Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has won the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in Rome, as Jonas Vingegaard takes the overall victory.
For Milan, who had not yet won a stage at this year’s Giro —despite winning the points classification for the past two years— the stage represented a final chance to claim a sprint victory for the team.
“I have never won the last stage in the Giro,” he said in an interview before the race. “I have done some little results, but not what we wanted to achieve in the end…For sure I am looking forward to today. I am really motivated. It is super important for us.”
But towards the end, it hadn’t looked certain that Milan would get his chance. A late three-man breakaway, led by Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS) was caught with just three kilometres to go, bringing it back for a bunch sprint.
In the final kilometre, the road dipped down, rising uphill for the finish. Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) took the front for teammate —and maglia ciclamino wearer— Paul Magnier, with Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), who had exhausted his men in the chase, launching first. Milan, waiting in the wheels, did not miss his opportunity: in his distinctive nodding dog style, he powered through to claim the stage win by more than a bike length, raising both hands aloft.
Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta) and Paul Penhoët (Groupama FDJ United) completed the podium, with Groenewegen finishing fourth.
“I’m super happy to end the Giro in this way,” said Milan in an interview with TNT Sports after the race. “I was missing a victory…I’m super happy to win in Rome.”
Milan also praised the efforts of his teammates. “[Matteo] Sobrero had to cover some breaks and help us to position. At the moment where Ganna attacked, he followed. It was perfect having him there so we didn’t have to pull behind. It was a really big team effort today, and I’m really happy to pay them back with this victory…We never gave up. We always kept fighting for a victory, kept believing in it, believing in each other.”
Lidl-Trek’s head of racing, Bernhard Eisel, confirmed that teammate Max Walscheid had been “screaming for the last 100 metres” at Milan’s victory. For the team, Milan’s win concluded a successful campaign, with Giulio Ciccone securing the mountains classification and Derek Gee-West finishing fifth overall.
“Everything was in there: we had the maglia rosa – a childhood dream for Giulio came true,” said Eisel. “There are not many teams who won a stage. We are one of them, and winning here in Rome is a big one.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Today’s 131-kilometre flat route started and finished in Rome, looping towards the coast before concluding with eight loops of a 9.5-kilometre circuit around the city centre.
The stage began with a celebratory atmosphere and a leisurely pace of just 26.8km/h in the first hour. Boxes of Haribo were opened and shared between teams; congratulations were exchanged, and teams posed across the road for photos, glasses of champagne in hand.
But not for long: there were still sprint teams in this race with a point to prove. Like Milan, the Unibets Rose Rockets still found themselves empty handed, having come close to securing a victory with Dylan Groenewegen in stage 3 and been left frustrated after a crash in Naples in stage six.
Magnier, who had won three stages this year, was also keen to secure a final victory. “Big opportunity today,” he said. “Today’s a different finish and it suits me well. We’re very motivated and we hope to finish again on a high.”
With these ambitions colliding, the race grew faster, with speeds averaging almost 60km/h in the last hour. There were some attempts at a breakaway, including from Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS) and Andrea Mifsud (Polti VisitMalta) who were reeled in shortly before the Red Bull Kilometre with 53 kilometres to go. Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates) claimed the sprint —and €15,000 final prize— securing overall victory in the category too.
With around 18 kilometres to go, Filippo Ganna surged off the front of the peloton, marked by Stuyven and Sobrero.
Ganna had his head down, time trial mode activated. No flicking the elbow, no squabbling over turns. When the bell rang for the final circuit, the three men had 18 seconds. Could this be a breakaway win?
Fortunately for Milan, as the distance whittled down, so too did the time gap. The Unibet Rose Rockets came to the front, determined not to squander Groenewegen’s chances at a stage win. 10 seconds. Eight seconds. Three seconds.
With three kilometres to go, it was all over. And as the peloton came together for a bunch sprint, it was Milan who emerged triumphant in Rome.
Clad head to toe in pink, meanwhile, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), crossed the line last with his teammates, crowned the overall winner of this year’s Giro d’Italia. The Dane has now become the first rider of his generation to win all three Grand Tours, with his teammates wearing a special kit to celebrate the victory.
Magnier retained the maglia ciclamino, Ciccone won the mountains classification and Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious) held onto the young rider’s jersey.
RESULT GIRO D’ITALIA 2026, STAGE 21: ROME > ROME (131KM)
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek, 3:05.50
2. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Polti VisitMalta
3. Paul Penhoët (Fra) Groupama FDJ United
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets
5. Madis Mihkels (Est) EF Education-Easypost
6. Jensen Plowright (Aus) Alpecin-Premier Tech
7. Tobias Lund Andreson (Den) Decathlon CMA CGM
8. Corbin Strong (Aus) NSN Cycling Team
9. Toon Aerts (Bel) Lotto Intermarché
10. Luca Mozzato (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling, all at same time
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 21
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, in 83:22.51
2. Felix Gall (Aut) Decathlon CMA CGM, +5.22
3. Jai Hindley (Aus) Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, +6.25
4. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Netcompany-Ineos, +7.02
5. Derek Gee-West (Can) Lidl-Trek, +7.56
5. Alfonso Eulálio (Por) Bahrain Victorious, +9.39
7. Michael Storer (Aus) Tudor Pro Cycling, +10.13
8. Davide Piganzoli (Ita) Visma-Lease a Bike, +10.52
9. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +11.24
10. Egan Bernal (Col) Netcompany-Ineos, +12.54