After the grand finale in the overall classification the day before, the sprinters were once again in action on the last day of the Giro d'Italia 2025. Traditionally, the last stage of a three-week tour is a day for the fastest men, and this 21st stage was no exception. The 143 kilometres took the riders from Rome to the sea and back. On the final circuit, the riders rode 8 times over 9.5 kilometres to the finish line.
After winning the overall classification, Team Visma | Lease a Bike also won the final stage. After a difficult start to the Tour of Italy, the final days were more than just redemption for the team. Even the preparation for the sprint went well. Wout van Aert was the last rider to go out and left the sprint to Olav Kooij. He rode to victory in dominant fashion and even had a full bike length advantage over Kaden Groves at the end.
I honestly still have to realise that I won the Giro d'Italia. And now Olav has finalised it perfectly, just three great weeks - Simon Yates
The winners of the ratings
Simon Yates was delighted with his victory in the overall classification. Behind him were Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz. Mads Pedersen dominated the points classification with his four stage wins, followed by Olav Kooij and Wout van Aert. At least the Italians can celebrate the winner of the mountain classification, Lorenzo Fortunato. The two riders behind Fortunato are Christian Scaroni and Nicolas Prodhomme. Isaac del Toro won the jersey for the best young rider, even if he was more interested in the pink jersey for the overall classification. Giulio Pellizzari and Max Poole came second and third respectively. The best team overall was UAE Team Emirates - XRG with a gap of almost an hour.
Giro d'Italia 2025 - Results of the 2nd stage
Stage 21: Roma - Roma
Giro d'Italia 2025: Stage 21, Roma - Roma
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 03:12:19 |
| 2 | Alpecin - Deceuninck | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Lidl - Trek | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | Soudal Quick-Step | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | XDS Astana Team | +00:00:00 |
This is how the 21st stage of the Giro d'Italia went
The winners of the classifications were celebrated at the start of the final stage of the Tour of Italy. First and foremost Simon Yates (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), who took the overall leader's jersey the day before and won the classification by almost four minutes. Yates was therefore allowed to wear the pink jersey all the way to Rome and celebrate accordingly. The other wearers of the jerseys were also able to present themselves in this jersey and roll ahead of the peloton at the start. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) in the white jersey of the best young rider, Mads Pedersen (Lidl - Trek) in the purple jersey of the best sprinter and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) in the blue jersey of the best climber. Beforehand, however, the deceased wife of former rider Robert Gesink (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) was remembered.
After a short detour to the Italian coast, the peloton returned to the capital. A 9.5 kilometre circuit awaited them there, which had to be cycled eight times. However, the mostly flat stage had a small challenge in store at the end. The last kilometre in Rome had a gradient of up to 5%.
Audience with the Pope
The riders made a short stop at the Vatican before kilometre 0 of the stage. The riders wearing the classification jerseys rode to the front to Leo the 14th, while he gave a short speech. Meanwhile, the peloton lined up in a semi-circle around him. After a handshake and congratulations, the peloton quickly moved on again.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike celebrates victory
After the surprising victory in the overall classification, the team around Simon Yates had more than enough to celebrate. Many probably did not expect the Briton to win, as Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost) and Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) looked much stronger. The team enjoyed the final stage of the Tour of Italy all the more and celebrated victory together. Meanwhile, the pace was slow and the peloton rolled along at a leisurely pace.
Crossing the finish line heralds the unofficial start of the stage
Things really got going just 110 kilometres before the finish. With the first intermediate sprint, which Alessandro Tonelli (Team Polti VisitMalta) was able to secure, the peloton picked up speed. The relaxed rolling and celebrating turned into high speed within a few seconds. Team Visma | Lease a Bike were at the head of the long peloton for the next few kilometres for their sprinter Olav Kooij. They made their ambitions for the final stage of the Giro clear, and at times all eight of the team's riders were at the front of the peloton.
The first attacks came immediately after the second finish. Until then, there had probably been an agreement that there would be no attacks. Six riders tried to break away and quickly gained a small gap. Among them were Michael Hepburn (Team Jayco AlUla), Alessandro Verre (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Josef Černý (Soudal Quick-Step), Enzo Paleni (Groupama - FDJ), Martin Marcellusi (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè) and Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti VisitMalta). However, the peloton never allowed the group more than 35 seconds. The teams of the best sprinters in particular clearly had little interest in a surprise victory by the breakaway.
Kooij unbeatable in the final sprint
A few kilometres before the finish, the peloton caught up with the last breakaway riders. From then on, the sprinters' teams prepared for the finale and took the lead of the peloton. The team of winner Olav Kooij in particular was in the lead throughout. After Wout van Aert had gone out of the wind, Kooij sprinted to the finish and crossed the line with a good lead over the runner-up, Kaden Groves.
Leon Weidner
Working student
