A van-tastic day for Tejay in the Giro

American Tejay van Garderen sprinted to a first Grand Tour victory ahead of Team Sky’s King of the Mountains leader Mikel Landa on stage 18 of the Giro d’italia, where Tom Dumoulin retained his overall lead.

The 137 kilometres from Moena to a summit finish at Ortisei featured five categorised climbs through the Dolomites, which saw BMC Racing’s Van Garderen pass Landa on the final corner of the uphill finish with Frenchman Thibaut Pinot third for FDJ.

Dutchman Dumoulin, meanwhile, led Giro rivals Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali over the finish in ninth place, one minute and five seconds off the pace, so keeping his 31-second advantage over Movistar’s Quintana. The race leader was less than impressed with the approach of his rivals during yesterday’s stage.

“I was feeling really good and did not lose any time to Quintana and Nibali, I did a little bit to the other contenders, because Vincenzo and Nairo were only focusing on my wheel,” he said.

“It was a bit of a strange tactic because their podium spot is also in danger now, and I really would like to see them losing it because of this riding.”

British rider Adam Yates ended in the white jersey for the leading young rider.