Egan Bernal secures Giro d’Italia victory
Egan Bernal sealed overall victory in the Giro d’Italia as his Ineos Grenadiers teammate Filippo Ganna won the closing time trial in Milan and Simon Yates claimed a podium finish.
Bernal began the 30km race against the clock with a one minute 59 second advantage over Damiano Caruso after the Italian’s victory on the Alpe Motta on Saturday, and finished with a final margin of victory of 89 seconds to deliver a second consecutive Giro win for the Grenadiers.
Yates, who had put a scare into Bernal with his attacking approach in the final week, secured third place, four minutes 15 seconds down – his best result yet in a race he has consistently targeted since his Vuelta a Espanawinning season in 2018.
Bernal knew he simply needed to stay calm – and stay upright – to see the job through before he could celebrate in the shadow of Milan’s Duomo.
“I was just focused on my effort, thinking I can’t do a mistake, I don’t want to lose the Giro in one corner,” he said. “I was starting to push in the parts where I could push but in the corners I don’t take any risks. I think it was the first time trial I enjoyed. I always suffer in the time trials but today was a special one.
“There were a lot of Colombian flags and all the people cheering for me when I arrived and I realised I had won it was an incredible feeling. I cannot describe what I’m feeing inside of me.”
Bernal – who earned his first professional contract in Italy as a teenager – adds the Giro title to his Tour de France crown from 2019, but the 24-year-old has had to show much more maturity over the past three weeks.