Matteo Trentin surged past Gianluca Brambilla and Moreno Moser in the final kilometre to win stage 18 ©ANSA - PERI / DI MEO / ZENNARO

Italy’s Matteo Trentin triumphed on the longest stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia after catching and sprinting clear of a two-man breakaway at the close of the 240 kilometre route from Muggiò to Pinerolo today. 

Trentin had been joined by his Etixx–Quick-Step team-mate and fellow Italian Gianluca Brambilla in a 24-man move which escaped the peloton in the early kilometres of the race, with yesterday’s winner Roger Kluge of Germany also among the break.

With the peloton allowing the large group to build a substantial advantage, the stage winner was sure to come from the move, which stayed together until the second category Pramartino climb at 19 kilometres to the finish.

The Italian duo of Brambilla and Moreno Moser launched a bid for victory on the ascent, with the pair able to break clear and seemingly go head to head for the stage win.

Although they were able to build a 30 second lead on the climb, their gap began to shorten after Trentin counter-attacked on the descent in an effort to close on the duo.

Moser was forced to open up the sprint towards the line, with Brambilla given the luxury of being able to wait for his team-mate.

It allowed Trentin to close the gap and eventually sweep past the pair in the closing metres to claim the stage in a time of five hours, 25min and 34sec.

Steven Kruijswijk (centre) continued to close in on the overall race victory after preserving his lead over his nearest rivals
Steven Kruijswijk (centre) continued to close in on the overall race victory after preserving his lead over his nearest rivals ©Getty Images

“In the classics I was in great shape but I had some bad luck, so I came to the Giro with the goal of winning at least a stage,” said Trentin, after winning Etixx-Quick-Step’s fourth stage of the Grand Tour.

“I started off working for Marcel Kittel, and then for Gianluca Brambilla and Bob Jungels.

“Today it all went perfectly.

“Brambilla is a climber so he went away uphill and I was behind with three guys pulling for me, until I came across by myself at the very end.”

Overall race leader Steven Kruijswijk was able to fend off late attacks by Spain’s Alejandro Valverde and Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali to preserve his advantage.

The Dutchman remains three minutes clear of his nearest rival Esteban Chaves of Colombia, while Valverde is a further 23 seconds adrift in third.

Kruijswijk will now look to keep his lead intact on the final two mountain stages of the race to all but seal victory in the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race, with the 162km route from Pinerolo to Risoul due to provide his next test tomorrow.