“This is probably the most emotional of my victories at the Giro,” Denz said.

“Losing Jai Hindley early then the whole team, staff included, was fully committed to help Primoz Roglic win the Giro. We spent two months in altitude for that.

“I was three months away from home to prepare for the Giro. A dream was lost when we lost Primoz. We’ve thought all this hard work was for nothing. Luckily things turned around.”

With three stages remaining, Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG retained his 41-second overall lead over Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost.

Del Toro’s team-mate Juan Ayuso, meanwhile, was forced to abandon the race after suffering an allergic reaction to a bee sting on stage 17.

The Spaniard said he was advised by his doctor not to take part in Thursday’s stage 18 but made the start line before having to withdraw after an hour.

Speaking to TNT Sports before the stage, Ayuso said: “It’s been a couple of hard days. Yesterday, a bee went inside my helmet and I can’t see out my right eye.

“The team doctor said it’s best for me not to start, but I really want to try and give my best to be here for the team.”