Breakaway rider Damiano Cima (NIPPO Vini Fantini Faizane) won stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia in the most dramatic circumstances. The peloton caught up with the breakaway in the last few metres, but Cima just had enough power to sprint to the win ahead of Pascal Ackermann (BORA-hansgrohe). Simone Consonni (UAE-Team Emirates) crossed the line in third place in a hectic finish.

The result is Nippo Vini Fantini Faizane’s first ever Giro stage victory. Cima rode bravely in the break with Mirco Maestri (Bardiani-CSF) and Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale), but as the bunch caught up in the final metres Maestri would end up tenth and Denz outside the top ten.

Richard Carapaz remains in the Maglia Rosa, 1’54” ahead of Vincenzo Nibali (Team Bahrain Merida) and 2’16” in front of Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma).

See the VelonLive infographics from Stage 18 below.