Giro d’Italia 2023 Stage 18 recap – Filippo Zana denies Thibaut Pinot as Primoz Roglic roars back, Geraint Thomas keeps pink

Yesterday, local rider Alberto Dainese (Team DSM) picked up a second career stage win on the Giro after a textbook leadout by his team-mates in Caorle. Jonathan Milan came too late and had to settle for a fourth second place in this race - which means no sprinters have yet to double up in this Giro. It was an emotional moment for Dainese who, just three days earlier, was battling to stay in the race. Broadsided by illness, he rode most of Sunday's stage to Bergamo just ahead of the broom wagon en route to finishing last. Here's how he took his win yesterday.

Portugal's Joao Almeida picked up his first stage win on the Giro two days ago and is now 18 seconds down on Thomas at the top. He's finished 4th and 6th before - if he's on course for a career-first podium finish this May, will it be on the top step? He's got the form and a super strong UAE Team Emirates behind him.

From the white corner to the yellow corner, there's also Primoz Roglic to factor in. The Slovenian lost a bit of time on Tuesday at Monte Bondone despite his Jumbo Visma team putting in a big shift. He's still only 29 seconds back - and if he can shake off those knocks from his earlier falls, he could and should be right in the mix today.

Ciao ragazzi! And welcome to live coverage of Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia - the first of two brutal back-to-back days in the Dolomites. It's race leader Geraint Thomas's 37th birthday - will he be celebrating with another pink jersey and perhaps a maiden Giro stage win? Or will his GC rivals Joao Almeida and Primoz Roglic get the better of him? Stay tuned to find out...