\n<\/p>\n
“This is probably the most emotional of my victories at the Giro,” Denz said. <\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
With three stages remaining, Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG retained his 41-second overall lead over Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n