Photo gallery: 2017 Giro d’Italia, stages 16-21
The 100th Giro d’Italia crowned the race’s first ever Dutch winner as Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) took the title in a final-stage showdown against Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
A dramatic last week saw the lead of the race change twice as the top contenders had a major reshuffle across almost every stage. Dumoulin’s rivals threw everything at him and an upset stomach almost cost the Dutchman the race, but he stood strong through what was a very tough final few days.
It was one of the most memorable and exciting Grand Tours in recent times with the final outcome only revealed in the last kilometre of the race. The time difference? Just 31 seconds between Dumoulin and Quintana.
We hope you enjoy our final gallery from the 2017 Giro d’Italia, one that showcases a huge final week of racing and excitement.
- Tom Dumoulin wasn’t too busy for a selfie at the start of stage 16. Notice the Rio Olympics-related graphics on the back of his phone.
- Astana’s bidons honour Frankie, a macaw that befriended late cyclist Michele Scarponi.
- Stage 16 featured three big climbs and took the riders above the snowline several times.
- Sprint classification leader Fernando Gaviria (QuickStep Floors) soldiered through the final week — not his favoured terrain.
- Newspaper inside the jersey — the old-fashioned way of staying warm on a mountain descent.
- The legendary Passo dello Stelvio with its 48 hairpin bends.
- Tom Dumoulin had to take an urgent “nature break” at the bottom of the final climb …
- … leaving the Dutchman to chase back alone.
- The pace didn’t slow in the group of favourites, with Nibali and Quintana getting off the front together.
- The stage would come down to a sprint between Nibali and Mikel Landa …
- … with Nibali taking the win, the first for an Italian at this year’s race.
- With climbing right out of the start on stage 17, riders took to the rollers pre-race.
- Pink bidons for race leader Tom Dumoulin.
- Eating has to wait when you’re descending at 80km/h.
- More than two years after his last win, Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac) soloed to an impressive victory on stage 17.
- The win meant a lot to him.
- There’s no shortage of colour and intrigue at the Giro d’Italia.
- As above.
- Nairo Quintana attacked all through the final week and eventually managed to dislodge Dumoulin from the top of the GC. He wouldn’t get enough time to hold Dumoulin off in the final-stage ITT though.
- Dumoulin was under attack all through the final week, and often relied on his time-trialling prowess to peg back time.
- Attacking from the break on stage 18, Landa and Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) managed to get clear to contest the win. Landa led out the sprint …
- … which allowed Van Garderen to come around for a comfortable win.
- There was some tension between the GC favourites after Dumoulin was critical of the tactics employed by Quintana and Nibali in the mountains.
- Another day in pink for Dumoulin.
- Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) started stage 19 in the best young rider jersey, a prize held by Bob Jungels (QuickStep Floors) for most of the Giro. Jungels would take back the lead in the final-stage ITT.
- Giro fever gripped Italy all throughout May.
- Franco Pellizotti was a faithful lieutenant for Nibali throughout the Giro.
- At 40 years old, Svein Tuft (Orica-Scott) was the second-oldest rider in the Giro. Only Angel Vicioso (Katusha-Alpecin) was older, by less than a month.
- After being beaten in two, two-up sprints, Mikel Landa went it alone on stage 19 and took a big solo win.
- The mountains take their toll on all riders.
- Dumoulin lost more time on stage 19 …
- … and found himself out of pink going into the final mountain stage, with Quintana back in the maglia rosa.
- Tom Dumoulin speaking with the owner of Bahrain-Merida, the controversial Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in 2017.
- After retiring at the end of 2016, Ivan Basso continues in the sport in a support role at Trek-Segafredo (he followed former Tinkoff teammate Alberto Contador across).
- The GC favourites were on the move again on the final day in the mountains, trying to take more time on Dumoulin.
- In the end it was Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) who claimed the stage win in an impressive sprint.
- Dumoulin lost more time on stage 20, dropping from second to fourth overall ahead of the final-stage time trial.
- It was a beyond-impressive Grand Tour debut for Fernando Gaviria, who won four stages and the points classification.
- Adam Yates gave it his all but wasn’t able to match Bob Jungels in the final-stage ITT. Jungels was crowned the winner of the youth classification.
- Dumoulin scorched around the course in Milan …
- … crossing the line with the second best time. It was enough for the Dutchman to jump from fourth to first, and take his first Grand Tour win.
- Dumoulin’s compatriot Jos Van Emden (LottoNL-Jumbo) won the stage — the biggest success of his career.
- Tom Dumoulin, winner of the 2017 Giro d’Italia.