# 2018 Giro d'Italia

The 2018 Giro d'Italia was the 101st edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races. The race started in Jerusalem on 4 May, with a 9.7 km (6 mi) individual time trial followed by two additional stages within Israel. After a rest day, there were 18 further stages in Italy before the tour reached the finish in Rome on 27 May.
The race was won by Team Sky's Chris Froome, the first British rider to win the race. In winning, Froome completed a hat-trick of consecutive Grand Tour victories, becoming the first rider since Bernard Hinault to hold all three Grand Tour titles simultaneously. His victory was highlighted by an audacious 80 km solo breakaway to win the mountainous stage 19; attacking the small group of leaders including reigning champion Tom Dumoulin on the Cima Coppi of the 2018 Giro, the graveled climb of the Colle delle Finestre, he continued to extend his lead over the Sestriere and to the summit finish of Bardonecchia and overturned a more than three minute deficit to take both the pink jersey, the Cima Coppi prize and the mountains classification. The solo win, and the simultaneous implosion of long-time race leader Simon Yates, who lost more than 30 minutes on the day having lost contact on the first climb of the day, was described as "one of the most extraordinary days in Giro d'Italia history".

## History

The Giro Big Start, touted as one of the most expensive sporting events in Israel's history, was largely financed by Canadian-Israeli mogul Sylvan Adams with the help of Israel's Tourism and Transportation Ministries. The 21-stage race began with a 10-kilometer time trial in Jerusalem, followed by a 167-kilometer race from Haifa to Tel Aviv, and a 229-kilometer race from Beersheba to Eilat. They were the first stages of any Grand Tour event ever that have been held outside Europe.
The 2018 Giro d'Italia Israel start was held to pay tribute to Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, a three-time winner of the Giro d'Italia. Bartali helped rescue hundreds of Italian Jews during the Holocaust and was recognized by Yad Vashem in 2013 as Righteous Among the Nations.
The race was won by Team Sky's Chris Froome, who therefore held all three Grand Tour titles simultaneously and became the first British cyclist to win the overall classification in the Giro. Froome crashed during a recon ride ahead of the prologue and lost time consistently over the first two weeks. In the final week, however, he won a stage that ended with the climb of Monte Zoncolan, then took back several minutes on all his rivals in Stage 19 with a ride described as "one for the history books". He ended up defeating the defending champion, Tom Dumoulin, by 46 seconds.

## Teams

All 18 UCI WorldTeams were automatically invited and were obliged to attend the race. Four wildcard UCI Professional Continental teams were also selected. Each team started with eight riders (one less than in the previous year).
Lotto–Soudal chose to compete under a different name from the rest of the season: they became Lotto Fix ALL, using the name of a product made by Soudal, their normal sponsor.
The teams entering the race were:
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R La Mondiale
* Astana
* Bahrain–Merida
* BMC Racing Team
* Bora–Hansgrohe
* EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale
* Team Dimension Data
* Groupama–FDJ
* Team Katusha–Alpecin
* LottoNL–Jumbo
* Lotto Fix ALL
* Movistar Team
* Mitchelton–Scott
* Quick-Step Floors
* Team Sky
* Team Sunweb
* Trek–Segafredo
* UAE Team Emirates
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Bardiani–CSF
* Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec
* Israel Cycling Academy
* Wilier Triestina–Selle Italia

## Pre-race favorites

The main pre-race favorites were reigning Tour de France and Vuelta a España champion Chris Froome (Team Sky), defending champion Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) and Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates). Other general classification contenders were Miguel Ángel López (Astana), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama–FDJ), Wout Poels (Team Sky), Simon Yates and Esteban Chaves (both Mitchelton–Scott), George Bennett (LottoNL–Jumbo), Louis Meintjes (Team Dimension Data), Michael Woods (EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale), Davide Formolo (Bora–Hansgrohe), Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing Team) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain–Merida).
Sprinters at the Giro included Elia Viviani, Jakub Mareczko, Niccolo Bonifazio, Danny van Poppel, Sacha Modolo, Sam Bennett, Jens Debusschere and Ryan Gibbons.

