BURY’S Simon Yates cleared a significant hurdle in his bid for Giro d'Italia glory as he kept the leader's pink jersey on Tuesday's time trial, which was won by Australian Rohan Dennis.

Simon's time of 41 minutes 37 seconds, going last man out over the 34.5km course from Trento to Rovereto, saw him place only 22nd on the day.

However, it proved enough for the 25-year-old Mitchelton-Scott rider to keep the overall race lead by 56 seconds from defending champion Tom Dumoulin of Team Sunweb.

Dutchman Dumoulin, the world time trial champion, took 75 seconds out of Yates, but had started the day two minutes and 11 seconds down in second place.

Given Dumoulin's class against the clock, he had always been expected to make significant gains, but his inability to overcome that deficit gives Yates the advantage going into the remaining five stages.

Simon, meanwhile, maintains he still has work to do, despite still holding an advantage of nearly a minute over Dutchman Dumoulin.

Speaking before he set out on Wednesday’s Riva del Garde stage 17, he said:"I'm really happy. I felt good in the first half. I had a good rhythm. I was trying to hold on to my position, but I died in the final 10 kilometres.

"Being in the lead after the time trial changes my tactics for the remaining stages. Unfortunately for the fans, I might be more defensive.

"I'd like to have a bigger gap, but I'm very satisfied with where I stand now."

Simon will be hoping to maintain his advantage all the way to Rome, where Sunday will see the final stage of the race.

If he manages to hold on to the pink jersey, Simon will achieve something no other rider, including the likes of Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins, has ever managed to achieve in becoming the first Briton to win the Giro d’Italia.

Simon will be hoping to maintain his advantage over Dumoulin, Froome and Dennis, who despite being behind will battle this one out to the bitter end.

The race, which is of fabled status among the world's best cyclists, offers the opportunity of legendary status to anyone taking the laurels at Sunday's final stage and that honour hopefully beckons for Simon.