Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) wins final Giro d'Italia stage.

Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) wins stage 21 and final stage of 2018 Giro d'Italia.
Christopher Froome (Team Sky) seals overrall 2018 Giro d'Italia victory in Rome, Italy.

How it unfolded

A largely ceremonial stage, the Giro visited Italy’s capital Rome for the first time since 2009. It was the fourth time the race has finished there - the others being 1911 and 1950 - and only the fifth stage finish in Rome since the 1960s.

Ignatas Konovalovas in 2009, Oreste Conte in 1950 and Ezio Corlaita in 1911 had previously taken the final stage honours in the capital, with a bunch sprint expected this time around. The stage itself featured ten laps of a flat 11.5km course, passing sights such as the Colosseum, Altare della Patria and the Piazza del Popolo.

The early stages of the day were characterised by numerous high-profile riders holding discussions with race officials. The day’s course was the topic, with riders seemingly surprised by the state of the course, including a cobbled section, while reports of various directors being unhappy about a lack of marshalling on the route.

Final top ten General classification standings.

1, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky 89:02:39,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:00:46,
3, Miguel Angel Lopez (Colombia) Astana Pro Team 0:04:57,
4, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 0:05:44,
5, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 0:08:03,
6, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 0:11:50,
7, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:13:01,
8, George Bennett (NewZealand) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:13:17,
9, Sam Oomen (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:14:18,
10, Davide Formolo (Italy) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:15:16

Mikel Nieve (Mitchellton-Scott) wins Giro d'Italia stage 20

Mikel Nieve (Mitchelton-Scott) breaks away to win final mountain stage 2 on his 34th birthday, his third career win at the Giro d'Italia, salvaging something from a miserable closing weekend for his team, Meanwhile Chris Froome (Team Sky) has sealed his first Giro d'italia victory on Saturday, fending off all attacks from his arch rival Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) on the final summit finish of the race at Cervinia on stage 20.

How it Happened

The final meaningful GC-related stage of the Giro, stage 20 was another monster, running 214km from the Alpine town of Susa into the mountains and the finish at the resort of Cervinia. With Chris Froome holding a 40 -econd lead over Tom Dumolin going into the day, as well as Thibaut Pinot holding the same advantage over fourth-placed man Miguel Ángel López, it would be the last chance for a GC shakeup before Rome.

Top Ten General classification standings

1, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky86:11:50,
 2, Tom, Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb0:00:46,
 3, Miguel Angel Lopez (Colombia) Astana Pro Team0:04:57,
 4, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team0:05:44,
 5, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida0:08:03,
 6, Pello Bilboa (Spain) Astana Pro Team0:11:50,
 7, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe0:13:01,
 8, George Bennett (NewZealand) LottoNL-Jumbo0:13:17,
 9, Sam Oomen (Netherland) Team Sunweb0:14:18,
 10, Davide Formolo (Italy) Bora-Hansgrohe0:15:16

Chris Froome (Team Sky) solo's to stage 19 Giro d'italia victory.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) destroyed Giro d'Italia peleton to win a well plan stage 19.
 Froome who attacked inside 80 kilometers to go, after his teammates took over the race and sets ferocious pace that destroyed the general standings, his stage win also nets him overrall race.

How stage 19 Unfolded

The breakaway had its day at Prato Nevoso on Thursday but it quickly became clear that wouldn't be happening again on stage 19.

It was a fast, furious, and chaotic start as the road pitched uphill – even before the first of the day's four climbs, the second-category Colle de Lys. Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and Carlos Betancur (Movistar) were active, but many more moves came and went before a nine-man breakaway stuck, if only briefly, in the valley. In there were Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana), Matteo Montaguti (AG2R), Rodolfo Torres (Androni Giocattoli), Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy), Nathan Brown (EF-Drapac), Koen Bouwman and Danny Van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo), and Darwin Atapuma and Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates).

Top Ten General classification standings.

1, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky 80:21:59,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 00:00:40,
3, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ 00:04:17,
4, Miguel Angel Lopez (Colombia) Astana Pro Team 00:04:57,
5, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 00:05:44,
6, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 00:08:03,
7, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 00:11:08,
8, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:12:19,
9, George Bennett (NewZealand) LottoNL-Jumbo 00:12:35,
10, Sam Oomen (Netherland) Team Sunweb 00:14:18

Maximilian schachmann (quick-stp floor) wins stage 18 giro d'italia.

Maximilian Schachmann (Quick-Step Floors) wins Giro d'Italia stage 18 atop Prato Nevero, he took a well-deserved win on stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia. The German held off the late challenge from of his co breakaway companion Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy) and Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) at the ski summit of Prato Nevoso.

The trio survived from the day’s early break and, after a series of attacks, came into the final 900 metres together. Schachmann, just a second-year pro, powered clear with just a few hundred meters to go, with Ca

Elia Viviani (Quick-Step floors) sprints to stage 17 victory of Giro d'italia.

Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floor's) Beats Sam Bennett  (Bora-Hansgrohe) to win Giro d'Italia stage 17 while.

Simon Yates (Mitchellton-Scott) finishes safely to keep the maglia rosa for another day. No change on GC, despite the four hours of chaos we've just enjoyed. 

Elia Viviani is the first Italian in the last 13 years to win four stages at a single Giro d'Italia edition.

How it unfolded 

The final week of the Giro d'Italia continued with a 155-kilometre stage from Riva del Garda to Iseo. It would be another picturesque day out, not that the riders would have time to admire it. With a climb from kilometre zero, and many taking the time trial as a second rest day, stage 17 was always going to be a challenging stage, but few could have predicted just how challenging it would be.

A mechanical issue for one of the Quick-Step Floors riders delayed the start, and the neutral section lasted past kilometre zero, but once the action began it barely relented. Groups upon groups of riders went clear on the climb, but none were able to build a sustainable lead. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) was one of the most active at the front, and he expressed his displeasure at the situation with a one-finger salute, though it was unclear who exactly it was directed at.

Top Ten General classification standings.

1, Simon Yates (Great Britain) Mitchelton-Scott 69:59:11,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:00:56
3, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 0:03:11,
4, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky 0:03:50,
5, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ 0:04:19,
6, Rohan Dennis (Australia) BMC Racing Team 0:05:04,
7, Miguel Angel Lopez (Colombia) Astana Pro Team 0:05:37,
8, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 0:06:02,
9, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 0:06:07,
10, George Bennett (NewZealand) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:07:01

Simon Yates (Mitchellton-Scott) wins stage 15 Giro d'Italia

Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) blasts to Giro d'Italia stage 15 victory and takes his third Stage, he also increases his grip in the overrall standing, he became the first man since Gilberto Simoni in 2003 to win three stages while wearing the maglia rosa at the Giro, riding into Sappada solo to extend his overall race lead. Miguel Ángel López (Astana) took second, 41 seconds behind, Tom Domoulin (Team Sunweb) rounded off the top three and salvaged four bonus seconds.

How it unfolded 

After yesterday’s fearsome finish on Monte Zoncolan, more mountains were on the menu for stage 15 as the race headed into the Dolomites for a day. Rather than face the biggest names of the Dolomites (there was no Fedaia, Giau, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Gardena, Pordoi), three second category climbs and one third category climb filled out the 176km stage.

Top Ten General classification Standing.

1,Simon Yates (Great Britain) Mitchelton-Scott65:57:37,
 2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb0:02:11,
 3, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida0:02:28,
 4, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ0:02:37,
5, Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team0:04:27 ,6, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team0:04:47,
 7, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky0:04:52,
8, George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo0:05:34,
9, Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team0:05:59,
10, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe0:06:13.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) wins stage 14 Giro d'Italia.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) rides to Giro d'Italia stage 14 victory atop Monte Zoncolan. Simon Yates (Mitchellton-Scott) recoverd to save his leader's pink jersey.

It all came down to the Zoncolan and it was Poels who set things up for Froome with a long turn on the front. Then with 4.3km to go Froome attacked. His first acceleration brought Lopez, Pozzovivo and Yates with him. The second kick saw the Team Sky rider go clear, and despite a late chase from Yates Froome held on to take the win.

Stage 14 saw a return to the mountains - proper this time, as the race headed to the Carnic Alps and the infamous Monte Zoncolan. Despite its reputation, it’s only the sixth time the Giro d’Italia has used the mountain, with the first coming in 2003.

How it unfolded 

Four classified climbs lay before the big finale. First up at 43.3km, the category three Monte di Ragogna (2.8km at 10.3%), then another category three climb at Avaglio (4.5km at 7%), 105.5km in. The second category Passo Duron (4.4km at 9.6%) came 142.1km into the stage - 39km from the finish, before the penultimate test of Sella Valcalda (7.6km at 5.6%) coming 20km before the line. Two intermediate sprints were sandwiched in at 57.8km and 138.1km.

Top Ten General Classification Standings

1, Simon Yates (Great Britain) Mitchelton-Scott 61:19:51,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:01:24,
3, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:37,
4, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:46,
5, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky 0:03:10,
6, Miguel Angel Lopez (Colobia) Astana Pro Team 0:03:42,
7, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 0:03:56,
8, George Bennett (NewZealand) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:04:04,
9, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 0:04:29,
10, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:04:43.

Elia Viviani (Quick-step floors) wins stageb13 Giro d'Italia

Elia Viviani (quick-Step Floor's) wins stage 13 in Nervesa della Battaglia, Giro d'Italia. 

His third stage victory after winning the first opening stages in Jerusalem, Israel.

A fine sprint from Viviani to take his third win of this Giro. A teammate dropped him off on the wheel of Modolo, who went very early to close down the Wilier rider - perhaps inspired by Bennett yesterday? Viviani showed his track skills to squeeze through a gap and he surged past Modolo convincingly, punching the air as he crossed the line. 

