German sprinter Andre Greipel finally sealed a stage win on Thursday after a frustrating Giro d'Italia and David Arroyo stayed in overall command with just three days remaining.
Columbia's Greipel managed his first success of the three-week race in the 18th stage after prevailing in a bunched finish through the tight streets of the northern Italian city of Brescia.
Greipel had been hoping for several stage wins in this year's race but a stomach upset in the opening sprint sections in the Netherlands damaged his chances.
‘I'm a man and not a machine, that's why I was not able to win at the Giro till now,’ Greipel, out of contract this year, told a news conference.
‘In the early stages...I lost three kilograms in a few days, It was really hard.’
He completed the 156-km downhill route from Levico in three hours 14 minutes 59 seconds ahead of New Zealand's Julian Dean and Italian Tiziano Dall'Antonia.
Spain's Caisse d'Epargne rider Arroyo, who has never threatened overall victory in a Grand Tour, was only just behind in the main pack to keep his two minute 27-second advantage over Ivan Basso.
Australian Richie Porte is third with his compatriot and world champion Cadel Evans fourth.
Basso, the 2006 winner, has been so pleased with his Giro that Liquigas announced on Thursday he would be staying with the team for another two years.
Two mountain stages follow on Friday and Saturday with the race finishing with a time trial in Verona on Sunday.
Friday's 195-km ride to Aprica goes via the Mortirolo peak and Saturday's 178-km stage from Bormio to Ponte di Legno-Tonale takes the riders up the Gavia mountain, where organisers hope lingering snow will not disrupt the route.
‘I've never done Mortirolo but I think it will be a really hard climb and could become the key point of tomorrow's stage,’ said surprise leader Arroyo, 30.
‘I'm pretty sure that Basso and Evans will fight with all their power to snatch the Giro d'Italia but I assure all journalists and all my fans that I'm ready for the fight.’
Astana leader Alexander Vinokourov, who lost bags of time after missing a breakaway in the second week, believes there could still be twists.
‘Mortirolo and Gavia will change the standings, you can attack at any moment. I've got the legs, you will see me ahead,’ the Kazakh, over five minutes off the pace, told reporters.
