Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step completed a hat-trick of victories in this Giro d’Italia by winning a bunch sprint on stage 18 in Pieve di Soligo.
The 22-year-old Frenchman was perfectly set up by his teammate Jasper Stuyven in the final few high-speed turns and powered to the line, after 171km of racing, ahead of two Italian sprinters.
Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious) was second with Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) third on an undulating stage that began in Fai della Paganella in Trentino. Victory for Magnier, who also won the first and third stages in Bulgaria, means he takes the lead in the points classification.
Jonas Vingegaard, the overall race leader, attacked on the day’s short sharp final climb inside the final 10km, but eventually settled for a place in the main bunch to preserve his big lead.
This report will update