The German Nico Denz wins the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia, which ends in Ceseno Maderno near Switzerland. The overall classification remains unchanged ahead of the big day on Friday.
29.05.2025, 17:54
29.05.2025, 18:24
SDA
Nico Denz! For the third time, the 31-year-old won a stage of the Giro d'Italia - and he did it just as he did on the first two occasions two years ago. Denz, from the previously disappointing Red Bull Bora team of Primoz Roglic and Jai Hindley, was part of a larger group that broke away from the peloton. Denz later surprised his fellow escapees, including Yannis Voisard (the only Swiss rider at the Giro), and reached the finish solo.
In addition to his three stage wins at the Giro, Nico Denz's greatest successes include winning stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse 2022 from Locarno up to Moosalp.
Juan Ayuso, a professional who had helped shape the Giro for two weeks, retired from the race on Ascension Thursday. The 22-year-old Spaniard was stung by a bee near his eye shortly before the start. The swelling impaired his vision. Ayuso won the 7th stage of this Giro and was in second place overall for a long time, albeit behind team-mate Isaac del Toro. Two days after his stage win, Ayuso injured his knee. At the time of his retirement, he was already 49 minutes behind (26th place).
The peloton with all the overall classification riders took it easy on the stage towards Switzerland and along Lake Como. The peloton lost 11:45 minutes to Nico Denz by the finish. The pros who are competing for overall victory in the Giro will be challenged again on Friday. The 19th stage leads uphill for 70 kilometers. 4900 vertical meters are on the program with a final mountain classification five kilometers before the finish.
