'Nothing crazy happened' – Vine keeps Almeida in the hunt at Giro d'Italia

Best young riders white jersey UAE Team Emirates rider Joao Almeida rides with teammates during stage 18 of the Giro dItalia 2023
Best young riders white jersey UAE Team Emirates rider Joao Almeida rides with teammates during stage 18 of the Giro dItalia 2023 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

It could have gone a lot worse for João Almeida on stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia. If Jay Vine hadn't been there, it almost certainly would have. After shaking the race with his attack at Monte Bondone two days previously, Almeida found himself in the damage limitation business at Val di Zoldo. The Giro giveth and the Giro taketh away.

On Tuesday, Almeida's stage victory had lifted him ahead of Primoz Roglič and into second overall. Here, he conceded 21 seconds to the Slovenian and to maglia rosa Geraint Thomas after being distanced on the penultimate ascent of Coi, dropping to third overall at 39 seconds in the process.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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