Vincenzo Nibali wins 2013 Giro d’Italia

Italian Vincenzo Nibali of Astana won his first Giro d’Italia today by finishing the Grand Tour in Brescia. Nibali adds the Giro to a palmares that already holds the 2010 Vuelta a Espana, two Giro del Trentinos, and two Tirreno-Adriatico titles. Mark Cavendish took the sprint victory after seven circuits of the city, ensuring that he added the red points jersey to his five wins in this year’s Italian Grand Tour.

The majority of the 197 kilometres between Riese Pio X and Brescia were ridden piano, or in a stately procession, as if a truce had been called by the peloton after three weeks of brutal conditions. Any escape was immediately chased down and, in a couple of cases, admonished by Nibali’s Astana squad.

On the way into Brescia, Cav took the intermediate sprint, while in Brescia itself Stefano Garzelli (Vini Fantini), the 2000 Giro winner and nine time finisher, was allowed to cross the finish line that marked the beginning of the seven laps ahead of the pack, for the Italian vet will retire at the end of the season.

When the jockeying and cutting in the line up for the sprint began, there was little doubt that Cav would be delivered to the finish in optimal position. Though Cannondale tried to set things up for Elia Viviani, and Bardiani Valvole’s Sacha Modolo led out the sprint, Cav prevailed.

Colombian Rigoberto Uran Uran’s GC runner-up spot reveals the depth of Sky’s stage racing program. Third place for Cadel Evans (BMC) means that the Australian becomes only the fourth rider to podium in each of the three Grand Tours and win a World Championship.

Giro 2013 stage 21
1) Mark Cavendish (Great Britain/Sky) 5:30:09
2) Sacha Modolo (Italy/Bardiani Valvole) s.t.
3) Elia Viviani (Italy/Cannondale) s.t.
21) Dominique Rollin (Canada/FDJ) s.t.
109) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +0:44
149) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +2:20

Giro 2013 Final GC
1) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 84:53:28
2) Rigoberto Uran Uran (Colombia/Sky) +4:43
3) Cadel Evans (Australia/BMC) +5:52
75) Dominique Rollin (Canada/FDJ) +2:17:45
143) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +3:37:26
154) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +3:50:01