Zana makes Pinot bite the dust and Roglic resurfaces in Val di Zoldo

Birthday cake to celebrate turning 37, under the sun of justice that illuminated the morning in Oderzo. The same tribute that Mark Cavendish received when he turned 38, just the day before he announced his retirement from professional cycling, but an abyss separates the paths of ‘Cavs’ and Geraint Thomas in this Giro d’Italia. One clings to Rome as the last chance to win a stage; the other, can reach the Eternal City as the legitimate owner of the Senza Fine Trophy. And it is that Welsh, so far, is infallible. Primoz Roglic showed weakness in Monte Bondone and today, in the 18th stage, João Almeida lost time. Thomas, always on the wheel, but with a feeling of strength that keeps him the solid leader of the Italian round. The Slovenian, at least, resurfaced with a great version at the end of Val di Zoldo that allowed him to recover a good part of what he lost last Tuesday. On that dolomitic top defeated Filippo Zana (24 years), to achieve his first success in a grand tour, after a nice one-on-one with Thibaut Pinot.

From the starting flag he started with the knife between his teeth. The average speed in the first kilometers was close to 50 km/h, so it cost the leak to form. After a carousel of attacks and counterattacks, two small groups formed that came together after a few minutes to consolidate a breakaway of seven riders: Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Vadim Pronskiy, Thibaut Pinot, Marco Frigo, Derek Gee, Warren Barguil and Filippo Zanna. Despite trying, Ben Healy failed to leak, so Pinot crowned the first ports in the lead to leave the fight for the maglia azzurra in a handkerchief.

In it Passo della Crosetta, the first port of the route, the alarms went off. Jumbo started pulling, but Ineos wanted to impose its law at the head of the peloton. The British squad ended up setting the pace, which at one point, either by mistake or by bad feelings, Roglic slightly lost contact with the main group. The Dutch team did not break down and their leader quickly returned to the front of the peloton. Would the Jumbo have made his own leader suffer? Before resolving this question, in a final section of the stage that had a crumb, with three chained ports in a matter of 35 km, the group of favorites called a truce, which increased the income of escapees over 5 minutes. Pinot, the best classified of the seven leaders, was 6:48 behind the pink.

About 28 km from the finish line, already in full Ascent to Forcella, Ineos stopped playing. De Plus lit the fuse and the main group was blown up. The intention was clear: to leave Roglic and Almeida orphaned as teammates. Momentarily, they succeeded, but riders like Bouwman and Formolo managed to re-engage in a descent in which the breakaway opened up. The stage victory would be for them. Regardless of the outcome, Pinot ensured the surprised in the mountains classification with Forcella’s 40 points. Although he didn’t know it yet, it would be a consolation prize…

The Coi arrived, penultimate port, and the Jumbo executed his play. In the hardest area, with ramps of up to 19%, Sepp Kuss once again showed that he is full. The result? Almeida lost contact, but he saved the furniture thanks to the work of Jay Vine. The Australian, guardian angel of his leader, as in Bondone did the ‘Eagle of Durango’ with Roglic. About 7 km from the finish line, the Slovenian attacked and only Thomas was able to hold on to his wheel. Kuss, incombustible, returned with his leader to face the descent with him and the brand new pink jersey. On that little descent Vine went wide on a curve and had to dismount, but luckily Almeida was able to avoid the fall.

Already in Val di Zoldo, Roglic gritted his teeth, but was unable to let go of Thomas. Behind, Almeida entered the finish line at 21 seconds. A lesser evil, although he is now back in third overall. A couple of minutes before, Zana took Pinot’s wheel and took the stickers off him in the sprint. The French, like the day that Einer Rubio won, he stayed with honey on his lips. Tomorrow, queen stage in Tre Cime di Lavaredo, with the three ‘capos’ in 39 seconds. Everything is to be decided.

General ranking

after cyclist	Equipment	Time
1 Filippo Zana	JAY	4:25:12
2 thibaut pinot	GFC	+00:00
3 Warren Barguil	ARK	+00:50
4 Derek Gee	IPT	+01:03
5 Aurélien Paret	ACT	+01:24
6 Marco Frigo	IPT	+01:24
7 Cousin Roglic	TJV	+01:56
8 Geraint Thomas	IGD	+01:56
9 Joao Almeida	UAD	+02:17
10 Edward Dunbar	JAY	+02:32

after cyclist	Equipment	Time
1 Geraint Thomas	IGD	76:25:51
2 Cousin Roglic	TJV	+00:29
3 Joao Almeida	UAD	+00:39
4 Edward Dunbar	JAY	+03:39
5 Damiano Caruso	TBV	+03:51
6 Lennard Kaemna	BOH	+04:27
7 thibaut pinot	GFC	+04:43
8 Andreas Leknessund	DSM	+04:47
9 Thymen Arensmann	IGD	+04:53
10 Laurens de Plus	IGD	+05:52

See complete classification