Bel) at 1:38
8. Luis Laverde (Col) at 1:58
9. Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) at 2:29
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) at 2:29

Overall standings:

1. Damiano Cunego (It) Saeco 73hr 01min 21sec
2. Serhiy Gonchar (Ukr) at 1min 14sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) at 2:22
4. Gilberto Simoni (It) at 2:38
5. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) at 3:31
6. Brad McGee (Aus) at 3:52
7. Wladimir Belli (Ita) at 4:20
8. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) at 4:26
9. Dario David Cioni (Ita) at 4:31
10. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) at 5:31