Merlier Secures Victory in the 18th Stage of the Giro With a Sprint, While Pogacar Maintains His Lead.

Tim Merlier claimed victory in the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday in a hectic bunch sprint, while Tadej Pogacar maintained his commanding lead on a relatively calm day for the presumptive champion.

 

Belgian rider Merlier narrowly outpaced local favorite Jonathan Milan at the finish line in Padova after covering 178 kilometers, securing his second win in this year’s Giro. Despite both Merlier and Milan finding themselves boxed in during the chaotic finale of the race, Merlier managed to hold off his Italian rival in the final meters.

 

“Coming from the back is not that easy but we managed well to find a good position,” said Merlier. “I could feel someone coming on the left… then I saw it was Milan on my left and I jumped. A really good jump was necessary.”

 

Merlier’s duels with Milan, who maintains the cyclamen jersey for sprinters with a substantial lead over Kaden Groves, have been a highlight of this year’s Giro. Milan claimed victory on stage 11 by using Merlier’s slipstream, while Merlier triumphed over Milan on stage three.

 

With one more sprint opportunity remaining in Sunday’s final stage in Rome, Merlier is aiming to equal Milan’s tally of three stage wins this year. “It would be nice to have 3-3 but we will see,” added Merlier.

 

Pogacar currently holds a comfortable lead of seven minutes and 42 seconds over Daniel Martinez with three stages remaining, putting him on the brink of overall victory. The UAE rider is poised to become the first cyclist since Marco Pantini in 1998 to win both the Giro and the Tour de France.

 

“It was a perfect day, with good legs, I’m very happy with my day,” said Pogacar.

 

The next two stages will see the peloton return to the mountains, with Friday’s stage finishing in Sappada near the Austrian border, followed by Saturday’s challenging double ascent of Monte Grappa, the final opportunity for contenders to make a move in the general classification.

 

While Pogacar’s position at the top seems secure, the battle for podium places remains fiercely contested as the Top 10 riders vie for position.