As Italy's Filippo Zana won stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia, Britain's Geraint Thomas increased his lead in the overall standings.
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| Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |
In a sprint finish, Team Jayco AIula rider Zana defeated Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, with his fellow countryman Warren Barguil coming in third.
The Ineos Guards Thomas resisted Primoz Roglic's attempts to protect the pink jersey and increase his advantage in the race to 29 seconds.
Roglic of Slovenia passed Joao Almeida to take up the second position.
Almedia of UAE Team Emirates, who started the day 18 seconds behind Thomas of Wales, is currently 39 seconds behind.
On his 37th birthday, Thomas rode from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo during the first of two arduous mountain days that came before Saturday's solo time trial.
"It was a nice day, a solid day for sure, to gain time on Almeida and avoid being dropped by Primoz. I felt fairly confident and in charge, he remarked.
Primoz enjoys going hard, taking a break, and then going hard again. I allowed him a few spins before I became unsure about his emotional state. He really squeezed on it again in the final two km; he was quite powerful, but I was satisfied with how it went.
"Obviously, it's wonderful to gain time, but Primoz and Almeida both had awful days recently. I simply need to continue being consistent, day by day, and climb by the climb.
