Friday 25 May 2018 08:58, UK
Simon Yates saw his lead in the Giro d'Italia halved by defending champion Tom Dumoulin, while Max Schachmann won stage 18 out of the day's breakaway.
Yates cracked on the climb to the summit finish at Prato Nevoso when Dumoulin followed an attack from Team Sky's Chris Froome inside the final two kilometres of the 196km stage from Abbiategrasso.
Team Sunweb's Dumoulin took 28 seconds out of Mitchelton-Scott's Yates, halving the 25-year-old Briton's advantage in the battle for the leader's pink jersey.
Up ahead, Quick-Step Floors' Schachmann beat veteran Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy) and Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) to the line, with the trio emerging from a 12-man breakaway which hit the final climb with an advantage of 16 minutes over the peloton.
This was the first time Yates has appeared to be in any trouble since he first took the pink jersey on stage six.
He had survived what was seen as his main test, emerging from Tuesday's time trial with a 56-second advantage over Dumoulin, and with what appeared to be favourable terrain still to come.
However, the sight of him being distanced on the long climb to the finish will give his rivals hope ahead of two mountainous days to come on Friday and Saturday, before Sunday's traditional procession and sprint in Rome.
Dumoulin had been the first to make a move but Yates was initially able to hold his wheel.
Froome was distanced at first, but when he caught back up and then pushed again, Dumoulin and third-placed overall Domenico Pozzovivo followed while Yates fell behind.
Yates told Eurosport after the stage: "I didn't have great legs, so I did the best I could and that's it.
"I'm still in front, so it's all good."
Dumoulin played down the significance of his gains.
He said: "Of course it's a good day but I know the coming two days are going to be different and much harder than today."
Froome's attack also saw him pick up time on the pink jersey but, with Pozzovivo part of the move, he remains in fourth place, three minutes and 22 seconds off pink and 39 seconds behind Pozzovivo in battle for the final podium spot.
