Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Serge Pauwels was the top finisher at the 20.6km Stage 18 Giro d'Italia time trial on Thursday. He finished 36th in the uphill time trial. OPQS rider Mark Cavendish remains the points leader at the Giro by 4 points.
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) won the time trial with a time of 44'29", and expanded his GC lead over Cadel Evans to 4'02". Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was 2nd (+58"), and Damiano Caruso (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) was 3rd (1'20").
OPQS looks next to a 139km high mountain Stage 19 on Friday.
"I wasn't expecting to be in the red jersey this evening, but I have it again," Cavendish said. "We will see what we can do in the next few days. The uphill time trial today was tough, but fortunately I was able to keep the points classification lead. The goal is to try to keep the red jersey to the end, and go for the sprint on Sunday. For sure the fight for the red jersey depends on tomorrow's stage with some hard climbs, and the stage the day after."
