Mark Cavendish wins final sprint in Rome at the 2023 Giro d'Italia

Primoz Roglic adds the Giro d’Italia to his Grand Tour palmares which includes three Spanish La Vuelta titles. Mark Cavendish easily won the final sprint

The former ski jumper became the first Slovenian rider to win the Giro and he did it in dramatic fashion, claiming the lead in the penultimate stage — taking the pink jersey from Geraint Thomas in Saturday’s mountain time trial.

It was the direct opposite of what happened in the 2020 Tour de France, when fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar took the lead from Roglic in another penultimate-day mountain time trial.

Riding a pink bike and wearing a pink helmet and pink socks, Roglic took it easy during the mostly ceremonious final stage, a 135-kilometer (84-mile) leg through the cobblestoned streets of Rome that concluded next to the Roman Forum.

Mark Cavendish, who recently announced that he will retire at the end of this season, won the 21st and final stage in a sprint finish. He easily outsprinted his rivals as Gaviria sprinted early giving Cavendish time to kick and distance himself from the rest of the spinters.

A crash behind saw sprint favorite Ackermann hit the desk alomg with several other riders.

Roglic, who rides for the Jumbo-Visma team, finished 14 seconds ahead of Thomas and 1 minute, 15 seconds ahead of Joao Almeida in the overall standings.

It’s the smallest finishing gap between the top riders in the Giro since Eddy Merckx won by 12 seconds ahead of Gianbattista Baronchelli in 1974.

Roglic’s time trial victory on Monte Lussari was his only stage win of the race.

VIDEO: 2023 Giro d'Italia Stage 21 Highlights

2023 Giro d'Italia Stage 21 Top 10

1  CAVENDISH Mark Astana Qazaqstan Team 0:00
2  KIRSCH Alex Trek - Segafredo 0:00
3  FIORELLI Filippo Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè 0:00
4  DAINESE Alberto Team DSM 0:00
5  BALLERINI Davide Soudal - Quick Step 0:00
6  STEWART Jake Groupama - FDJ 0:00
7  GAVIRIA Fernando Movistar Team 0:00
8  MATTHEWS Michael Team Jayco AlUla 0:00
9  MARIT Arne Intermarché - Circus - Wanty 0:00
10  STEWART Campbell Team Jayco AlUla 0:00

2023 Giro d'Italia FInal General Classification

1  ROGLIC Primož Jumbo-Visma 85:29:02
2  THOMAS Geraint INEOS Grenadiers 0:14
3  ALMEIDA João UAE Team Emirates 1:15
4  CARUSO Damiano Bahrain - Victorious 4:40
5  PINOT Thibaut Groupama - FDJ 5:43
6  ARENSMAN Thymen INEOS Grenadiers 6:05
7  DUNBAR Eddie Team Jayco AlUla 7:30
8  LEKNESSUND Andreas Team DSM 7:31
9  KÄMNA Lennard BORA - hansgrohe 7:46
10  DE PLUS Laurens INEOS Grenadiers 9:08