29 May 2017

Dutch cyclist Dumoulin wins Giro d'Italia

9:04 am on 29 May 2017

Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoulin has won his maiden grand tour title when he won the Giro d'Italia after crushing his main rivals in the final time trial.

Colombian Nairo Quintana finished second overall, 31 seconds behind, and Italian Vincenzo Nibali took third place, 40 seconds off the pace.

Dumoulin became the first Dutchman to win the Giro after he finished second in the final stage in a time of 33min 23sec, 15 seconds behind stage winner and countryman Jos van Emden.

"It's really crazy, I cannot describe it with words. It was such a nerve-racking day but I did it, I had good legs," Dumoulin said.

The 26-year-old time-trial specialist turned grand tour rider had flagged himself up in 2015 when he took sixth place overall in the Tour of Spain.

Dumoulin lost the Giro overall leader's pink jersey on the 19th stage as he struggled in the final mountain stages but limited his losses to be in a good position for Sunday's 29.3-km solo effort between Monza and Milan.

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) took fourth place overall ahead of Russian Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha).

- Reuters