Almost nobody predicted a bunch sprint at the end of Stage 18, but Soudal Quick-Step didn’t care about the script.
The opening 60 kilometers of the day were frantic, as attacks flew off the front of the peloton. It took an hour and a half of racing before a four-man breakaway finally stuck. Behind it, the sprinters’ teams kept a handle on the gap, catching the break around the 20km mark.
The real threat to the fast men was the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio looming near the finish. The wall is only one kilometer in length but averages 11% with spikes hitting 20%. Magnier was caught out on the steepest slopes, but his teammates paced him back to the front group.
Once back in the mix, Jasper Stuyven delivered a leadout for the ages through the technical closing kilometer, dropping Magnier off in perfect position with 200 meters to ride.
The 21-year-old Frenchman unleashed his sprint and put a full bike length into the rest of the podium to score his third victory of this year’s Giro. And, if you’re counting, also Soudal Quick-Step’s 131st historic Grand Tour victory. Magnier reclaimed the maglia ciclamino with this win.
Results
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