Roglic lifts the Giro d’Italia trophy in Rome; Cavendish wins final stage

29.05.2023 - 02:05 arabnews.com

ROME: Primoz Roglic expanded his Grand Tour portfolio by winning the Giro d’Italia on Sunday to add to his three Spanish Vuelta titles; while Mark Cavendish won the 21st and final stage less than a week after announcing that he will retire at the end of the season.

Roglic, a 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.

During the podium celebration, Roglic’s son, Lev, joined him on the stage and seemed more excited than his dad. “I’m trying to enjoy all the emotions, and everything that happened yesterday,” Roglic said. “At the end, it’s always nice to win, in this spectacular city ...

Premier League soccer Red Bull Racing Giro Max Verstappen Eddie Howe Mark Cavendish Eddy Merckx Tadej Pogacar Olivier Giroud Geraint Thomas Britain France Spain Italy Monaco Slovenia Pakistan county Thomas Rome

Mark Cavendish lavished praise on his Astana Qazaqstan team-mates and friend Geraint Thomas after they helped him tick off a «bucket-list sprint» with victory in the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in Rome. Cavendish endured a tough time in the 2023 Giro, as he suffered crashes and found little luck in the sprints. Ad Rather than abandon, Cavendish battled through the mountain time trial on the penultimate stage — to suggest he was ready to fight for victory in Rome.

Mark Cavendish is a 'real threat' for Tour de France record after Giro d’Italia win – Jens Voigt

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) has been backed to threaten the Tour de France stage record this summer by Eurosport expert Jens Voigt – just days after the German had ruled it out. Cavendish ripped away to a brilliant victory on Stage 21 at the Giro d’Italia after Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) stepped in to assist his dwindling sprint train in the closing stages in Rome. Ad The 38-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, will now recover before heading to the Tour in a bid to claim the outright record of stage victories.

Geraint Thomas after leading out Mark Cavendish to sprint victory at Giro d’Italia - 'Help a brother out!'

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) admitted he wanted to “help a brother out” after seeing Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) light on support in the finale to Stage 21 at the Giro d’Italia. The Welshman was spotted speaking to Cavendish with 2.2km remaining of Sunday’s tear-up around Rome before moving to the front of the bunch and driving on the pace.

Primoz Roglic 1st Slovenian cyclist to win Giro d'Italia, his 3rd victory of 2023

Primoz Roglic expanded his Grand Tour portfolio by winning the Giro d'Italia on Sunday in Rome to add to his three Spanish Vuelta titles.