2023 Giro d’Italia: Stage 18 Results

Filipo Zana of the Jayco-Alula team survived the break to win atop Val di Zoldo ahead of Thibaut Pinot in Stage 18 of the 2023 Giro d’Italia.

Stage 18 was classified as a high mountain stage, with five classified climbs and an uphill finish with ramps up to 19% in the final kilometers. The route climbs the Passo della Crosetta (11 km, 7% gradient), reaching the Cansiglio, and then descends or undulates, twisting continuously, through the Piave valley, all the way to Pieve di Cadore. The race enters the Boite valley and climbs the Forcella Cibiana (9.6 km, 8% gradient), then enters the Val di Zoldo for the closing ascent.

The last 15 km in the Val di Zoldo feature two categorised climbs. Coi, the first one, has uphill gradients of nearly 20%; the roadway is narrowed at points, but well paved. The finish is 5 km from the summit. A short descent leads into the final 3 km, with gradients hovering around 6%. Eight consecutive switchbacks lead into the home straight (300 m long and 7 m wide).

As we tuned into live coverage, a lead group composed of Aurelien Paret-Peintre (ACT), Vadim Pronskiy (AST), Thibaut Pinot (GFC), Marco Frigo (IPT), Derek Gee (IPT), Warren Barguil (ARK), and Filippo Zana (JAY) were out front.

With 50km remaining, the leaders had opened more than a 5 minute gap over the maglia rosa group. Two sprints and three climbs remained.

The lead held with a fractured group of leaders still holding over a four minute lead with less than 8km to go. Back in the peloton, Sep Kuss and Primoz Roglic were attacking the maglia rosa group, but Geraint Thomas was not letting them go.

5km to go and Pinot, Zana and Gee were the only riders of the original seven still out front with a lead of just over 3 minutes over the peloton, but mere seconds to the maglia rosa group of Thomas, Kuss, and Roglic.

On the final climb, it came down to a two man sprint between Pinot and Zana. Pinot was still looking for a final win here before he retires, but it was Zana who had the legs to take the win.

Speaking seconds after the finish, the stage winner Filippo Zana said: “I still can’t believe it. I have to thank the team because they gave me this opportunity. I arrived at the Giro at 100%. I played my cards right in the final, it was an opportunity of those that come around a few times in life and I took it. To win wearing the Tricolore is something special.”

The Maglia Rosa Geraint Thomas said: “It’s a pleasant day. I take time on Almeida and didn’t get dropped by Primoz. I felt pretty good, always under control but Primoz obviously went hard. It wasn’t easy. It’s nice to have doubled the advantage over Almeida but Primoz had a bad day the other day, Almeida today, I just want to be consistent till the end.”

2023 Giro d’Italia: Stage 18 Brief Results

1. Filippo Zana (JAY) at 4h25’12”
2. Thibaut Pinot (GFC) s.t.
3. Warren Barguil (ARK) at 50″
4. Derek Gee (IPT) at 1’03”
5. Aurelien Paret-Peintre (ACT) at 1’24”
6. Marco Frigo (IPT) s.t.
7. Primoz Roglic (TJV) at 1’56”
8. Geraint Thomas (IGD) s.t.
9. Joao Almeida (UAD) at 2’17”
10. Edward Dunbar (JAY) at 2’32”

General Classification after Stage 18:

1. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers)
2. Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) at 29″
3. João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 39″

Jerseys:

• Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers)
• Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it – Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious)
• Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ)
• Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)