Sam Bennett completed a remarkable Giro d'Italia with his third stage victory as the Irishman burst home in Rome and Chris Froom won the title.
Bora Hansgrohe rider Bennett also earned a third and a second place in a Grand Tour performance that further embellished his excellent reputation.
🇮🇪 3rd win at the Giro for Sam Bennett after Praia a Mare and Imola. Now he is the most successful Irish rider in Giro’s history for stage wins, leaving at 2 Stephen Roche. #Giro101 pic.twitter.com/clGMFMcdFF
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 27, 2018
Froome meanwhile became the first Briton to win the Giro after coming through unscathed in Sunday's final processional stage.
Riding in the gruelling race for the first time since 2010, Froome added the one Grand Tour missing from his collection. The 33-year-old joined cycling greats Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault as one of only three riders to capture all three Grands Tours in succession.
Froome, who crossed the finish line with his hands on the shoulders of Sky team mates, won the Tour de France and Vuelta Espana last year and his success at the Giro was built on an astonishing solo attack in Friday's 19th stage which put him in full control.
The Team Sky rider is still under investigation over an adverse doping test result following a urine sample at last year's Vuelta which showed excessive use of an asthma inhaler. The four-times Tour de France winner has denied any wrongdoing.