## Route and stages

List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 4 May | Jerusalem to Jerusalem | 9.7 km (6 mi) | | Individual time trial | Tom Dumoulin (NED) |
| 2 | 5 May | Haifa (Israel) to Tel Aviv (Israel) | 167 km (104 mi) | | Flat stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| 3 | 6 May | Beersheba (Israel) to Eilat (Israel) | 229 km (142 mi) | | Flat stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| | 7 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 4 | 8 May | Catania to Caltagirone | 202 km (126 mi) | | Hilly stage | Tim Wellens (BEL) |
| 5 | 9 May | Agrigento to Santa Ninfa (Valle del Belice) | 153 km (95 mi) | | Hilly stage | Enrico Battaglin (ITA) |
| 6 | 10 May | Caltanissetta to Mount Etna | 169 km (105 mi) | | Mountain stage | Esteban Chaves (COL) |
| 7 | 11 May | Pizzo to Praia a Mare | 159 km (99 mi) | | Flat stage | Sam Bennett (IRL) |
| 8 | 12 May | Praia a Mare to Montevergine | 209 km (130 mi) | | Mid-mountain stage | Richard Carapaz (ECU) |
| 9 | 13 May | Pesco Sannita to Gran Sasso (Campo Imperatore) | 225 km (140 mi) | | Mid-mountain stage | Simon Yates (GBR) |
| | 14 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 10 | 15 May | Penne to Gualdo Tadino | 244 km (152 mi) | | Hilly stage | Matej Mohorič (SLO) |
| 11 | 16 May | Assisi to Osimo | 156 km (97 mi) | | Hilly stage | Simon Yates (GBR) |
| 12 | 17 May | Osimo to Imola | 214 km (133 mi) | | Flat stage | Sam Bennett (IRL) |
| 13 | 18 May | Ferrara to Nervesa della Battaglia | 180 km (112 mi) | | Flat stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| 14 | 19 May | San Vito al Tagliamento to Monte Zoncolan | 186 km (116 mi) | | Mountain stage | Chris Froome (GBR) |
| 15 | 20 May | Tolmezzo to Sappada | 176 km (109 mi) | | Mid-mountain stage | Simon Yates (GBR) |
| | 21 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 16 | 22 May | Trento to Rovereto | 34.2 km (21 mi) | | Individual time trial | Rohan Dennis (AUS) |
| 17 | 23 May | Riva del Garda to Iseo | 149.5 km (93 mi) | | Flat stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| 18 | 24 May | Abbiategrasso to Prato Nevoso | 196 km (122 mi) | | Mountain stage | Maximilian Schachmann (GER) |
| 19 | 25 May | Venaria Reale to Bardonecchia (Monte Jafferau) | 185 km (115 mi) | | Mountain stage | Chris Froome (GBR) |
| 20 | 26 May | Susa to Cervinia | 214 km (133 mi) | | Mountain stage | Mikel Nieve (ESP) |
| 21 | 27 May | Rome to Rome | 115 km (71 mi) | | Flat stage | Sam Bennett (IRL) |

