Damiano Cima takes victory in extremis in Giro d'Italia
May 30 2019 11:12 pm CET
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Damiano Cima (Nippo-Vini Fantini) has taken the victory of the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia. The rider launched the final sprint just on time to avoid the peloton catching him before the line.
The 18th stage of the Corsa Rosa was a calm one considering the action that was lived the days before. The peloton faced a 222-kilometre rolling route, that included a climb of the fourth category and a slightly downhill finish to Santa Maria di Sala.
The escape of the day was formed by Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale), Mirco Maestri (Bardiani-CSF) and Damiano Cima (Nippo-Vini Fantini) and got a gap of more than five minutes with the pack. Behind them, Bora-hansgrohe, Deceuninck-Quick-Step and Groupama-FDJ took turns to control the speed of the peloton.
With three kilometres to go and while the pack was getting closer, Denz attacked but soon his companions got to him again. The peloton got closer and closer and Cima launched his sprint in the last metres, crossing the line just before the peloton got to him and ahead of the day's favourite Pascal Ackermann.
Simone Consonni, Florian Senechal and Ryan Gibbons completed the top five of the day. With his second place in the stage, Ackermann took back the lead of the points classification and will wear the ciclamino jersey in the 19th stage of the Corsa Rosa.
Richard Carapaz (Movistar) crossed the line with the pack and extended his lead in the General Classification.
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