Belgian Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) won his second victory in the Tour of Italy this year by winning in the sprint this Thursday in Padua at the end of a peaceful day for the favorites. At the end of an 18th stage, on the plain and without impact for the general classification, the Soudal Quick-Step rider beat the Italian Jonathan Milan during a massive sprint.
Three stages from the finish in Rome, Slovenian Tadej Pogacar retains the leader’s pink jersey with a huge lead of 7 min 42 sec over Colombian Daniel Martinez.
“Two wins here, nine this year, it’s a good season for me. We were still in a good place, the last kilometer was very fast and I knew how to wait for my moment,” reacted the 31-year-old Belgian, launched at the kilometer by his teammate Julian Alaphilippe, himself a stage winner there ago. one week.