So near once again yet still empty-handed, sprinter Kaden Groves was left admitting his disappointment after just missing out on delivering Australia's first triumph of the 107th Giro d'Italia.
Stage 18 on Thursday looked to be within the Queenslander's grasp in another chaotic mass finish, but after mistiming his charge from the front, the Alpecin-Deceuninck speedster was agonisingly reeled in over the dying metres, sandwiched by the two best sprinters in this edition of the Italian Grand Tour.
Tim Merlier, on one side of the Australian, raced past to take his second victory of this Giro, while on Groves' other flank, Jonathan Milan, the points jersey leader, was edged out by less than half a wheel for his fourth stage win.
