ROME (AP) — Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard won the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, becoming the eighth male rider to win all three Grand Tours.
Vingegaard, who rides for Team Visma-Lease a Bike, ended the three-week race with an overall advantage of 5 minutes, 22 seconds over second-place Felix Gall. Jai Hindley finished third, 6:25 behind.
Vingegaard won the Tour de France in 2022 and ’23 and last year clinched his first Spanish Vuelta title. It was his first Giro.
After crossing the line in Rome, the 29-year-old Vingegaard embraced his wife and two children, who were wearing replicas of his maglia rosa — the leader's pink jersey.
Having dominated his first Giro — living up to his billing as pre-race favorite — Vingegaard will turn his attention to the Tour de France as he attempts to become the ninth man to complete the Giro-Tour double.
The largely processional final Giro stage, that ended with eight laps through Rome, was won by sprint specialist Jonathan Milan.
The 131-kilometer route started in Rome and then went out the sea before returning to the Italian capital for the finishing circuit.
So relaxed were the riders that they were all seen sharing a box of sweets as they started the stage, before also being given glasses of Prosecco. They also all posed for team photos during the ride out to the sea.
Milan, who had seen other bids for stage wins end in disappointment earlier in the race, finally got his victory. The Italian edged out compatriot Giovanni Lonardi and French cyclist Paul Penhoët in a bunch sprint.
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AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
