The Mexican, often compared with teammate Tadej Pogacar, is on the brink of securing the pink jersey as he follows in the footsteps of a long lineage of great Latin American climbers

Isaac Del Toro, the first Mexican rider to wear the pink jersey, finished safely in the main pack following the 89-mile route from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno, which featured three minor climbs early on before a relatively flat finale.

Nico Denz claims an impressive victory on stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia, while Isaac del Toro retained his overall leader's pink jersey.