Giro d'Italia: Narvaez storms past Mas for third win as Eulalio keeps pink jersey

Jhonatan Narvaez won stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia for his third stage victory, edging out Enric Mas after both left the breakaway on the final climb. Mas attacked first on the uncategorised climb before the finish, and Narvaez followed, overtaking him before the line. Diego Ulissi finished third over the 195km route from Porcari to Chiavari. Afonso Eulalio retained the pink jersey with a 27-second lead over Jonas Vingegaard, with no change in the general classification. Breakaway attempts formed early, a 12-man group gained time on the second climb, and a crash on the descent split the leaders. Narvaez benefited from Mas being unable to shake him before the descent, setting up a sprint finish.

"Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates XRG) and Mas (Movistar) were left to battle for the win after leaving the breakaway group on the final climb and Mas made the first move, only for the Ecuadorian to overtake him before the line. The Italian Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana) won the race for third place at the end of the entertaining 195km ride from Porcari to Chiavari. Mas was the strongest in the climb and I knew I had to play my game, I just tried to defend myself on the uphill, said Narvaez."

"I was scared because when he did the sprint he almost closed me on the barriers and I was on the limit, but it was full gas racing all day, because we don't race just in the uphills, we race on the downhills also. Riders make their way from Porcari to Chiavari. Photograph: Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse/AP There was no change at the top of the general classification, with Portugal's Eulalio maintaining his 27-second lead over the race favourite Jonas Vingegaard."

"The first half of the stage provided plenty of opportunities for breakaways from the peloton before the riders reached the first of three categorised climbs. Early attacks were reeled in and the group that managed to get away grew in size as others left the bunch to go in chase, before the race settled down on the second climb with a 12-man group over three minutes ahead of the peloton. A crash on the descent brought down three of the leaders, and the breakaway began to split."

"On the uncategorised climb before the finish, Mas attacked and Narvaez followed. And with Mas unable to shake off the Ecuadorian before the descent, Narvaez was always going to be the favourite in a sprint finish. Mas, a three-time runner-up in the Vuelta a Espana, is out of contention for t"

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