2014 stage winner Pieter Weening has finished in tenth place having spent the day in a successful break on stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia today. A strong move of 14 riders was allowed some flexibility for the first time this Tour, establishing a 13-minute advantage ahead of the day’s late category one climb.

Weening lost touch on the ascent as four riders rode clear. A chase group of four, including eventual solo winner Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing), bridged across ahead.

“It took 50km for the break to go again today,” sport director Matt White said. “The first hour covered 49km and the second hour was 48km so the first 100km was at warp speed.

"The guys who did make the break today were the guys with some of the best legs at this stage in the Tour.

"There was obviously a few attacks on the climb and Pieter just didn’t have the legs to go with that front group, but he battled on for a solid tenth place.”