How it unfolded

With the mountains looming over the weekend, the sprinters would get one last chance to do their thing in the second week of the Giro d'Italia. There was little resistance to the breakaway going and a group of five quickly formed off the front. The Italian Pro Continental teams were unsurprisingly present, as were a couple of WorldTour interlopers.

Top Ten stage 13 General Classification Standings.

1, Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:47,
3, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ 1:04,
4, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 1:18,
5, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 1:56,
6, George Bennett (Newzealand) LottoNL-Jumbo 2:09,
7, Rohan Dennis (Australia) BMC Racing Team 2:36,
8, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 2:54,
9, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe 2:55,
10, Fabio Aru (Italy) UAE Team Emirates 3:10.

Sam Bennett (Bora-Hanagrohe) wins stage 12 and his second stage win of the Giro d'Italia sprinting to victory on the Imola motor racing circuit at the end of a chaotic, rain-soaked final hour of racing storms past and takes the win by a country mile.

The Irishman produced a spectacular long-range effort as he tracked down late attackers Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) and Carlos Betancur (Movistar) in the final 400 metres, before ripping past them and away from the rest of the field.

How today unfolded

After a few early skirmishes, a breakaway went, with a full house of Italian Pro Continental teams. Jacopo Mosca and Eugert Zhupa were there for Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia, Mirco Maestri and Manuel Senni for Bardiani CSF, and Marco Frapporti for Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec. Frapporti has been a constant feature of breakaways so far at this Giro d’Italia, and was already way ahead in the Premio Fuga standings - awarded to the rider with most kilometres spent in the break - before he set off for another 200km or so out front.

Despite some panic late on in the stage for Carapaz, there has been no changes to the top 10 in the overall classification. 

1, Simon Yates (Great Britain) Mitchelton-Scott 51:57:55,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:00:47,
3, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:04,
4, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:18,
5, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 0:01:56,
6, George Bennett (NewZealand) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:02:09,
7, Rohan Dennis (Australia) BMC Racing Team 0:02:36,
8, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 0:02:54,
9, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:55,
10, Fabio Aru (Italy) UAE Team Emirates 0:03:10.

Simon Yates (Mitchellton-Scott) wins stage 11 Giro d Italia

Simon Yates (Mitchellton-Scott) wins stage 11 and keeps his pink leader's jersey while Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) came second, Davide Formolo came third.
 Simon Yates extends his overrall lead in the leaders classification.

That was an incredible battle between Dumoulin and Yates - the Giro in a microcosm so far. Dennis and Aru both made the top ten by the way but no Lopez or Carapaz. Froome lost more time though, and his chances of winning are all but over, surely.

Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) extended his overall race lead and took his second stage win at this year's Giro d'Italia with a strong
solo victory in Osimo on stage 11.

The dust had barely settled on the dramatic return to racing on Tuesday when the riders set out from Assisi on Wednesday morning. There was an emotional backdrop to the stage with the 15-kilometre route passing through Filottrano, the hometown of the late Michele Scarponi and the 

Top Ten General classification stage 11 Standings

So Froome is out of the top ten once more, and now there are just four riders within two minutes of Yates. The podium looks to be between Yates, Pinot, Dumoulin, and Pozzovivo, at this stage.

1, Simon Yates (Great Britain) Mitchelton-Scott 47:08:21,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb 0:00:47,
3, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:04,
4, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:18,
5, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team 0:01:56,
6, George Bennett (New Zealand ) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:02:09,
7, Rohan Dennis (Australia) BMC Racing Team 0:02:36,
8, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team 0:02:54,
9, Patrick Konrad (Austra) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:55,
10, Fabio Aru (Italy) UAE Team Emirates 0:03:10.

Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) wins Giro d'Italia stage 10.

Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) beat Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) in a two man sprint to win in Gualdo Tadino after the longest stage of the Giro d'Italia which saw Esteban Chaves tumble out of the overall classification.

The longest stage of the Giro d'Italia began with the 15.7km Fonte della Creta climb and meant that most teams warmed up on the rollers before the start in Penne. There was a sense of fear in the air for what would happen during the long day.11

Top Ten Genera Classification Standings.

1, Simon Yates (Great Britain) Mitchelton-Scott43:42:38,
2, Tom Dumoulin (Netherland) Team Sunweb0:00:41,
3, Thibaut Pinot (France) Groupama-FDJ0:00:46,
4, Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy) Bahrain-Merida0:01:00,
 5, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador) Movistar Team0:01:23,
 6, George Bennett (Newzealand) LottoNL-Jumbo0:01:36,
 7, Rohan Dennis (Australia) BMC Racing Team0:02:08,
8, Pello Bilbao (Spain) Astana Pro Team,
 9, Michael Woods (Canada) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale0:02:28,
10, Chris Froome (Great Britain) Team Sky0:02:30.