Mark Cavendish takes fairytale win on Giro d'Italia farewell as Primoz Roglic wins overall title

ByNick Christian

Updated 28/05/2023 at 18:45 GMT

“The greatest gladiator of them all”, as dubbed by Eurosport commentator Rob Hatch, claimed his 162nd career victory with the most remarkable of sprints. It was Mark Cavendish’s first triumph with Astana-Qazaqstan and fuels hopes he can now surpass Eddy Merckx with a 35th Tour de France stage win later this summer. Meanwhile, Primoz Roglic came home safely to win the overall title.

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) marked his final appearance at the Giro d’Italia with a sensational sprint victory on Stage 21 as Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) survived the pan-flat run around Rome to confirm his first maglia rosa.

The British star was teed up for victory not only by his Astana team-mates but also by compatriot and friend Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in a remarkable act of camaraderie – made even more special after Thomas lost the GC on the final competitive stage on Saturday.

He was swamped by rivals at the finish, each delighted to see him write the latest chapter in an astonishing career that will come to an end later this season.

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Only the first third of the 127.5km stage, which began on the outskirts of the Italian capital before heading out towards the coastal Ostia Lido, took place at processional pace. Roglic and his team enjoyed the prosecco, and the photocalls, before knuckling down to complete the job that began 22 days ago in Chieti.

Rohan Dennis (Jumbo-Visma), wearing pink-accented sunglasses, led the peloton for much of the journey towards the finishing circuit in the centre of the city.

The only possible question to answer was whether Eddie Dunbar (Jayco Alula) would be forced by Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) to defend his single second of advantage for seventh place in the general classification. That second could have been lost by the bonuses offered at the second intermediate sprint.

Any doubt was largely dispelled one lap into the six, as Maxime Bouet (Arkea Samsic) launched the first attack. The Frenchman was followed by Cesare Benedetti (Bora Hansgrohe) and Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) and the three began working together for one last dance around Rome.

• 'Mind-blowing' backstory of mystery fan who ran to help Roglic at Giro

Thomas and Roglic chat together on Stage 21, day on from time trial drama

The peloton was happy to give them 30 seconds, and let them sweep up both intermediate sprints, even if there was little more than zero chance of the stage not ending in a fast bunch finish.

As inevitable as that was, few could have predicted the manner with which the Giro would be concluded.

Once the trio of escapees had been gathered up, the sprint teams began preparing themselves for the finale. Cavendish's colleagues, largely made up of climbers and rouleurs, could contribute little to that preparation but they did their best. It was left to Team DSM, Movistar and Bahrain Victorious, working for Alberto Dainese, Fernando Gaviria and the maglia ciclamino of Jonathan Milan respectively, to wind things up.

Cavendish managed to maintain a good position, just five or so riders from the front, as the leaders navigated their way around the last couple of technical turns. Friend and former team-mate Thomas offered a wheel, which he gladly accepted, while fellow Brit Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) was also happy to lend a hand.

Cavendish 'pretty emotional' after farewell win at Giro

Into the finishing straight it was up to Cavendish to complete the job. He tucked himself into Milan's slipstream until he made an early dart down the left side of the line. Cavendish moved over onto Gaviria's wheel, and the Colombian had no choice but to start his sprint early, around 400m from the line. Already the pair were a long way ahead of the rest, as Milan struggled to find his way to the front.

Only 150m from the line and with Gaviria fading fast did he move into clear air for the first time. The win was complete long before the line. It didn't look close, because it wasn't. The years were well and truly rolled back, reminiscent of a rider who announced himself 15 years earlier in Reggio Calabria.

Second place on the stage went to Alex Kirsch (Trek-Segafredo) with third taken by Filippo Fiorelli (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizane).

"I'm super happy," said the 38 year-old afterwards. "It was a long hard slog to get to the end of the Giro. We came close a couple of times before. My boys did incredible. My friends did incredible. Had some great friends today.

"Pretty emotional to be fair. My first victory was fifteen years ago in Reggio-Colabria. To win here in Rome, that's a bucket list sprint to be able to do, outside the Colosseum. I'm so happy."

'Help a brother out!' – Thomas on helping Cavendish to sprint victory on Stage 21

Cavendish will now recover before heading to the Tour de France in a bid to claim the outright record of stage victories. He is currently tied with Belgian great Eddy Merckx on 34 wins.

Roglic stayed upright to complete a remarkable Grand Tour victory. The Slovenian shrugged off a mechanical on Saturday’s individual time trial to destroy his rivals, including a weary Thomas, and surge into pink.

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