Brilliant Deignan barrels in for third place

Philip Deignan notched his best result since moving to Team Sky last year — and the best result from an Irish perspective at this year’s Giro d’Italia when he notched a brilliant third on yesterday’s 18th stage of the race from Belluno to Panarotta.

Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing) won the stage with a fine solo effort from four kilometres out, holding off fellow Colombian Fabio Duarte, with Deignan just 20 seconds behind after breaking away from the main field of contenders.

Race leader Nairo Quintana (Movistar) maintained his position atop the overall standings after finishing ahead of closest contender Rigoberto Uran, who is 1min 41secs behind with just three stages remaining.

Australian Cadel Evans had been third but any slim hopes he had of catching Quintana appear to be over as the 2011 Tour de France winner slipped to ninth, just under five minutes adrift of the overall leader after losing more than a minute-and-a-half on a disastrous day.