Tim Merlier stole the show from “sprint king” Jonathan Milan and won the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia. The Belgian won on Thursday in Padua by a few centimeters ahead of the Italian, who had previously dominated the mass sprints.
IMAGO/LaPresse/Gian Mattia D’alberto
For Merlier it was the second stage victory in this year’s Giro, Milan has already recorded three successes. The next and last chance for sprinters should be on the final stage in Rome on Sunday.
There were no changes at the top of the overall standings. The Slovenian Tadej Pogacar is almost eight minutes ahead of the Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez. Third is the Welshman Geraint Thomas. As the best Austrian, Felix Großschartner is 1:33:10 hours behind his UAE teammate Pogacar in 33rd place.
After the excursion into the flatlands, things will get more challenging again on Friday. There are three smaller mountain classifications to overcome on the 157-kilometer route from Mortegliano to Sappada. There may be one more chance for breakaway riders to win the day before the big finale at the weekend.
107. Tour of Italy
18. Stage
Fiera di Primeero – Padua (178 km): 1. Tim Merlier BEL 3:45:44 2. Jonathan Milan NOW -“- 3. Kaden Groves AUS -“- 4. Alberto Dainese NOW -“- 5. Stanislaw Aniolkowski POL – 6. Fernando Gaviria COL -“- 7. Madis Mihkels EST -“- 8. Caleb Ewen AUS -“- 9. Davide Ballerini NOW -“- 10. Sebastian Molano COL -“-
Patrick Gamper
AUT -“- 28. Daniel Felipe Martinez COL -“- 30. Tadej Pogacar SLO -“- 47. Geraint Thomas GBR -“- 105.
Rainer Kepplinger
AUT
+ 0:39
116.
Tobias Bayer
AUT
1:23
118.
Felix Großschartner
AUT 1:28 Overall ranking after 18 of 21 stages: 1. Tadej Pogacar SLO 67:17:02 2. Daniel Felipe Martinez COL + 7:42 3. Geraint Thomas GBR 8:04 4. Ben O’Connor AUS 9:47 5 . Antonio Tiberi ITA 10:29 6. Thymen Arensman NED 11:10 7. Romain Bardet FRA 12:42 8. One Rubio COL 13:33 9. Filippo Zana ITA 13:52 10. Jan Hirt CZE 14:44 33.
Felix Großschartner
AUT
1:33:10
68.
Rainer Kepplinger
AUT
2:52:07
90.
Patrick Gamper
AUT
3:30:28
98.
Tobias Bayer
AUT
3:39:55
2024-05-23 15:31:15
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