The Italian Filippo Zana celebrated a home win on the difficult mountain stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday!
The Jayco teammate of the Austrian Lukas Pöstlberger prevailed on the 161-kilometer 18th stage in Val di Zoldo ahead of the Frenchman Thibaut Pinot. Geraint Thomas defended his overall lead on his 37th birthday. The Welshman is 29 seconds ahead of Slovenian Primoz Roglic, who overtook the Portuguese João Almeida.Patrick Konrad is helping againZana and Pinot were part of a seven-man breakaway group and ended up fighting a sprint duel for the day’s win. For 24-year-old Zana it was the first stage success in a grand tour. Pinot advanced to seventh overall and retains the mountain jersey. Patrick Konrad again provided assistance for Bora captain Lennard Kämna, who maintained his sixth place.The king’s stage awaits on FridayBefore the 106th Tour of Italy is completed in Rome on Sunday, the riders still have to go through two demanding stages in the Dolomites. On Friday, the king’s stage from Longarone to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (183 kilometers) with the extremely difficult final climb to the “Three Peaks” with gradients of 18 percent is on the program. On Saturday, the mountain time trial to Monte Lussari follows, before Sunday the final stage starting and finishing in Rome should be a matter for the sprinters. The result of the 18th stage: 1. Filippo Zana (ITA) Jayco 4:25:12 hrs2. Thibaut Pinot (FRA) Groupama – same time3. Warren Barguil (FRA) Arkea +0:50 mins Next:8. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos +1:5659. Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora +20:00109. Lukas Pöstlberger (AUT) Jayco +35:58The standings in the overall standings:1. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos 76:25:51 hrs2. Primoz Roglic (SLO) Jumbo +0:29 min.3. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE +0:39Next:22. Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora +30:3293. Lukas Pöstlberger (AUT) Jayco +3:23:57
