Giro d’Italia 2023: Brandon McNulty denies Ben Healy to win Stage 15, Bruno Armirail loses time but keeps pink

21.05.2023 - 15:49 eurosport.com

Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) took a maiden Grand Tour win on Stage 15’s ‘mini Lombardia’ at the Giro d’Italia after edging out Ben Healy (EF Education–EasyPost) and Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech).

The American closed down an earlier move from Healy, then clung to him on the last climb as the pair went into the finale together – unaware that their cat-and-mouse tactics were allowing Frigo back into contention.

Ad Frigo roared past the pair and looked good for a sprint win, only for McNulty and Healy to surge back past and finish one-two.

Giro d'ItaliaHealy and Rubio have argy-bargy for KOM points as fans rush to get out of way3 HOURS AGO Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) will take the maglia rosa into the second rest day despite losing time on the final climb, with Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) only mounting brief attacks.

sprint win PINK Giro Geraint Thomas Usa Uae Israel

:Primoz Roglic became the first Slovenian winner of the Giro d'Italia when he retained the overall lead after Sunday's 21st and final stage in Rome, a day after he ousted Geraint Thomas from the maglia rosa in a dramatic time trial.

Primoz Roglic closes in on Giro d'Italia title, Ottawa's Gee 31st on penultimate stage

Primoz Roglic all but secured the Giro d'Italia title on Saturday by overtaking leader Geraint Thomas on the penultimate stage despite having a mechanical problem on the mountain time trial.

Geraint Thomas or Primoz Roglic - Who will win and where will Giro d'Italia 2023 be decided?

Primoz Roglic looks the biggest threat to Geraint Thomas’ dream of winning the Giro d’Italia after an improved performance on Stage 18, but The Breakaway team remain unconvinced he can topple the Welshman. Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) extended his lead in the general classification to 29 seconds on Thursday after following the resurgent Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) to the line, with Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) slipping from second to third after losing ground on his two big rivals. Ad The day began with Jens Voigt writing off Roglic’s hopes, suggesting the best he could hope for was third after he failed to stick with Almeida and Thomas on Stage 16.

Geraint Thomas feels consistency is key to fending off Primoz Roglic and Joao Almeida for Giro d'Italia win

Geraint Thomas was delighted with how he weathered an attack from Primoz Roglic on Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia, as he protected his race lead. Roglic shipped time on Tuesday to suggest he was not at his best, but two days on, the Slovenian put his Jumbo-Visma team to work before launching an attack on the penultimate climb of the day. Ad Joao Almeida started the day in second place, but the UAE Team Emirates leader could not hold the wheel and lost time on the day.

Giro d'Italia 2023: Filippo Zana outduels Thibaut Pinot in thrilling finish on Stage 18, Geraint Thomas stays in pink

Thibaut Pinot’s pursuit of a fairy tale ending to his final Giro d’Italia was derailed by the Italian champion Filippo Zana (Team Jayco-AlUla) in a thrilling two-way sprint at the end of the first of two massive days in the Dolomites. French veteran Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) crested four climbs in pole position to move back into the blue jersey – but his missed out on that elusive win by a whisker after Zana outlasted him on the home straight in Stage 18.