Giro d’Italia: Tim Merlier nabs a second wins on stage 18 as Milan loses position in mad dash into Padova

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Belgian sprinter TIm Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) narrowly clinched his second stage of the 2024 Giro d’Italia after fending off a ferocious but overly late charge for the line by overwhelming favourite Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek).

Milan’s Lidl-Trek troops had controlled much of the 178 kilometre stage between Fiera di Primiero and Padova, but the points leader was positioned too far back as the pack swept into the final metres and the Italian had to settle for second.  Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) claimed third.