Australian cyclist Jai Hindley wins Giro d'Italia

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Australian cyclist Jai Hindley won Giro d'Italia on Sunday, becoming Australia's second Grand Tour champion after the final stage of the race at the 17,4-kilometer (10-mile) individual time trial in Verona in northeastern Italy.

Hindley from Bora-Hansgrohe clocked in 23 minutes and 55 seconds, losing only seven seconds against Richard Carapaz, and that was not enough for the Ecuadorian rider to claim his second Giro victory after winning the 2019 edition of the tour.

Hindley is only the second Aussie to win a Grand Tour after Cadel Evans who won Tour de France in 2011.

In the general classification, Hindley, 26, finished in 86 hours, 31 minutes, and 14 seconds followed by Ineos Grenadiers' Richard Carapaz (+1:18) in the second spot and Bahrain Victorious' Mikel Landa Meana from Spain in the third place (+3:24).

Italian cyclist Matteo Sobrero of Team BikeExchange claimed the final ITT stage in 22 minutes and 24 seconds. He was followed by Dutchmen Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) were second and third.

Arnaud Demare celebrated wearing the Maglia Ciclamino, Koen Bouwman secured Maglia Azzurra, and Juan Pedro Lopez Perez claimed Maglia Bianca at the end of the competition.

Meanwhile, Italian legend Vincenzo Nibali, also known as "The Shark", had previously confirmed this year's Tour of Italy would be his final Giro d'Italia as he revealed his plans to retire at the end of the season.