Thomas celebrates 37th birthday by retaining Giro lead; Roglic into 2nd

By The Associated Press

Sepp Kuss is followed by teammate Primoz Roglic and race leader Geraint Thomas as they climb towards the end of the 18th stage of the Giro D'Italia, tour of Italy cycling race, from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, Italy, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Fabio Ferrari]

VAL DI ZOLDO, Italy (AP) — Geraint Thomas celebrated his 37th birthday with another strong ride in the mountains to retain the pink jersey in the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia. Thomas crossed immediately behind Primoz Roglic as the Slovenian rider moved up from third place to second. Joao Almeida dropped from second to third overall after losing 21 seconds over the mountainous route from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo. Thomas now leads Roglic by 29 seconds and Almeida by 39 seconds. Italian champion Filippo Zanna won the stage ahead of fellow breakaway rider Thibaut Pinot in a two-man sprint. Two climbing stages remain before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome on Sunday.

Slovenia's Primoz Roglic, left, and Britain's Geraint Thomas cross the finish line to complete the 18th stage of the Giro D'Italia, tour of Italy cycling race, from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, Italy, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Massimo Paolone

Italy's Filippo Zana celebrates as he sprints ahead of France's Thibaut Pinot and win the 18th stage of the Giro D'Italia, tour of Italy cycling race, from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, Italy, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Overall leader Britains' Geraint Thomas celebrates on podium after completing the 18th stage of the Giro D'Italia, tour of Italy cycling race, from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, Italy, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Gian Mattia D'Alberto