In 2009 Philip Deignan won a stage and finished in the top 10 at the Vuelta a Espana but since then he has failed to reproduce that kind of performances. Having joined Sky over the winter, he seems to be getting back to his best level and today he finished 3rd in a big mountain stage in the Giro d'Italia.

Philip Deignan produced one of the best climbing performances of his career to claim third place on the stage 18 summit finish at the Giro d'Italia.

For the second stage in succession, the Irishman infiltrated the day’s break and was full of riding as the lead group hit the final climb up to Rifugio Panarotta.

Marking the moves on the steep ramps, Deignan followed the wheel of eventual stage winner Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing) as the Colombian looked to bridge across to Team Sky’s Dario Cataldo.

The Italian’s presence in the break gave the team two cards to play, but it was Deignan who pushed onwards to claim third, 37 seconds back on the day’s winner as he continues to recapture the form that he showed back in 2009.

Cataldo maintained his battling and gutsy race, completing the stage in eighth and battling the blue jersey of Arredondo for mountains points along the 171-kilometre route.

The peloton behind began to eat into the advantage of the 14 escapees and, once again, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was equal to the challenge to retain the pink jersey.

"We were interested in getting in the break," said Sports Director Dario Cioni after the stage. "It wasn’t an easy one as it took some time to get going. By the time it went the peloton were starting to climb which maybe made it a bit easier. Dario was in the first group and then Philip bridged with a few other riders.

"Dario had been very active since the beginning and out of 14 riders it was great to get two from our team in there – especially two riders who were so well-suited to the terrain.

"It wasn’t the toughest climb from a gradient point of view but it was a long climb and the riders aren’t as fresh now nearly three weeks in. Our guys did a great job. Dario maybe paid for all the work he did early on. Philip did a brilliant job and up to the final two or three kilometres we were in the mix for the win. Arredondo then just showed he had a little bit more so hats off to him.”