Richard Carapaz became the first Ecuadorean rider to win one of cycling's three Grand Tours, sealing overall success in the Giro d'Italia on Sunday.
The Movistar Team rider went into the Verona time-trial with a solid cushion of almost two minutes over his nearest rival Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and, in reality, needed a disaster to deny him victory.
He had no issues in the end and while Nibali went 49 seconds faster over the 17-kilometre distance, netting ninth behind the winner Chad Haga (Team Sunweb), Carapaz had more than enough in hand. He ended the three-week race one minute and five seconds ahead of Nibali, while former race leader Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) was strong enough to overhaul Mikel Landa (Movistar Team) for third.
“I want to enjoy this victory with my wife, my kids and speak on the phone with my parents. I’m very proud of what I achieved. I’m delighted to make my dream of winning a Grand Tour come true,” he said. “We must never forget our childhood dreams. They can always become reality with hard work and determination.”
Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar went into the final day determined to try to get the most out of his remaining energy reserves, but crashed during the time-trial and trailed in last on the stage. That saw him drop one place to 22nd overall, 42 minutes and 26 seconds behind Carapaz, but he retained his sixth place in the best young rider classification.
Dunbar’s strong performance during the race, including his third place on stage 12, bode very well for the future. He is just 22 years of age and was riding his first Grand Tour. Irish national champion Conor Dunne put in strong performances working for his Israel Cycling Academy team and should build more strength and endurance as a result of his participation.
In Germany, defending champion Sam Bennett had to be content with 10th in the Rund um Koln. He was part of the day’s breakaway but the group fragmented on the tough circuit, with Bennett ultimately finishing two minutes 55 seconds behind the winner Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie-Bruxelles).
At home, Chris McGlinchey (Vitus Pro Cycling) beat James Curry (Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo) to win round three of Cycling Ireland’s National Road Series, the Blair International Red Hand Trophy in Ballymena.
Eve McCrystal triumphed ahead of Ellen McDermott (Team Boompods) in the women’s event. Paul Forristal of the promoting club won the Orwell Two Day in Wicklow for the second successive year.
GIRO d’ITALIA
Stage 21, Verona to Verona time-trial: 1 Chad Haga (Team Sunweb) 17 kilometres in 22 mins 7 secs, 2 V Campenaerts (Lotto Soudal) at 4 secs, 3 T De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) at 6 secs, 4 D Caruso (Bahrain-Merida) at 9 secs, 5 T Ludvigsson (Groupama-FDJ) at 11 secs, 6 J Cerny (CCC Team).
Irish: 124 C Dunne (Israel Cycling Academy) at 3 mins 7 secs, 142 E Dunbar (Team Ineos) at 4 mins 20 secs
Final general classification: 1 Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) 91 min 47 secs, 2 V Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) at 1 min 5 secs, 3 P Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 2 mins 30 secs, 4 M Landa (Movistar Team) at 2 mins 38 secs, 5 B Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) at 5 mins 43 secs, 6 R Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) at 6 mins 56 secs
Irish: 22 E Dunbar (Team Ineos) at 42 mins 26 secs, 135 C Dunne (Israel Cycling Academy) at 5 hours 26 mins 52 secs
Points classification: 1 Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) 226 pts, 2 A Demare (Groupama-FDJ) 213, 3 D Cima (Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane) 104
Mountains classification: 1 Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) 267 pts, 2 F Masnada (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) 115, 3 D Caruso (Bahrain-Merida) 86
Irish: 12 E Dunbar (Team Ineos) 36
Young riders classification: 1 Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) 99 mins 13 secs, 2 P Sivakov (Team Ineos) at 1 min 30 secs, 3 H Carthy (EF Education First) at 9 mins 10 secs
Irish: 6 E Dunbar (Team Ineos) at 35 mins
