Jai Hindley has no intention of screwing around, wasting time, or giving up his chance to gain every possible second in the 2022 Giro d'Italia. As he explained in perfect Aussie slang on Monday's rest day, he is not here to sock it to Centipede.

He and his Beulah Hansgrohe team showed their intent once again on the queen stage of the Corsa Rosa over Mortirolo, Valrico di Santa Cristina, and Aprica, with race leader Richard Calapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) at the finish shoulder to shoulder, earning a 4-second time bonus.

Hindley won the sprint and was just 3 seconds behind Maglia Rosa.

The sprint gave Hindley a full adrenaline rush, and every second of rest and recovery was important, so he chose to turn around quickly and head down the finish straight to his hotel. He spoke briefly later.

"As expected, it was a pretty epic day. There were a number of hard climbs," he said, but perhaps due to the fatigue of the day, his voice sounded a bit less energetic and confident than it had on Monday.

"I was feeling pretty good and tried a few attacks on the climbs, but couldn't shake off Carapas and Landa. It was nice to get a bonus second at the finish and gain some time on the other GC riders. Overall it was a good day and I had a good feeling.

Beulah Hansgrohe, with the experience of former rider and new Sportif director Enrico Gasparotto, rode a strategic race to lead her rivals by several moves.

Leonard Kemna and Wilco Kelderman were also in the big breakaway on this stage. Kelderman dropped back early for Hindley, who always had Emmanuel Buchmann at his side.

"Jai had another solid ride. 'He took four seconds in the sprint to the finish, the third time he's beaten Kalapas in this Giro. I'm getting closer to the pink jersey."

Hindley may go for Maria Rosa in the mountain stage to Lavarone on Wednesday, but Gasparotto may prefer to let the Ecuadorian and Ineos Grenadiers take the race leader's responsibility and roast him slowly.

But that would leave only Saturday's Marmolada mountain finish to gain time on Hindley's rivals before Sunday's decisive time trial. More team tactics will be expected on the steep climbs of the Passo del Vetriolo and Menador.

"Hopefully the weather won't be super bad and we can make it through the stage," Gasparotto said after stage 16, as heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed Aprica.

"I saw that Bahrain is ready to do something too.