Tom Dumoulin held out a hand to Nairo Quintana after the two prepared to warm down on the rollers in the podium area immediately after the stage. Although the Colombian shook hands briefly, there was a distinct lack of respect and sportsmanship between the two after they had attacked each other and then refused to work together in the final kilometres of the 137km stage through the Dolomites to Ortisei.
Dumoulin was angry that Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali had formed a pact to try to stop him winning the Giro d'Italia. After chasing them down over the top of the Passo Gardena, he then responded to Quintana's brief attacks on the final Pontives climb near the finish. When Nibali and Quintana refused to help him chase Thibaut Pinot, Domenico Pozzovivo and Ilnur Zakarin, he let them go clear; pullback precious seconds and so become a threat for the podium places.
They are only focusing on me and trying to make me lose instead of trying to win," Dumoulin lamented to Eurosport. "They lost a lot of time to the other competitors. I really hope that riding like this they will lose their podium spot in Milan, that would be really nice, and I would be really happy."
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With the mountain stages to Piancavallo and Asiago and then the time trail to Milan remaining. Dumoulin still leads Quintana by just 31 seconds, with Nibali third at 1:12. Pinot moved up much closer to the podium and is fourth at 1:36, with Zakarin also closer in fifth at 1:58.
Read more on this story
- Giro d'Italia: Van Garderen wins in St. Ulrich
- Nibali annoyed by Dumoulin's 'cocky' criticism of tactics
- Giro d'Italia: Yates distances Jungels as white jersey competition comes alive
- After a slow spring, Dombrowski building form in Giro d'Italia's third week
- Giro d'Italia: Stage 18 highlights - Video
- Dumoulin: I really hope Quintana and Nibali lose their podium spots
Last chance on the climb to Piancavallo?
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