Giro d'Italia Milan

Giro d'Italia (Milan) 2017

A brutal showdown between the general classification contenders on the streets of Milan

After three weeks of intense racing at this years Giro d'Italia, the historic 100th edition of the race would be decided by an individual time trial from Monza to Milan. The riders faced an intense 29.3 km of individual racing .

Stage 21 Route Profile (Monza-Milano) © Giro d'Italia

Going into the stage, the general classification couldn't of been tighter. Dutch time trial champion Tom Dumoulin had held off attacks from the climbers but couldn't prevent losing the pink jersey on stage 19 to the Colombian climber Nairo Quintana.

The General Classification Pre Stage 21 (Top Five)

1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) 90:00:38

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) + 39 sec

3. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + 43 sec

4. Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) + 53 sec

5. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha Alpecin) + 01:15 min

It all boiled down to this, the final stage of the Giro d'Italia in Milan. Although Nairo Quintana had a healthy lead over the other GC contenders, Tom Dumoulin's speciality of the time trial was ever present. The main question on everyones mind was "Can Tom Dumoulin ride 53 seconds quicker than Nairo Quintana, to reclaim the Maglia Rosa?"

Pre Race Build Up

The key general classification contenders began practising on the TT course on the morning of the stage. Mastering the details of the course and determining at what speed they should tackle the sketchy corners in Milan.

Race Leader Nairo Quintana Recons The TT Course

Quintana Alone On The TT Circuit

Vinenzo Nibali Smashes It Round The Streets Of Milan

Nibali Rounds The Bend

A BMC Rider Testing Out The Legs

The Time Trial Begins

After the contenders tested out their legs on the course earlier on in the day, the race began. The atmosphere started to build as the thousands of fans from around the world gathered in Milano to welcome the riders.

Quinziato (BMC Pro Team) Goes Full Gas Out On The Course

Irish Sprinter Sam Bennett Hits The Course Early

A Quick Step Rider Perfects His Aero Tuck

A Sunweb Rider Calmly Rides The Course

Alberto Losada (Katusha Alpecin) Sets Off Early

A Cannondale Drapac Rider Enters The Barriered Section Of The TT

The Crowds await Quinziato

The Art Of TT Focusing

The TT Pain Face

A Bora Hansgrohe Rider Enters The Barrier Section

Breaking The Rules

Michał Gołaś Goes Aero

Fan Appreciation For Daniel Teklehaimanot

The Cafe Customers Have The Best View

Passing A Historic Milano Monument

Winner Anacona Rounds The Bend

Colombian Corner Welcomes The Riders

Riding Into Darkness

A Tight TT Turn

The Fans Watch On

A Movistar Rider Goes Full Gas

The Fans Came Out In Force To Support The Riders

The Pain And Suffering Of A TT

Out Of The Darkness And Into The Light

Edward Ravasi Taking The Corner Wide

Riding At The Edge Of The Pain Barrier

A Lotto Soudal Rider Approaches The Crossing

Catious Cornering By Matvey Mamykin

The Crowds Watch On

After The Race

Simon Geschke Casually Returns To The Team Bus

TT Disappointment

The Winner Of Stage 21 Jos van Emden Departs

Philip Deignan Is Congratulated By His Wife Lizzie Deignan

Surrounded By The Fans

An AG2R Rider Wearing Fizik's Special Edition Giro 100 Shoes

A Great Effort Deserves A Well Earned Drink

Tom Dumoulin Recovers After His Monumental Effort In The TT

The Maglia Rosa Nairo Quintana Loses Out On The Overall General Classification

The Fans Watch On As Quintana is Escorted Away

Conclusion

The final stage of the Giro d'Italia was extremely close between the General Classification contenders, with Nairo Quintana losing his lead to Tom Dumoulin in the final few seconds of the race.

Final General Classification (Top Five)

1. Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) 90:34:54

2. Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) + 31 Sec

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) + 40 Sec

4. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) + 1:17 Min

5. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) + 1:56 Min

Overall, the final stage of the 100th edition was one of the tightest in the races history. Heartbreak for the thousands of Colombian fans who had travelled half way across the world to support Nairo Quintana. The race exceeded our expectations, it had everything that is ever needed in a bike race. The overall win of Tom Dumoulin just shows that you don't have to be a mountain goat climber to win a grand tour. You just need a committed team and pure determination.

Congratulations to the race winner Tom Dumoulin and the whole Team Sunweb team on this historic victory.

By Jordan Benjamin-Sutton (Peloton Perspective)

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