Australian Kaden Groves suffered another agonising near miss at this year's Giro d'Italia, finishing in third place on stage 18 into Pauda.

Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the bunch sprint to claim his second victory of this year's race, overhauling first Groves and Italian star Jonathan Milan by half a wheel after 178 kilometres of racing.

Tadej Pogačar maintained his considerable lead with three days remaining.

Merlier timed his last effort precisely to beat Milan, despite both sprinters being a long way behind Alberto Dainese when he opened up his sprint in the final 150 metres.

Groves looked to have overpowered Dainese in his burst for the line, but Merlier managed to find a gap on the right while Milan powered down the middle.

"The team did a really good job, and I wanted to sprint from the front today," Groves, who has had two third-place finishes at this year's Giro, told Cycling Pro Net at the finish.

However, Milan could only shake his head wryly as he looked to his right to see Merlier raise his arms in celebration.

"In the end, I could actually do a good sprint but Tim and Jonathan [were] too strong.

"Maybe it was a bit too early, possibly a bit of headwind but these guys are so fast.

"No excuses."

Instead, it was Merlier who picked up his second stage win of the race, having previously won the third leg this year to add to his stage victory in the 2021 Giro.

"We were always in good position, not a perfect line but we managed to be in a good position," Merlier said.

"I was a bit surprised, the last kilometre was really fast with the two corners, and I was surprised even the last 600 or 500 meters.

"Then I found my moment. I started my sprint but I need to go a bit around. But in the end I make it."

Milan remains on top in the race for the points jersey, the Maglia Ciclamino, with 327 points, ahead of Groves in second place (200).

The wait for a stage win to add to Groves's solitary victory at the Italian grand tour in 2023 goes on.