18th stage Giro of Italy - 4 Portuguese Cyclists - Italy Vincenzo Nibali the leader

Vincenzo Nibali gave this Thursday another important step towards the first victory in the Giro, by winning the cronoescalada 20 kilometers, one of the last decisive stages. The Italian Astana was the fastest in the 20 kilometers (44.29 minutes), leaving the Spaniard Samuel Sanchez of Euskatel, the second (58/2) and compatriot Damiano Caruso, the Cannondale, the third (to 1.20 m).


The ever so pink sweater now has 4:02 minutes lead over Australian Cadel Evans, BMC, and 4:12 for the Colombian Rigoberto Uran, Sky.


Tiago Machado of RadioShack was the best Portuguese cronoescalada, 31. º (at 3:02 minutes), followed by Ricardo Mestre, of Euskaltel, at 118. º (to 6.17), the teammate Nelson Oliveira, 154 . (to be 7:56 m) and finally Bruno Pires, the Saxo-Tinkoff in 156. º (to 8.00 m).


Tiago Machado overall 36. º position (to 58.31 minutes), as does the
64. º Pires (to 1:50:07 h).
 Oliveira dropped two places to 78. º (to 2:06:02 h) and Ricardo Mestre rose from 143. º to 140. º, with a 3:13:47 h.


The stage Friday between Ponte di Legno and Martellal, 138 kilometers, comprises three counts of mountain, all above 2000 meters altitude. Due to the very cold and snow is likely that the organization has to change the route