## Classification leadership

In the Giro d'Italia, four different jerseys are awarded. The first and most important is the general classification, calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage. Riders receive time bonuses (10, 6 and 4 seconds respectively) for finishing in the first three places on each stage. Smaller time bonuses are also given to the top three riders at the last intermediate sprint on each stage (3, 2 and 1 seconds respectively). The rider with the lowest cumulative time is awarded the pink jersey (Italian: maglia rosa), and is considered the winner of the Giro d'Italia.
Points for the points classification :
| Position | Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Flat stages | Finish | 50 | 35 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Flat stages | Intermediate Sprint | 20 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hilly stages | Finish | 25 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hilly stages | Intermediate Sprint | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other stages | Finish | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other stages | Intermediate Sprint | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Additionally, there is a points classification. Riders win points for finishing in the top placings on each stage or by being within the first cyclists to reach intermediate sprint locations along each mass-start stage. Flat stages award more points than mountainous stages, meaning that this classification tends to favour sprinters. The leader of the points classification wore the cyclamen jersey.
Points for the mountains classification :
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Points for Cima Coppi | 45 | 30 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Points for Category 1 | 35 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Points for Category 2 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Points for Category 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Points for Category 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
There is also a mountains classification, for which points were awarded for reaching the top of a climb before other riders. Each climb was categorised as either first, second, third or fourth-category, with more points available for the more difficult, higher-categorised climbs. For first-category climbs, the top eight riders earned points; on second-category climbs, six riders won points; on third-category climbs, only the top four riders earned points with three on fourth-category climbs. The leadership of the mountains classification was marked by a blue jersey. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, awards more points than the other first-category climbs, with nine riders scoring points. At 2,178 metres (7,146 ft), the Cima Coppi for the 2018 Giro d'Italia is the Colle delle Finestre.
The fourth jersey represents the young rider classification. This is decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1994 are eligible. The winner of the classification is awarded a white jersey. There are also two classifications for teams. In the Trofeo Fast Team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage are added up; the leading team is one with the lowest total time. The Trofeo Super Team is a team points classification, with the top 20 riders of each stage earning points for their team.
The first additional award is the intermediate sprint classification. Each road stage has two sprints – the Traguardi Volanti. The first 5 riders across the intermediate sprint lines are awarded points (10, 6, 3, 2 and 1 points respectively); the rider with the most points at the end of the race wins the classification. Another classification – the combativity prize (Italian: Premio Combattività) – involves points awarded to the first riders at the stage finishes, at intermediate sprints, and at the summits of categorised climbs. There is also a breakaway award (Italian: Premio della Fuga). For this, points are awarded to each rider in any breakaway smaller than 10 riders that escapes for at least 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). Each rider is awarded a point for each kilometre that the rider was away from the peloton. The rider with the most points at the end of the Giro wins the award. The final classification is a "fair play" ranking for each team. Teams are given penalty points for infringing various rules. These range from half-point penalties, for offences that merit warnings from race officials, to a 2000-point penalty, for a positive doping test. The team that has the lowest points total at the end of the Giro wins the classification.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | General Super Team |
| 1 | Tom Dumoulin | Tom Dumoulin | Tom Dumoulin | not awarded | Maximilian Schachmann | Team Katusha–Alpecin |
| 2 | Elia Viviani | Rohan Dennis | Elia Viviani | Enrico Barbin | Maximilian Schachmann | Team Katusha–Alpecin |
| 3 | Elia Viviani | Rohan Dennis | Elia Viviani | Enrico Barbin | Maximilian Schachmann | Team Katusha–Alpecin |
| 4 | Tim Wellens | Rohan Dennis | Elia Viviani | Enrico Barbin | Maximilian Schachmann | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 5 | Enrico Battaglin | Rohan Dennis | Elia Viviani | Enrico Barbin | Maximilian Schachmann | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 6 | Esteban Chaves | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Esteban Chaves | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 7 | Sam Bennett | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Esteban Chaves | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 8 | Richard Carapaz | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Esteban Chaves | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 9 | Simon Yates | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 10 | Matej Mohorič | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 11 | Simon Yates | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 12 | Sam Bennett | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 13 | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Richard Carapaz | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 14 | Chris Froome | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 15 | Simon Yates | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 16 | Rohan Dennis | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 17 | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 18 | Maximilian Schachmann | Simon Yates | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 19 | Chris Froome | Chris Froome | Elia Viviani | Chris Froome | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 20 | Mikel Nieve | Chris Froome | Elia Viviani | Chris Froome | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| 21 | Sam Bennett | Chris Froome | Elia Viviani | Chris Froome | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
| Final | Final | Chris Froome | Elia Viviani | Chris Froome | Miguel Ángel López | Team Sky |
* ↑ In stage 2, Rohan Dennis, who was second in the points classification, wore the cyclamen jersey, because Tom Dumoulin (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.
* ↑ From stage 10 to 15, Esteban Chaves, who was second in the mountains classifications, wore the blue jersey, because Simon Yates (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during these stages. Giulio Ciccone wore the blue jersey from stage 16 to 18 for the same reason.
* ↑ In stage 20, Simon Yates, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the blue jersey, because Chris Froome (in first place) wore the pink jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage. Giulio Ciccone wore the blue jersey during stage 21 for the same reason.

