Simon Yates wins the Giro d'Italia, Kooij the final stage

Simon Yates survived the lap of honor on the final day with the start in the Vatican and the finish at the Circus Maximus unscathed after taking the pink leader's jersey from young Mexican star Isaac del Toro in the final mountain stage the day before. "It's a bit like a fairytale. I can't believe it all," said Yates after his brilliant climbing show on Saturday. "I'm probably at the pinnacle of my career, nothing can top this. It doesn't get any better than this."

In the end, the 32-year-old from Team Jumbo-Lease a Bike was almost four minutes ahead of second-placed young star Isaac del Toro, who had come very close to the first triumph of a Mexican at the Giro after almost two weeks in the maglia rosa. The podium was completed by the 2019 Giro winner Richard Carapaz from Ecuador.

Yannis Voisard, the only Swiss rider to start in Albania three weeks ago, also finished the 108th edition of the Tour of Italy. The Frenchman, who was mainly used as a helper in the mountains for his Australian leader Michael Storer (10th overall), finished in 33rd place, almost two hours behind the leader.

The 21st and final stage was, as expected, a case for the sprinters. Simon Yates' team colleague Olav Kooij triumphed after 143 predominantly flat kilometers in and around Rome. It was the Dutchman's second stage win of the Giro, having already won the 12th stage in a bunch sprint.