Belgian rider Dries De Bondt won a four-man sprint to take the last flat stage of a Giro d’Italia that looks like being decided on the last day Sunday, said AP.
Richard Carapaz, the 2019 champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, maintained a three-second lead in the overall standings from Australia’s Jai Hindley, who was runner-up in 2020.
Hindley had a tire puncture within the final three kilometers of the stage — which were neutralized, meaning he was given the same finishing time as the other leaders he was riding with when he had to stop for mechanical help. Mikel Landa stayed third overall, 1:05 behind Carapaz.
The remaining three stages will determine the winner: Grueling mountain legs on Friday and Saturday followed by a hilly individual time trial that ends the race in Verona on Sunday.
João Almeida, the Portuguese rider who stood fourth overall, withdrew before the 18th stage after testing positive for COVID-19. Almeida was 1:54 behind Carapaz.
Two-time winner Vincenzo Nibali — who plans to retire at the end of the season — moved up to fourth, although he remained nearly six minutes off the lead.
The stage ended with a flat circuit around Treviso to conclude a 156-kilometer (97-mile) route from Borgo Valsugana that included two fourth-category climbs.
De Bondt, who rides for the Alpecin-Fenix team, was part of an early four-man breakaway and he sprinted past Edoardo Affini and Magnus Cort Nielsen at the line.
AHN
