Vingegaard seals Giro d'Italia triumph and cycling's Triple Crown as Milan sprints to Rome glory

The 109th edition of the Giro d'Italia concluded in Rome with a coronation and a consolation. Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike was officially crowned champion, completing a dominant three-week campaign that saw him win five stages and finish with a lead of over five minutes. The victory elevates the 29-year-old Dane into an exclusive club of cyclists who have won the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España.

Vingegaard's historic dominance

Vingegaard's path to the maglia rosa was marked by relentless control and superiority in the mountains. He effectively sealed the general classification on the penultimate stage at Piancavallo, entering the final day in Rome with an unassailable advantage. His final margin over second-placed Felix Gall was 5 minutes and 22 seconds, with Jai Hindley rounding out the podium at 6 minutes and 25 seconds.

Having won five stages here and entering the last day with such a solid lead is something very, very special for me. The guys were fantastic and I also had an excellent day.

By conquering the Corsa Rosa, Vingegaard joins Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, and Chris Froome as the only riders to achieve the Triple Crown. Notably, he accomplished this feat before his rival Tadej Pogačar, who has yet to win the Vuelta.

Italian redemption in Rome

While the general classification offered little joy for the home nation—Davide Piganzoli was the highest-placed Italian in eighth—the final stage provided a dramatic lift. Jonathan Milan, who had endured a frustrating race without a stage win, unleashed a powerful sprint at the Circo Massimo to take victory ahead of compatriot Giovanni Lonardi.

Finally, at the last possible opportunity, Jonathan Milan put his signature on the Giro d'Italia.

The Italian one-two finish, combined with Giulio Ciccone's earlier confirmation as winner of the blue jersey for best climber, transformed the finale into a celebration for the home fans. Milan's win was the fourth Italian stage victory of the race, following successes for Davide Ballerini, Filippo Ganna, and Alberto Bettiol.

Other classifications and farewells

The final podium in Rome reflected Vingegaard's supremacy, with Thymen Arensman, Derek Gee, Afonso Eulalio, and Michael Storer filling the next positions. Eulalio capped an impressive race by securing the white jersey for best young rider and sixth place overall. Paul Magnier claimed the cyclamen jersey for the points classification. The stage also marked an emotional farewell for Damiano Caruso, who finished ninth overall in his final Giro at age 38.

Looking ahead to the Tour

Vingegaard's commanding performance in Italy resets the narrative ahead of his expected showdown with Pogačar at the Tour de France. Having struggled with the aftermath of a serious crash at the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country, this Giro showcased a return to his best form, setting up a highly anticipated battle for the yellow jersey.