Colombia's Nairo Quintana, wearing the leader's pink jersey, won the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia on the slopes of Monte Grappa on Friday as Australian Cadel Evans improved slightly.
The Movistar rider consolidated his race lead two days before the finish as he crossed 17sec ahead of Italy's Fabio Aru in the 26.8km time trial.
Colombian Rigoberto Uran, second in the overall standings, finished third at 1min 26sec, as Quintana achieved his second stage success of this year's race.
Quintana holds a lead of 3min 7sec on Uran in the overall standings with Aru at 3min 48sec.
Tour de France winner Evans is 9:25 down but his 11th place in the time trial lifted him from ninth to seventh place overall.
The Australian had dropped from third to ninth after struggling on Thursday's 18th stage.
Canada's 2012 Giro winner Ryder Hesjedal dropped two places to ninth.
"It was my speciality, I couldn't let this stage go, especially given my family had come from Colombia to watch me," said Quintana.
"I'm delighted to have given them this victory."
Having finished second to Chris Froome at last year's Tour de France, this has been Quintana's opportunity to consolidate his position as the best climber in the world and a Grand Tour contender.
But he refused to be drawn on whether he would challenge for the Tour next season.
"I need to keep improving. Youngsters who like me are from the 1990 generation are very strong.
"Aru, of course, and (Michal) Kwiatkowski, (Rafal) Majka. Our levels are not very far apart.
"Last year the Tour de France gave me the opportunity to show who Nairo Quintana is, to show that I'm able to challenge on a three-week race.
"In this Giro, I've consolidated."
Saturday's final stage in the mountains covers 167km from Maniago to Monte Zoncolan, with the final climb considered one of the toughest in Europe with 10.1km at 11.9 per cent gradient.
It is an ideal climb for Quintana to extend his lead, if anything.
"It's a very demanding climb, I like the beginning," said the Colombian.
"I didn't manage to ride the rest of it when we came here for reconnaissance because of the snow.
"I'll control things and if I'm feeling good, I'll try to win the stage."
The main battle is likely to be for the minor places with Aru needing to make up 41sec on Uran to snatch second place with both Rolland and Italian Domenico Pozzovivo perhaps hoping to snatch a podium spot.
However, they are 1min 38sec and 2:28 behind respectively and would need a huge performance on the Zoncolan to move up into the top three.
