Buitrago wins stage 19 as Thomas retains lead

Welshman Geraint Thomas finished third in the 2022 Tour de France, having won it in 2018

Britain's Geraint Thomas will defend a 26-second lead on Saturday's individual time trial after Santiago Buitrago won stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia.

Behind them the general classification race sparked into life in the final 2km of the mountainous 183km route from Longarone to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

And Primoz Roglic cut Thomas' overall advantage in the final few metres.

Slovenia's Roglic took three seconds from the Welshman close to the finish to cross the line alongside third-placed Magnus Cort, having looked as though he was going to lose time himself to the 2018 Tour de France champion.

Ineos Grenadiers' Thomas responded superbly to an attack from the Jumbo Visma rider on the imposing 18% slopes of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo - the highest point of this year's Giro, some 2304m above sea level.

More to follow.

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