Results Giro d'Italia 2026 stage 18 - Paul Magnier takes back maglia ciclamino as sprinters steal the show at Pieve di Soligo

Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia was a day with a very explosive finale. There were attacks from GC riders, there were splits, a lot of tension but in the end a sprint finale. Paul Magnier has taken his third stage win and returned to the maglia ciclamino after the sprinters had their way in Pieve di Soligo.

The flat nature to the start of the day made it hard to form a breakaway, however eventually four riders went up the road in what was the right move. Polti duo Mattias Bais and Andrea Misfud; Jonas Geens and James Shaw formed the day's breakaway. However the move never had high hopes, as the peloton comfortably controlled the gap behind, with Lidl-Trek being the main working force.

The stage was marked by the crash of white jersey Afonso Eulálio with just under 50 kilometers to go, however the Portuguese rider managed to regain position in the peloton. Approaching the final climb, which would summit with only 10 kilometers to go, there was also a split in the peloton which briefly caused concern for the main riders - however it was closed. Geens was caught almost at the base of the climb, with a full-on leadout between sprinter and GC teams.

It was Unibet Rose Rockets who entered the Muro di ca'del Poggio with Jonathan Milan following. Afonso Eulálio attacked shortly after, creating a gap over the peloton whilst Sepp Kuss controlled the climb for Jonas Vingegaard.

The Dane went to capture a few more KOM points at the summit of the climb, and then a split happened in the peloton with around 15 riders in front. The opportunity to grab a stage win existed amongst the many GC outsiders and puncheurs that survived the pace on the climb; whilst NSN put a man in front working for Corbin Strong who made the front split together with Orluis Aular.

Johannes Kulset then attacked with Eulálio following him with 5 kilometers to go. With 3.5 kilometers to go the gap was of 10 seconds and as the peloton connected with the GC group, Derek Gee hit the front immediately and began chasing down the move.

In the final kilometer Jasper Stuyven brought Paul Magnier to the front, although it was a very technical finale. Magnier was the first to launch the sprint in Pieve di Soligo whilst the several corners and wet roads made it impossible for anyone to come from behind. Edoardo Zambanini and Jonathan Milan were second and third on the day.