USA's Tejay Van Garderen wins a stage of the Giro d'Italia

The long term hardship endured by BMC Racing's Tejay Van Garderen, paid off when he won stage 18 to Ortisei/St. Ulrich. Dumoulin retained the Pink Jersey

Tejay van Garderen went away on on the final climb with Team Sky's Mikel Landa from the breakaway. Van Garderen our sprinted Landa on the final hundred metres to take his first Gran Tour stage victory.

Behind the favorites dueled several times, with Quintana attacking again and getting a gap of 6 seconds.

It was short lived as Nibali and Dumoulin brought him back, only for Nibali to counter attack. The other favorites followed and next up was Dumoulin who attacked.

It end up the three favorites of Nibali, Quintana and Dumoulin marking each other's moves, as their other rivals got away and made up some time including; Thibot Pinot, Dommenico Pozzovivo, Inur Zakarin, Steven Kruijswijk and Bauke Mollema.

Thibaut Pinot took some time back from Vincenzo Nibali bringing him closer to a podium place.

Meanwhile Adam Yates took over the white leaders jersey from Bob Jungels.

A super happy Van Garderen said to the press "I do training camps here all the time so it's like training at home. It's been 8 years a professional and this is my first grand tour victory which is sucha greta feeling. There's been so many trials over the past few year and this certainly makes up for some of the lows."

Quintana said "We tried to attack today and create some chances, so it was a shame it didn't work out. The Movistar team are very strong, so we will try again."

2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 18 Top Ten

1 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 3:54:04 
2 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky   
3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:08 
4 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale   
5 Jan Hirt (Cze) CCC Sprandi Polkowice 0:00:11 
6 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:24 
7 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:34 
8 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo   
9 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:01:06 
10 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team

2017 Giro d'Italia General Classification after Stage 18

1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 80:00:48 
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:31 
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:12 
4 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:01:36 
5 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:01:58 
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:07 
7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:03:17 
8 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:05:48 
9 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:07:06 
10 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors

VIDEO: Stage 18 Highlights

VIDEO: Final Sprint

What a ride!@BMCProTeam star Tejay van Garderen seals a maiden Grand Tour stage win #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/tRlr4J5ck1

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 25, 2017

VIDEO: Tejay Van Garderen Interview

"It's been a rough couple of years." Tejay Van Garderen turns a page after his sensational stage 18 win #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/4iNZutn4FE

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 25, 2017

VIDEO: Tom Dumoulin Interview

"I hope they both lose their podium places."@tom_dumoulin takes aim at Nibali and Quintana after Stage 18 #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/6BVEAD5ulf

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 25, 2017