Vincenzo Nibali wins Giro d'Italia stage 18 time trial to extend race lead

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) consolidated his lead at the Giro d'Italia with victory in stage 18's mountain time trial. In the process, the Sicilian put a huge two minutes and 36 seconds into closest rival Cadel Evans (BMC), and now holds a lead of four minutes and two seconds over him in the General Classification.

The stage win, Nibali's first this Giro, confirms him as comfortably the strongest rider of the race, and it will take a dramatic last few days for anyone to take the pink jersey from him now.

The battle for the podium looks set for a more exciting finale, with Rigoberto Uran (Sky), who finished sixth today, in third at four minutes 12 seconds down, and Michele Scarponi (Lampre), who finished fourth, within touching distance at five minutes 14 seconds.

Another exciting battle is that in the young riders classification. It has been nip and tuck for a while now between Rafal Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Carlos Betancur (Ag2r), and both put in very impressive times today, with Majka fifth and Betancur seventh. The seven seconds gained by Majka is enough to see him usurp the white jersey, and the Pole also moves to sixth overall on the GC.

Second place on the day at nearly a minute down was Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel), who looked for a while as though he may take the stage win, but once Nibali's time checks started to come through it was clear whose hands the win was in.

Sanchez does, however, move into the top 10, and may yet improve his position further with his form evidently improving. Ahead on the stage before him was Damiano Caruso (Cannondale), who had looked to take a much-needed first stage of the Giro for his team, however was pushed down into third.

Stage eight time trial winner Alex Dowsett (Movistar) suffered a mechanical issue with his time trial bike shortly after his start, and was forced to swap to a road machine, losing valuable time and momentum. The Briton eventually finished in 90th place, 5-27 down on Nibali.

Fellow British rider Steve Cummings (BMC) put down an early fast time, and came 26th on the stage, just one place and three seconds behind team-mate Evans.

Tomorrow sees another potentially decisive stage in the mountains. Hopefully we will see some aggressive racing, and a route not heavily revised by the weather conditions.

Re-read Cycling Weekly's live text coverage for Stage 18>>

Results

Giro d'Italia 2013, stage 18: Mori to Polsa, 20.6km ITT

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana in 44-29

2. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 58 secs

3. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale at 1-20

4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 1-21

5. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at 1-25

6. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 1-26

7. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r La Mondiale at 1-32

8. Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco at 1-36

9. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Sky at 1-41

10. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia at 1-52

Other

25. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 2-36

26. Steve Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing at 2-39

29. Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco at 2-55

Overall classification after stage 18

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana in 73-55-58

2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 4-02

3. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 4-12

4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida at 5-14

5. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida at 6-09

6. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at 6-45

7. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r La Mondiale at 6-47

8. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia at 7-30

9. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar at 8-36

10. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 9-34

Cadel Evans

Samuel Sanchez

Vincenzo Nibali

Giro d'Italia 2013: Previews and race info

Giro d'Italia 2013: British TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2013: 10 things you need to know

Giro d'Italia 2013: The Big Preview

Giro d'Italia 2013: Stage reports

Stage 17: Visconti wins from escape

Stage 16: Intxausti continues Movistar's successful Giro with stage win

Stage 15: Visconti wins Galibier stage

Stage 14: Santambrogio wins and Nibali strengthens lead

Stage 13: Cavendish takes his fourth stage win of 2013 Giro

Stage 12: Cavendish takes 100th win as Wiggins' Giro bid faltrs

Stage 11: Navardauskas wins as favourites enjoy day off

Stage 10: Uran wins as Wiggins and Hesjedal lose time

Stage nine: Belkov takes solo win as Wiggins put under pressure

Stage eight: Dowsett wins as Nibali takes race lead

Stage seven: Wiggins crashes as Hansen wins

Stage six: Cavendish wins stage six of Giro

Stage five: Degenkolb avoids crash to take win

Stage four: Battaglin sprints to first Giro stage win

Stage three: Paolini takes charge

Stage two: Sky wins team time trial

Stage one: Cavendish wins opener

Giro d'Italia 2013: Photo galleries

Photos by Graham Watson

Stage 18 gallery

Stage 17 gallery

Stage 16 gallery

Stage 15 gallery

Stage 14 gallery

Stage 13 gallery

Stage 12 gallery

Stage 11 gallery

Stage 10 gallery

Stage nine gallery

Stage eight gallery

Stage seven gallery

Stage six gallery

Stage five gallery

Stage four gallery

Stage three gallery

Stage two gallery

Stage one gallery

Team presentation gallery

Giro d'Italia 2013: Videos

Giro final week preview

Giro week two preview

Giro first week video preview