Dumoulin had begun the day third in the general classification, with a deficit of 24 seconds to race leader Nairo Quintana of Colombia.

The 26-year-old, who rides for Team Sunweb, quickly wiped out his rival's lead on the 39.8 kilometre time trial from Foligno to Montefalco.

Dumoulin would complete the course in a superb time of 50min 37sec, with Britain's Geraint Thomas producing the second quickest time which was still 49 seconds down on the Dutchman's effort.

Quintana would lose 2:53 to the stage winner, while second place Thibaut Pinot of France ended 2:42 off Dumoulin's time.

The race lead has now passed to Dumoulin, who enjoys a gap of 2:23 to Quintana, while fellow Dutch rider Bauke Mollema is now 2:38 behind in third place.

Pinot is a further two seconds back, while defending champion Vincenzo Nibali is 2:47 off the general classification lead.

"Looking at the results I've had a good race," said Dumoulin, who led the race for six days last year.

"But I was fighting with myself and I actually didn't feel good.

"In the last time trials I did I kind of give up and I was disappointed afterwards.

"So today I never gave up.

"It is a nice gap to have before the mountains but I lost several minutes in one day at the Vuelta so I know by experience that the Giro is far from over."

Racing will continue tomorrow with a 161km stage from Florence to Bagno di Romagna.

The Tour of California, another International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race, held its third stage today.

Slovakia's Peter Sagan, the reigning world champion, sprinted to victory in 4:53:26.

He was followed across the line by Germany's Rick Zabel and Simone Consonni of Italy.

Poland's Rafal Majka holds the race lead, with New Zealand’s George Bennett two seconds behind.