Sam Bennett Makes it Three Stage Wins in the Giro d’Italia

Carrick-on-Suir’s Sam Bennett (27) wins the final stage of the Giro d’Italia making him the most successful Irish rider in Giro history.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider’s sprint finish made for some great viewing as he claimed the 21st and final stage of the Giro d’Italia just ahead of Quick-Step Floors’ Elia Viviani. This win makes it three stage wins in what was an incredible tour for the Tipp rider. It beats Ireland’s former record in the Giro, Stephen Roche’s two stage wins.

“He ends the Giro with another huge win!”@Sammmy_Be takes the final stage victory in Rome ? #Giro101 pic.twitter.com/853hCgx6Mh

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 27, 2018

Chris Froome (33) won the Giro, after a shaky start, to become the first Briton to win the race in the Giro’s 101-year history. He is now just the third cyclist ever to win all three Grand Tours in succession (the Tour de France, Tour of Spain and the Giro d’Italia.) Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx are the others. In this year’s Giro, Sunweb’s Tom Dumoulin came second with Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez taking third.

An astonishing solo attack in Friday’s 19th stage sealed the deal for him. However, there are some doubts that have arisen around the Sky rider of late, as he is still under investigation over an adverse doping test result at last year’s Vuelta which showed excessive use of a salbutamol inhaler. Froome has denied any wrongdoing.

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