Ben Healy narrowly denied another stage win at Giro d'Italia

Ireland's Ben Healy finished second on stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday.

The EF Education-Easy Post rider claimed his first ever Grand Tour stage win earlier in the race with victory on stage eight last week and came close to a similar feat again eight days on.

But it was American rider Brandon McNulty of UAE Team Emirates who held off Healy and Marco Frigo to win the stage 15 after a 195km ride from Seregno to Bergamo.

McNulty turned on the afterburners with a perfectly-timed sprint to race past Healy and Frigo (Israel–Premier Tech) in the final 100m to snatch victory.

Healy finished second, ahead of Frigo, who appeared to drop off the pace but exerted a superhuman effort in the home straight to finish inches short of a stage win.

Eddie Dunbar remains on course for a top 10 in the Giro, staying eighth overall in the general classification after finishing 19th on Sunday.

The Corkman who rides for Team Jayco-Alula is three minutes and 40 seconds behind race leader Bruno Armirail of France.

A group of 15 riders, including former Giro d'Italia stage winner Alberto Dainese, built an advantage of over 6:30 after the category one ascent in the first half of the race.

Niccolo Bonifazio (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) attacked with just under 50km left, but was quickly reeled in with 35km to go by the trio of Healy, Frigo and McNulty, who never looked back.

Monday is a rest day on the Giro. Tuesday's stage 16 is mountainous 203-km ride from Sabbio Chiese to Monte Bondone, with over 5,000 metres of elevation.

Additional reporting: Reuters