Overview
- Paul Magnier won the 18th stage at Pieve di Soligo and reclaimed the maillot cyclamen from Jhonatan Narvaez on Thursday, May 28, after a sprint finish from a group of about 50 riders.
- He was perfectly launched by teammate Jasper Stuyven and held on after the short, steep Muro Di Ca'del Poggio to beat Edoardo Zambanini and Jonathan Milan.
- Magnier said he feels slightly fatigued and will conserve energy over the coming mountain stages to target the last clear sprint on the Rome finish.
- Soudal-Quick Step has used leadouts and teammates contesting intermediate sprints to defend the points lead while Narvaez, who also has three stage wins, remains Magnier’s main rival.
- Jonas Vingegaard keeps a commanding overall lead by more than four minutes as the race moves into two decisive high-mountain Dolomites stages that will not favor pure sprinters.