Capecchi, Contador command Giro spotlight

Eros Capecchi of Italy won a three-way sprint to the line to take the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, while Alberto Contador finished safely in the main pack to protect his overall lead.

Capecchi won the 151-kilometre stage that began in Morbegno in three hours 20 minutes 38 seconds after he attacked off the final bend to race across the line in first place and win his first ever grand tour stage.

Long time leader Marco Pinotti was second and Kevin Seeldrayers third in the same time.

"I had to cycle faster than I have so far in the Giro," Pinotti said. "I knew I had to be brave and back myself because no one else was taking the initiative."

Contador finished in 41st place among the following pack, 6:04 behind Capecchi. The Spaniard leads the overall standings with a time of 71 hours 45 minutes nine seconds and maintained his advantage of 4:58 over second-place Michele Scarponi.

"It was a good day and the team did well," Contador said. "We controlled our racing and didn't let the breakaway group get too far ahead."

Toronto's Michael Barry, racing with Sky ProCycling, finished the stage in 3:26:42.

The final trio emerged from a larger break on the ascent of the Passo di Ganda, whose summit was about 30 kilometres from the finish in San Pellegrino Terme.

The trio took turns to test each other over the final 3K, with Pinotto doing the majority of the work. But he was unable to open up a big enough lead in the final sections, and Capecchi waited patiently for his chance to attack.

Riders return to the mountains on Friday with a 209-kilometre stage from Bergamo to Macugnaga that features two major climbs.

The 21-stage Giro finishes in Milan on May 29.