Giro d'Italia: Giro d'Italia: Contador overall winner, Keisse marks the end

Cycling: In what turned out to be a very exciting final stage to Milan, Iljo Keisse from Etixx-QuickStep can celebrate what is probably his greatest career success to date. The Belgian got the better of Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEdge) after the two escaped to finish ahead of the field. As expected, Contador is the overall winner, Giacommo Nizzolo (Trek) is enthroned at the top of the points classification and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) wins the mountains classification.

The last, traditionally mostly flat final stage of the Giro from Turin to Milan began relaxed for everyone involved: Shortly after the start of the stage, an exuberant Oleg Tinkoff celebrated Alberto Contador’s victory in the team vehicle with a new, pink head of hair, and everyone else involved held out posh back. Only before the only intermediate sprint of the day after 120km did the peloton move briefly. Philippe Gilbert (BMC) once again gained points from leader Nizzolo, but in the end it wasn't enough to deny the Italian Trek Factory Racing's victory in the points classification.

Only 30 km before the finish line did the first attack come from the field: On the circuit in Milan, which had to be completed seven times, it was Luke Durbridge and Iljo Keisse who were able to break away from the field. The two got along very well right away and harmonized very well - so the duo gained a considerable lead within a few kilometers. For a long time there was disagreement in the field about the follow-up work and none of the teams seemed really interested in closing the gap. In the end it didn't come to the mass sprint expected by many, but the two breakaways made up the day's victory among themselves. Keisse waited a long time at Durbridge's rear wheel until he sprinted at the right moment and was the first to cross the line. The sprint in the peloton was won by Roger Kluge from IAM Cycling, who finished the Giro with a strong third place in the final stage.

Final result stage 21 Giro d'Italia

[easy table th=“0″]

1., Iljo Keisse, BEL, Etixx-QuickStep, 04:18:37

2nd,Luke Durbridge,AUS,Orica-GreenEdge,

3.,Roger Kluge,GER,IAM,00:00:09

4.,Alexander Porsev,RUS,Katusha,

5., Giacomo Nizzolo, ITA, Trek,

6.,Luka Mezgec,SLO,Giant Alpecin,

7.,Elia Viviani,ITA,Sky,

8th,Moreno Hofland,NED,LottoNL-Jumbo,

9th, Davide Apollonio, ITA, Androni,

10.,Elia Favilli,ITA,Southeast,

[/easy table]

Overall rating

scoring

mountains Classification