Escaped with six other riders, including Warren Barguil (3rd overall) and Aurélien Paret-Peintre (5th), the Groupama-FDJ climber was beaten in a sprint by the Italian champion, Filippo Zana, with whom he had gone on the attack in the last two climbs.

In the end, the observation is cruel: it is already the fifth time this season that Pinot finishes on the second step of the podium, after the Tour du Doubs, the Tour du Jura, the Tour de Romandie and the 13th stage of this Giro, Friday in Crans Montana.

The Franc-Comtois, who turns 33 on Monday and has not raised his arms since his victory in the Tour de Suisse in June 2022, probably missed his last opportunity to win the Giro d'Italia before retiring at the end of the season.

Because the legs may be heavy on Friday during the queen stage to the Tre Cime di Lavardo, the roof of this 106th edition, where we expect a great explanation between favorites.

Thibaut Pinot with the blue jersey of best climber of the Giro at the finish of the 18th stage, May 25, 2023 in Zoldo Alto © Luca Bettini / AFP

Britain's Geraint Thomas, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Thursday, is still in pink with 29 seconds ahead of Slovenian Primoz Roglic, his new runner-up.

The two men made a small gap on the third favorite, the Portuguese Joao Almeida who failed to keep up with their acceleration but still managed to limit the damage to keep his place on the podium, 39 seconds behind Thomas.

"The opportunity of a lifetime"

"It's a good day. I stayed with Primoz and we managed to take some time on Joao. But we must remain cautious. Roglic had a bad day the other day and today it was Almeida's turn," said the pink jersey.

Arriving about two minutes ahead of the favourites, Pinot is back in the overall where he is now in seventh place, 4 min 43 behind the leader. He can also console himself for having taken back the blue jersey of best climber after having refueled at the top of all the passes.

Britain's Geraint Thomas still leader of the Giro after the 18th stage, on May 25, 2023 in Val di Zoldo © Luca Bettini / AFP

But it was clearly the disappointment that prevailed for the Frenchman, that we could see the haggard and curled up on himself at the end of the stage.

Yet he had done the right thing by hanging a breakaway of strong riders in the company of two other Frenchmen. Unlike the stage in Crans Montana, where he screamed his frustration after the lack of cooperation of his runaway companions, the understanding in the group this time was perfect until the end.

Italian Filippo Zana wins the 18th stage of the Giro, on May 25, 2023 in Val di Zoldo © Luca BETTINI / AFP

And it is at the pedal that Pinot won all this pretty world, except the amazing Filippo Zana, 24 years old, sublimated by wearing the jersey of national champion.

"It's already a dream to be at this Giro. So to win a stage, with the Italian champion jersey, it's incredible. It was the opportunity of a lifetime," jubilant the Jayco-AlUla runner.

© 2023 AFP