Italian rider Paolo Savoldelli won the Giro d'Italia for the first time today.
The Index team rider, who was second overall in 1999, finished the three-week long race one minute and 41 seconds ahead of Tyler Hamilton of the U.S.
Compatriot Mario Cipollini won a sprint finish to take the 21st and final stage of the Giro from Cantu' to Milan. It was his sixth stage win in this year's race.
Savoldelli's victory gave Italian cycling fans something to cheer about after the race lost three of the favourites long before its finish.
Stefano Garzelli, winner in 2000, and last year's champion Gilberto Simoni, were both excluded after failing dope tests, while Francesco Casagrande was disqualified for unsporting conduct on Tuesday following a clash with Colombian Freddy Garcia.