POLSA, Italy (AP) — Vincenzo Nibali won the individual mountain time trial in the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Thursday to extend his overall lead.
The Italian finished in 44 minutes, 29 seconds along the 12.8-mile uphill route from Mori to Polsa to win his first stage victory in this year’s race. Samuel Sanchez was 58 seconds behind. Damiano Caruso was third, 1:20 behind Nibali.
Nibali extended his lead to 4:02 over Cadel Evans and remains on course to win his country’s biggest cycling race for the first time. There are three stages remaining.
The 19th stage Friday is the first of two more mountain legs, an 86-mile route from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello.
The Giro ends Sunday in Brescia.
