Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in his final Giro d’Italia stage as Primoz Roglic secured the overall title.
Slovenia’s Roglic finished safely in the peloton to confirm his first Giro title, with Geraint Thomas second.
Thomas helped lead out Cavendish in the final stages, with the pair sharing an emotional embrace after the finish.
Cavendish said Thomas’ decision to help him despite riding for a different team was “off the cuff”.
“He’s so special, 25 years, he’s been one of my best friends you know,” he added.
“More than a bike rider he’s a good person, a good friend, a good team-mate, the most loyal guy you could get. That was pretty special.”
Cavendish’s first Grand Tour stage win was at the 2008 Giro.
“I couldn’t have ended my racing career in Italy in any better way than winning in Rome,” said Cavendish.
“It’s pretty beautiful to have something that will stay in my memory forever, in my heart forever. It’s perfect.”
Astana rider Cavendish maintained his record of winning at least one stage in each of the seven editions of the Giro he has raced.
His first victory of the season takes his overall professional win tally to 162 and he now has 54 stage wins in cycling’s three Grand Tours.
Cavendish will turn his attention to this year’s Tour de France, where he will attempt to take the all-time stage win record outright.
The Manxman is currently level with the legendary Eddy Merckx on 34 Tour stage wins.
While his team were unable to give him a cohesive leadout here, Cavendish showed all his nous, aided by Ineos Grenadiers’ Thomas, to position himself perfectly on the home straight.
He coasted past Fernando Gaviria and Alex Kirsch and was firmly on course for the win even before a crash behind him.
Kirsch held on for second, with Filippo Fiorelli third.
At 38, Cavendish is the oldest rider to ever win a Giro stage.
Roglic secures first Giro title
Sunday’s final stage was a processional 135km route around Rome during which, by precedent, the general classification leader was not challenged for the overall victory.
Having overhauled Thomas, 37, to claim the leader’s pink jersey on the penultimate stage, Roglic just had to safely complete the course and duly did.
The Jumbo-Visma rider, 33, is the first Slovenian to ever win the Giro.
It is his fourth Grand Tour win, having won three Vuelta a Espana titles in a row from 2019 to 2021.
“Every win is definitely special and I’m just grateful to be able to achieve this one,” he said.
“It will stay in my memories for the rest of my life.”
Roglic only took the maglia rosa for the first time after winning stage 20 but had ridden a superb race to keep within striking distance of Thomas, after pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel abandoned while leading after stage nine because he tested positive for Covid.
He claimed the title by just 14 seconds over Welshman Thomas, with Portugal’s Joao Almeida one minute 15 seconds down on Roglic in third.
“It’s been emotional, it’s been a great race,” said Thomas.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. I might be 37 but I feel at least 27.”
Final stage results
- Mark Cavendish (GB/Astana) 2hrs 48mins 26secs
- Alex Kirsch (Lux/Trek-Segafredo) Same time
- Filippo Fiorelli (Ita/Green Project-Bardiana CSF)
- Alberto Dainese (Ita/Team DSM)
- Alexander Krieger (Ger/Alpecin-Deceuninck)
- Jake Stewart (GB/Groupama-FDJ)
- Fernando Gaviria (Col/Movistar)
- Michael Matthews (Aus/Team Jayco Alula)
- Arne Marit (Intermache-Circus-Wanty)
- Campbell Stewart (NZ/Team Jayco Alula)
Final general classification
- Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) 85hrs 29mins 02secs
- Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +14secs
- Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates) +1min 15secs
- Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +4mins 40secs
- Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +5mins 43secs
- Thymen Arensman (Ned/Ineos Grenadiers) +6mins 05secs
- Edward Dunbar (Ire/Team Jayco Alula) +7mins 30secs
- Andreas Leknessund (Nor/Team DSM) +7mins 31secs
- Lennard Kamna (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) +7mins 46secs
- Laurens de Plus (Bel/Ineos Grenadiers) +9mins 08secs
