Giro 2021: Bettiol solos to victory, Bernal retains pink jersey

foto: Cor VosBreakaway rider Rémi Cavagna attacks with 26 kilometres remaining. Alberto Bettiol tracks him down in the last 7 kilometres and continues with a powerful solo. The peloton takes it easy and crosses the line almost 24 minutes later. Egan Bernal stays in the maglia rosa. (Slideshow route/profile)

Uitslag 18e etappe Giro d’Italia 2021

1. Alberto Bettiol (ita)
2. Simone Consonni (ita) + 0.17
3. Nicolas Roche (irl) s.t.
4. Nikias Arndt (ger) s.t.
5. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
6. Samuele Battistella (ita) s.t.
7. Filippo Zana (ita) s.t.
8. Natnael Tesfatsion (eri) s.t.
9. Rémi Cavagna (fra) + 0.24
10. Jacopo Mosca (ita) + 1.12

Peloton at 23.31 minutes

Klassement na 18e etappe

1. Egan Bernal (col)
2. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 2.21
3. Simon Yates (gbr) + 3.23
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 6.03
5. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 6.09
6. Romain Bardet (fra) + 6.31
7. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) + 7.17
8. João Almeida (por) + 8.45
9. Tobias Foss (nor) + 9.18
10. Daniel Martin (irl) + 13.37

Race report
After 30 kilometres of hard racing a group of 24 riders breaks clear. Gorka Izagirre, Rémi Cavagna, Patrick Bevin, Diego Ulissi, Nico Denz, Samuele Rivi, Stefano Oldani, Gianni Vermeersch, Wesley Kreder, Andrea Vendrame, Nikias Arndt, Alessandro Covi, Andrii Ponamar, Alberto Bettiol, Francesco Gavazzi, Simon Pellaud, Samuele Battistella, Filippo Zana, Nicolas Roche, Natnael Tesfatsion, Simone Consonni, Jacopo Mosca and Dario Cataldo carve out a gap of more than 15 minutes.

Bevin goes on the attack shortly after entering the hilly zone of the last 35 kilometres. After a regroupment Cavagna strikes on the second climb. He reaches the summit 22 seconds ahead of the chasers.

The French time trialist extends his lead before Bettiol tracks him down with a well timed effort. The Italian continues solo to take the first Giro stage victory of his career.

Another interesting read: route 18th stage 2021 Giro.