Roglic secures Giro as Dunbar finishes seventh overall

Primoz Roglic became the first Slovenian winner of the Giro d'Italia when he retained the overall lead after Sunday's 21st and final stage in Rome, while Cork's Eddie Dunbar consolidated his seventh place overall.

Roglic seized the pink jersey with a powerful performance in Saturday's penultimate stage and finished Sunday's ceremonial 126-km flat route unscathed as Mark Cavendish produced a vintage performance to win the last stage.

Cavendish, who will retire at the end of the season, marked his final appearance at the Giro with a sensational sprint victory, clinching his first victory for Astana Qazaqstan and a 17th career win at the Giro.

The tour marks an incredible few weeks for Team Jayco AlUla’s Dunbar in securing a top-10 finish, finishing 7’31" down on Roglic.

It was also a Giro to remember for Ben Healy.

The 22-year-old, who won stage eight to claim his first Grand Tour stage victory, finished third in the King of the Mountain with 164 points.

The EF Education-EasyPost cyclist finishing behind Thibaut Pinot [237 points] and Derek Gee [200 points].

In the race for the maglia rose, Roglic finished 14 seconds ahead of Thomas [Ineos Grenadiers] and one minute, 15 seconds before Joao Almeida of UAE Team Emirates in the overall standings to add a first Giro title to his three Vuelta triumphs from 2019-21.

In 2020, Jumbo-Visma rider Roglic had lost the Tour de France title after giving up his lead and the overall race victory to compatriot Tadej Pogacar in a mountain time trial on the penultimate stage.

It appeared as if Roglic's title hopes were evaporating again when he rode over a pothole around midway through Saturday's brutal climb up Monte Lussari and his chain came off, before losing more time as he was forced to change