Giro d’Italia Stage 18: Simon Yates shows weakness as Max Schachmann takes stage win from the break (+ videos)

Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) leads the Giro d’Italia by just 28 seconds after finally showing weakness on the first of three consecutive summit finishes.

The 196km stage from Abbiategrasso to Prato Nevoso featured a long flat start and then a summit finish. The breakaway managed to stay away and 24-year-old German rider Maximillian Schachmann (Quick-Step Floors) took his maiden Grand Tour stage victory.

The main drama, however, was still to come.

Yates’s closest rival, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) attacked with about 1.5km but couldn’t shake the race leader or third-placed Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida).

Chris Froome (Team Sky) quickly followed them, then counter-attacked, and it was at this point that Yates was dropped.

Is the pink jersey under threat from Tom Dumoulin?#Giro101 pic.twitter.com/JxLUEA9Vh9

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 24, 2018

Froome, Dumoulin and Pozzovivo caught up with Froome’s team-mate Wout Poels up ahead and the Dutchman drove them on until he somewhat bizarrely took a wrong turning.

Oh dear, Wout Poels! #Giro101 pic.twitter.com/VNdluH38bW

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 24, 2018

Yates, meanwhile, was struggling to hold the wheels and by the finish had surrendered half of his advantage.

Speaking after the stage, he said: “I just had no legs at the end. But it's ok. I did the best I could and I'm still happy with the remaining lead I have. I'm still ahead so it's fine with me.”