Intro:

Alberto Contador increased his lead on the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday (28th May), while former world champion Philippe Gilbert won the stage.

Script:

Stage 18, and once again the riders needed their climbing legs on as they meandered 170km via Monte Ologno from the Swiss town of Melide to Verbania in Italy.

After a slow start a small group that included Philippe Gilbert (BMC) managed to break away.

They managed to build an impressive lead, as large as 12 minutes at one stage, in the meantime, maglia rosa, Alberto Contador was becoming frustrated with the pace of the peloton.

Astana riders Mikel Landa and Fabio Aru both fell behind following a crash and he moved to the front, before leaving the peleton in his wake.

However on the tough mountain stage the breakaway proved too hard to catch

The winner would come from that group - and Gilbert had the energy reserves to make the move.

With a little under 20km remaining he streaked away and secured victory with ease.

Two other members of the breakaway, Francesco Bongiorno and Sylvain Chavanel, finished second and third respectively.

Contador finished 6:05 behind while Landa and Aru were 7:18 back, meaning extended his lead over Landa to 5 minutes, 15 seconds, with Aru third, 6:05 behind.

Stage 19 and 20 are both gruelling mountain legs, before Sunday's finish in Milan.

Contador is attempting to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year.