Giro d'Italia 2020: ‘The pink jersey’s gone!’ – Leader Joao Almeida cracks on Stelvio

ByBen Snowball

Updated 22/10/2020 at 20:30 GMT

The GC was shaken up on the mighty Stelvio at the Giro d’Italia as Joao Almeida cracked under fierce examination. The Portuguese rider held a 17-second lead heading into Stage 18.

Joao Almeida (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) saw his maglia rosa hopes evaporate on the punishing Stelvio climb on Stage 18 at the Giro d’Italia.

The Portuguese rider held a 17-second advantage in the general classification ahead of Thursday’s run from Pinzolo to Laghi di Cancano.

But he was unable to hold a brutal tempo from Team Sunweb, who were hoping to propel second-placed Wilco Kelderman into the lead.

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‘Looks like he could be in real trouble’ – Leader Joao Almeida cracks on Stelvio

Almeida was not the only rider to suffer, with the fancied Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) also falling back.

The fierce pace left a four-strong group of Kelderman and Jai Hindley (both Sunweb) and Tao Geoghegan Hart and Rohan Denis (both Ineos Grenadiers) – only for Kelderman to drop back to further spice up a thrilling day.

Hindley and Geoghegan Hart, third and fourth in GC, sat 2:58 and 2:59 behind respectively ahead of Stage 18.

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