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Giro d’Italia 2016: Stage 18 live race updates, blog

26th May, 2016
Distance: 240km
Start: Muggio
Finish: Pinerolo
TV: Live on EuroSport and SBS
Stage betting: Ulissi $6.50, Valverde $10, Visconti $11, Chaves $18

General classification
1 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 68:11:39
2 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica-GreenEdge 0:03:00
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:23
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:04:43
5 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:04:50
6 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff Team 0:05:34
7 Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:07:57
8 Andrey Amador Bikkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team 0:08:53
9 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:10:05
10 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data 0:11:03
Stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana should be a chance for the General Classification riders to have a rest day on wheels. (Team Sky)
Editor
26th May, 2016
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1241 Reads

Stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia is a monster 240 kilometres, with Maglia Rosa Steven Kruijswijk holding a strong, three-minute lead. Join The Roar for all the action from 10:30pm (AEST).

The riders continue their trek towards France, setting off from Muggio and battling towards the western border of Italy, crossing the finish at Pinerolo.

The longest stage of the race, Stage 18 is a real cruise for the most part, even finishing with a fast-paced descent. But the lead-up to that finale issues the challenge of the day.

There are nearly 170 kilometres of racing before anything dramatic in the parcours. The slight ascent off the flats begins around the 100-kilometre mark, but it’s gradual.

A 10.5 per cent climb over five kilometres comes towards the end though, peaking with just 20 kilometres to go. A punishment of sorts for the general lack of variation and flat track the peloton have to deal with for the rest of the day.

With just four stages remaining, the general classification battle is all but over, with Dutchman Kruijswijk holding the aforementioned three-minute lead.

In cycling though, three minutes can disappear very quickly, especially with the fight for the rest of the podium still very much alive.

Esteban Chaves and Alejandro Valverde are battling it out for second, while Ilnur Zakarin and Rafal Majka can sneak into the top three, sitting a touch over one minute further back.

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Prediction
Look for a breakaway to take the stage, with a three or four-man sprint for the finish. The jump should happen around halfway, as the previously mentioned gradual ascent from the flats begins to take hold.

Diego Ulissi is a strong favourite to snag another stage victory for Lampre-Merida, while the GC leaders will stay tight in the pack and hold on to the times they have.

As always, check out Brendon Vella’s Stage 18 preview for a more in-depth analysis.

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