UAE Team Emirates's US rider Brandon McNulty (center) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win, ahead of EF Education-EasyPost's Irish rider Ben Healy (rear right) and Israel - Premier Tech's Italian rider Marco Frigo (rear left), the fifteenth stage of the Giro d'Italia 2023 cycling race, 195 km between Seregno and Bergamo, on May 21, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

American Brandon McNulty of UAE Team Emirates held off Ben Healy and Marco Frigo to win stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, after a 195km ride from Seregno to Bergamo.

McNulty turned on the afterburners with a perfectly-timed sprint to race past Healy (EF Education-Easy Post) and Frigo (Israel–Premier Tech) in the final 100m to snatch victory, while Bruno Armirail of Groupama–FDJ retained the leader's maglia rosa jersey.

"Indescribable. On the last long climb I tried to go. I thought my race was done there because Ben was so strong," McNulty said.

"I clawed back and rested and then we played games on the flats. In the end it came down to the last kick and the sprint.

Brandon McNulty turned on the afterburners with a perfectly-timed sprint to race past Ben Healy (EF Education-Easy Post) and Marco Frigo (Israel–Premier Tech) in the final 100m to snatch victory, while Bruno Armirail of Groupama–FDJ retained the leader's maglia rosa jersey

"I knew (Frigo) was coming and he ended up coming just at the right moment because we could swing over. I caught the draft and then at 150-200 meters I just went for it."

Healy finished second, ahead of Frigo, who appeared to drop off the pace but exerted a superhuman effort in the home straight to finish inches short of a stage win.

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"You never give up. I had really good legs. Of course the first two maybe had something else on me. I gave everything and they gave everything," Frigo said.

"The descent in the final gave me a chance to get back and I knew that. I played that, and that's how it went. In those moments the head is gone, is spent, but you carry on pushing."

A group of 15 riders, including former Giro d'Italia stage winner Alberto Dainese, built an advantage of over 6:30 after the category one ascent in the first half of the race.

Niccolo Bonifazio (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) attacked with just under 50km left, but was quickly reeled in with 35km to go by the trio of Healy, Frigo and McNulty, who never looked back.

Armirail, who took the overall lead on Saturday, had his gap to second-placed Geraint Thomas reduced by 33 seconds to a minute and eight seconds. Race favourite Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) is third.

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Monday is a rest day on the Giro. Tuesday's stage 16 is a mountainous 203-km ride from Sabbio Chiese to Monte Bondone, with over 5,000 meters of elevation.