VERONA, Italy : Bora–Hansgrohe rider Jai Hindley became the first Australian winner of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday after safely coming through the final stage, a 17.1-kilometre time trial around Verona, to stay ahead of Ecuadorian challenger Richard Carapaz.
Hindley had reason to be cautious going into Sunday's finale. In 2020, the Australian lost a Giro title that was in his hands to Tao Geoghegan Hart in the Milan time trial - the Briton pulling back 39 seconds in the final 15.7-km stage. Carapaz, who had looked primed to add to his 2019 title with another Giro crown before Hindley's Saturday turnaround, went all out to spring a surprise, and was faster in Verona, coming 10th on the day, but it was not enough, as Hindley cruised to the finish line, taking the acclaim from the crowd.
"I was getting updates and I felt pretty good on the bike - I didn't feel like I was fighting it and I knew it was a decent ride.