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the leader of the general classification | Denotes the leader of the mountains classification |
| Denotes the leader of the points classification | Denotes the leader of the young rider classification |

### General classification

General classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 89h 02' 39" |
| 2 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Sunweb | + 46" |
| 3 | Miguel Ángel López (COL) | Astana | + 4' 57" |
| 4 | Richard Carapaz (ECU) | Movistar Team | + 5' 44" |
| 5 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 8' 03" |
| 6 | Pello Bilbao (ESP) | Astana | + 11' 50" |
| 7 | Patrick Konrad (AUT) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 13' 01" |
| 8 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 13' 17" |
| 9 | Sam Oomen (NED) | Team Sunweb | + 14' 18" |
| 10 | Davide Formolo (ITA) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 15' 16" |

### Points classification

Points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Elia Viviani (ITA) | Quick-Step Floors | 341 |
| 2 | Sam Bennett (IRL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | 282 |
| 3 | Davide Ballerini (ITA) | Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec | 147 |
| 4 | Sacha Modolo (ITA) | EF Education First–Drapac | 122 |
| 5 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 113 |
| 6 | Marco Frapporti (ITA) | Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec | 111 |
| 7 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 107 |
| 8 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 93 |
| 9 | Eugert Zhupa (ALB) | Wilier Triestina–Selle Italia | 84 |
| 10 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Sunweb | 73 |

### Mountains classification

Mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 125 |
| 2 | Giulio Ciccone (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | 108 |
| 3 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 91 |
| 4 | Mikel Nieve (ESP) | Mitchelton–Scott | 79 |
| 5 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | 70 |
| 6 | Richard Carapaz (ECU) | Movistar Team | 65 |
| 7 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Team Sunweb | 49 |
| 8 | Esteban Chaves (COL) | Mitchelton–Scott | 47 |
| 9 | Valerio Conti (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | 42 |
| 10 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | 40 |

### Young rider classification

Young rider classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Miguel Ángel López (COL) | Astana | 89h 07' 36" |
| 2 | Richard Carapaz (ECU) | Movistar Team | + 47" |
| 3 | Sam Oomen (NED) | Team Sunweb | + 9' 21" |
| 4 | Valerio Conti (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 1h 18' 07" |
| 5 | Fausto Masnada (ITA) | Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec | + 1h 21' 16" |
| 6 | Felix Großschartner (AUT) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 1h 23' 50" |
| 7 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 1h 35' 21" |
| 8 | Maximilian Schachmann (GER) | Quick-Step Floors | + 1h 36' 39" |
| 9 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1h 58' 09" |
| 10 | Giulio Ciccone (ITA) | Bardiani–CSF | + 2h 03' 58" |

### General Super Team

General Super Team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Team Sky | 267h 48' 47" |
| 2 | Astana | + 24' 58" |
| 3 | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 43' 32" |
| 4 | Team Sunweb | + 1h 14' 35" |
| 5 | AG2R La Mondiale | + 1h 30' 32" |
| 6 | Movistar Team | + 1h 39' 45" |
| 7 | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1h 47' 01" |
| 8 | Mitchelton–Scott | + 2h 31' 52" |
| 9 | UAE Team Emirates | + 2h 33' 27" |
| 10 | Groupama–FDJ | + 2h 34' 04" |