Matteo Trentin used a late counter-attack and some crafty teamwork to win the longest stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday (May 26), with Steven Kruijswijk retaining the overall lead with just three stages to go.

Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia - and at 240 kilometres, the longest of the race.

A big breakaway early one - one that was permitted to gather pace as none of its members were a threat to the 'Maglia Rosa' combatants.

Canondale's Moreno Moser and Gianluca Brambilla of Etixx-Quick Step broke clear of the 24-man group on the Pramartino,

They built up a lead of near on 12 minutes ahead of the trailing riders.

Coming into the home straight, Moser and Brambilla appeared to be fighting it out for the win.

Matteo Trentin though, powered alongside with a late charge, before winning in a time of five hours 25 minutes and 34 seconds.

Moser was awarded the same time for second - as was Trentin's team-mate Brambilla in third.

LottoNL-Jumbo's Steven Kruijswijk came across the line nearly 13-and-a-half minutes later with the overall contenders' group, yet retains a three-minute dead advantage over Orica-GreenEdge's Esteban Chaves.

Just three stages remain, with the climax in Torino on Sunday.