Giro d'Italia 2026 Stage 18 recap - Paul Magnier makes it a hat-trick of stages, re-takes points jersey

And if it's hot, as it looks like it might be, it'll be even more brutal. But the Dolomites is home to some of the most incredible mountain scenery in Europe, so at least we'll be able to enjoy the views.

Five thousand metres of climbing, taking riders to the highest point of the whole Giro. Cima Coppi for first rider over the Giau. See you back here tomorrow.

Soudal-Quickstep set up their fastman for a brilliant third victory in three weeks, with the Frenchman finishing it off having previously believed he wouldn’t even get the chance to sprint. A short but steep 4th category climb 10km from the finish had been expected to wreak havoc with the plans of those hoping for a gallop, but Magnier’s team-mates ensured the race came back together. They proceeded to deliver their man into the home straight in the perfect position to do what he does best.

At the start of the day, many teams had given Stage 18 at most a 40% chance of ending with a bunch hit-out. The profile favoured either a big early break staying away, or a reduced group getting clear on the Muro di Ca' del Poggio.

In the end, the determination of many teams to escape was matched by the commitment of others to contain them. Only four riders were able to escape the clutches of the bunch, but it took them 80km to do so. Mattia Bais and Andrea Mifsud (Polti VistiMalta) were joined by James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost) and then Jonas Geens (Alpecin-Premier Tech.) 

The quartet were given enough leeway to mop up the few mountains and intermediate sprint points, but not enough to be a threat to the stage. Lidl-Trek controlled the gap for most of the day, with assistance from NSN Cycling. 

Geens was the last man standing, and he was swept up just after the Red Bull Sprint. It was expected that Jhonatan Narvaez’s UAE would set him up for an attack on the Muro, but instead it was the heavyweight Jonathan Milan first onto the steep grades. Despite earlier claims that it would prove too hard for them, the sprinters showed they had what it took to stay in touch with the front of the race.

Halfway up, Milan was caught and passed by a resurgent Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious) who had earlier been the victim of an unfortunate feedzone crash. The Portuguese rider’s move inspired the maglia rosa to stretch his legs, and a small group of mainly GC contenders gained a gap going over the top.

It was only ten seconds at most, however, and there was enough firepower behind to stitch two seams back together, with the quintessential sprint outfit, Soudal Quickstep, taking charge of the finale.

Between them, they made sure Magnier was never out of position, with Jasper Stuyven directing the race from the flamme rouge to the last right bend 300m from the finish. All Magnier needed to do was follow the wheel and launch at the right moment.

The Frenchman lit the boosters and made like a rocket on the slight uphill to the line. Starting in fourth wheel, Milan was always playing catch-up, having to negotiate Stuyven as he sat up, and could do no better than third. Second went to Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious), who maintained a lock on Magnier’s wheel at all times. 

The result returned Magnier to the lead in the points competition, with two mountain stages and an expected sprint finish in Rome to come.

The Bahrain rider was going for second, picked Magnier's wheel and was immovable from it. Magnier had to go the long way around Stuyven which meant he could manage no better.

He made it look easy but that was brilliant. Jasper Stuyven was lead-out extraordinaire, giving his sprinter an armchair ride around the sweeping right hand bend before the final straight, nudging two irritants out of the way and moving aside for Magnier to launch. Milan took up the gallop in his unmistakebale style but he was just too far back to make any difference to the result.

We will have a fastmen showdown.

Bearing down on Eulalio and Kulset. I think we're going to get a sprint.

He wants to bring these two back. Wet roads at the finish may make things tricky.

Stealing a march on the maglia rosa group with Kulset of Uno-X.

Hindley hasn't missed out, but one or two from the top ten must have. Who's going to shut this down from behind?

I may have spoken too soon. Alessandro Pinarello is riding his heart out for Corbin Strong who is in this front group.

Catching Eulalio 100m to the top. And there's a gap to a group behind. Will they take it up from here? I think probably not. The sprinters didn't lose anything like as much as we expected.

Adrenaline pumping, he opens up a gap. Still no sign of Narvaez. Milan is bossing this.

Milan takes it on from the start. It's a narrow road but it looks hellishly steep from the start. Vingegaard rolls to the front just staying safe.