Overview

• Nico Denz broke clear with 11 km to go on stage 18 and soloed to a one-minute triumph in the 144 km from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno.
• Isaac Del Toro finished safely in the main peloton to preserve his 41-second lead over Richard Carapaz in the general classification.
• Simon Yates holds third place overall, sitting 51 seconds behind Del Toro after taking a low-key approach on the flat course.
• Juan Ayuso abandoned early in stage 18 due to knee pain and a hornet sting, following Primož Roglič’s withdrawal after a crash on stage 16.
• The Giro now turns to two back-to-back high-altitude tests, beginning with Friday’s 166-km Biella to Champoluc stage featuring five categorized climbs.