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Affini attacks, Van Dijke gets boxed in on eighteenth stage Giro d'Italia

Affini attacks, Van Dijke gets boxed in on eighteenth stage Giro d'Italia

In the penultimate flat stage of the Giro d'Italia, Tim van Dijke finished seventeenth. The 24-year-old Dutchman got boxed in at a crucial moment, preventing him from sprinting for the top spots. Earlier in the stage, Edoardo Affini was part of the breakaway. The win was for Tim Merlier.

After the past mountain stages, there was another chance for the sprinters in Padova. After the start in Fiera di Primiera, a short climb awaited the riders. After that it was almost flat until the finish. In the opening kilometres, Affini tried to set up the early breakaway, but he did not get space from the sprinters' teams. Moments later, four other riders did manage to form the good breakaway. The peloton did not give them much space.

With sixty kilometres to go, the four leaders seemed to be caught by the peloton. At that moment Affini still made the jump to the leading group. The lead of the five never grew beyond half a minute. They were caught at ten kilometres from the finish, after which the peloton prepared for a bunch sprint. Affini piloted Van Dijke to the front at the right moment, but at a crucial moment the Dutchman got boxed in. Van Dijke eventually finished seventeenth.

"I will try it again in Rome"

Tim van Dijke

“It was a fast and tricky final, but I felt very good”, Van Dijke said afterwards. “Edoardo was also strong today. After his efforts in the attack, he still did a great job to put me in a good position. At 900 metres from the finish line, there was an important corner. I was well placed there. From then on, I expected a peloton drawn to a ribbon, but that was not the case. The speed decreased, leaving me swamped by the riders behind me. Unfortunately, I was too far away to fully sprint. Fortunately, the feeling was good. I will try it again in Rome.”

Giro d'Italia

Stage 18

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