General classification hopefuls enjoyed a quieter 17th stage of the race, following an explosive leg yesterday.

Breakaway groups were able to take advantage as they sought to secure a stage win at the end of the 219 kilometre medium mountain route from Tirano.

Rolland would feature in a three-man move at the start of the stage, but he opted to conserve his energy when they were joined by a further 40 riders after the opening climbs of the day.

The pace dramatically rose in the final 50km, with Slovenia's Jan Polanc seeing his team accelerate in an effort to aid his ascent up the general classification.

The breakaway would start to shed riders, while an impressive solo effort from Matej Mohoric of Slovenia drew to a close further up the road.

Rolland would launch an attack from the breakaway with five kilometres to go and the Frenchman was able to pull clear to triumph in 5 hours, 42min and 56sec.

Portugal's Rui Costa and Spain's Gorka Izagirre completed the top three, leading over a group who ended 24 seconds further back.

"I've waited for this moment for such a long time," said Rolland, who ended Cannondale-Drapac's two-year wait for a Grand Tour stage win.

"I had a complicated season last year, I've had to try many times to get the victory I was looking for.

"I was in the first breakaway today but it was a good decision to let it go and wait for the next attack after two climbs.

"At the end, it was a question of courage, I caught the right moment.

"It's a huge relief."

The top of the general classification remained largely unchanged, with Dumoulin maintaining his 31 second lead over second place Nairo Quintana of Colombia.

The Dutchman is 1:12 clear of defending champion Vincenzo Nibali of Italy, while France's Thibaut Pinot is 2:38 down in fourth.

Racing will continue tomorrow with a testing 137km mountain stage from Moena to Ortisei.