Olav Kooij puts the seal on the final stage of the Giro d'Italia, the 143 km Rome-Rome route, and it's a victory loaded with meaning because it celebrates Simon Yates' final triumph, because it crowns a splendid performance by the entire team in guiding the Dutch sprinter, and because it will be dedicated to Robert Gesink and the memory of his wife Daisy, who passed away just last night.

Perfect sprint by the Dutchman who preceded Groves (Alpecin Deceuninck) and Moschetti (Q36.5) in order, with Pedersen fourth, Baroncini seventh, Zanoncello ninth, and Lonardi tenth.

And of course, with Simon Yates as the overall winner of the 108th Giro d'Italia.

THE RACE. After the ritual parade, the race came to life with the first attack by Australian Hepburn (Jayco AlUla), to which after a few kilometers joined Verre (Arkea B&B Hotels), Paleni (Groupama FDJ), Cerny (Soudal Quick Step), Pietrobon (Polti VisitMalta) and Marcellusi (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizané). The six rode for many kilometers with an advantage oscillating between 15 and 20 seconds over the group led by Visma Lease a Bike, Team Picnic PostNL and Alpecin Deceuninck.

Pietrobon gave up 15 km from the finish, after him Hepburn and Marcellusi also dropped back. Then it was Verre's turn, with Paleni (at -9) and Cerny being the last to surrender, the latter caught in the final lap of the Roman circuit.

FINISH ORDER

1. Kooij Olav (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) in 03:12:19
2. Groves Kaden (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
3. Moschetti Matteo (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
4. Pedersen Mads (Lidl-Trek)
5. Lamperti Luke (Soudal Quick-Step)
6. Kanter Max (XDS Astana Team)
7. Baroncini Filippo (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
8. Aular Orluis (Movistar Team)
9. Zanoncello Enrico (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè)
10. Lonardi Giovanni (Team Polti VisitMalta)

FINAL STANDINGS

1 Simon Yates (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) in 82:31:01
2. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) at 3'56"
3. Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost) at 4'43"
4. Derek Gee (Israel - Premier Tech) at 6'23"
5. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain - Victorious) at 7'32"
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) at 9'28"
7. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) at 12'42"
8. Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) at 13'05"
9. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) at 13'36"
10. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) at 14'27"

to read the stage report CLICK HERE