Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 21 recap: Jonas Vingegaard completes historic grand slam as Jonathan Milan wins final stage in Rome

Giro d'Italia

Stage 21 | Flat | Men | 31.05.2026

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19:02

19:02

VINGEGAARD JOINS GREATS WITH GIRO WIN AS MILAN BOSSES STAGE 21 IN ROME

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) became the eighth rider in history – and the first of his generation – to win all three of cycling’s Grand Tours after the Dane safely finished in the peloton in Stage 21 of the Giro d’Italia, won emphatically in Rome by the Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek).

Vingegaard won five mountaintop finishes in a one-sided 109th edition of the Giro on his way to beating his nearest challenger, the Austrian Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), by 5:22. Australia’s Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) – the 2022 winner – completed the podium at 6:25.

Dutchman Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) and Canadian champion Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) took the final two positions in the top five ahead of the race’s breakout star, the Portuguese climber Alfonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious), who secured the white jersey as best young rider off the back of a long stint in pink before Vingegaard wrested the maglia rosa from his shoulders on Stage 14.

Italy’s Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) won the blue climbers’ jersey while the French sprinter Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) secured the maglia ciclamino following the withdrawal of his nearest rival – and fellow triple stage winner – Jhonthan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in Stage 19.

Magnier was unable to add a fourth stage win in Rome, however. With his usual pilot Jasper Stuyven initially up the road covering a late attack by the Italian powerhouse Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS), Magnier found himself out of position in the closing moments when the move was snuffed out with three kilometres to go. Magnier could only take eleventh place after being boxed against the barriers by Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), who came fourth.

‘Eternal class shines through in Rome!’ – Milan powers to memorable win in Giro finale

Video credit: TNT Sports

Victory in the shadow of the Colosseum in the Eternal City went to Milan, whose Lidl-Trek team-mate Matteo Sobrero was also covering the dangerous move by Ganna. Launching from the wheel of his pilot Max Walscheid, Milan surged clear to win by over a bike length ahead of compatriot Lonardi Giovanni (Polti VisitMalta) and the Frenchman Paul Penhoet (Groupama-FDJ United).

It was Milan’s first win of the race and made up for the disappointment in the 25-year-old failing to win the points classification for the first time in his four Grand Tour appearances. A victory for Lidl-Trek meant they became only the ninth – of 23 teams – to taste success in a Giro where Visma won six stages, UAE four stages, and both XRG Astana and Soudal Quick-Step three apiece.

While Vingegaard’s victory was not as emphatic as his rival Tadej Pogacar’s Giro win from 2024, the 29-year-old now has the chance to emulate the Slovenian’s Giro-Tour double from two years ago. Vingegaard also strikes the psychological blow of joining the exclusive club of riders having completed the so-called grand slam ahead of Pogacar, who is yet to ride the Vuelta again since finishing third in his only appearance back in 2019.

Watch breathtaking aerial view of peloton approaching Colosseum in Giro finale

Video credit: TNT Sports

Having won three of cycling’s Monuments already this season, Pogacar will start the Tour de France on 4th July as overwhelming favourite – but Vingegaard’s triumph in the Giro will give the Dane hope that he can return to the top step of the podium in Paris for the first time since 2023.

Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike team owner Richard Plugge certainly believes he has a great chance to win the fabled yellow jersey again for a third time.

Speaking after Vingegaard’s coronation in Rome, Dutchman Plugge said: ”We are a yellow jersey organisation. We have a lot of confidence in this team and in Jonas, obviously, because Jonas is getting even stronger after this. We planned it so that he will at his peak in the Tour de France so we’re looking forward to that fight.”

Bring it on...

18:39

RICHARD PLUGGE: ‘JONAS WILL BE EVEN BETTER AT THE TOUR’

Looking dapper but slightly embarrassed in a pink blazer – ”I wouldn’t wear this normally” – the owner of Visma-Lease a Bike has issued a warning to Jonas Vingegaard’s rivals: the Dane will be even better at the Tour de France.

You want to experience this [winning the Giro] again and then the yellow jersey is the highest – and we’re a yellow jersey organisation. We have a lot of confidence in this team and in Jonas, obviously, because Jonas is getting even stronger after this. We planned it so that he will at his peak in the Tour de France so we’re looking forward to that fight.”

Plugge warns Vingegaard will be 'even stronger' at Tour de France after Giro triumph

Video credit: TNT Sports

18:28

FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE 2026 GIRO D’ITALIA

No change in the top 10 today, so here’s how it looks after the Rome finale:

1. Jonas Vingegaard (TVL) 83:22:51
2. Felix Gall (DCT) +5:22
3. Jai Hindley (RBH) +6:25
4. Thymen Arensman (NCI) +7:02
5. Derek Gee-West (LTK) +7:56
6. Afonso Eulalio (TBV) +9:39
7. Michael Storer (TUD) +10:13
8. Davide Piganzoli (TVL) +10:52
9. Damiano Caruso (TBV) +11:24
10. Egan Bernal (NCI) +12:54

Giro d'Italia 2026 - full overall standings, jerseys and results

18:19

MILAN'S SHARES HIS RELIEF AT FINALLY WINNING IN ROME

Usually a stage winner early on in a Grand Tour – and, before today, always wearing the points classification jersey on the final day of a Grand Tour – Jonathan Milan left it late in this Giro, breaking his duck on Stage 21 in Rome.

I’m super happy to end this Giro in this way. I’m really proud for what we achieved in this Giro. At the end of the day, we could say that we could do better in some stages, but we always give our best, we were always on the front, fighting and trying to achieve the biggest goal.”

Milan also alluded to Giulio Ciccone’s blue jersey win while saying it was 50-50 having Matteo Sobrero covering the attack from Filippo Ganna in that late move.

”With Cicco, we did amazing results and I’m super happy to make it today after the last two years of being here but not winning in Rome. Sobrero had to cover the breaks and it was perfect to have him there with Ganna because we didn’t have to chase behind. It was perfect and I’m really happy that I could pay them back with a victory.”

18:10

THE MOMENT JONAS VINGEGAARD MADE HISTORY

The Dane crosses the line with six of his Visma-Lease a Bike team-mates to join the exclusive club of riders who have won all three of cycling’s Grand Tours.

18:07

STAGE 21 RESULT – TOP 10 IN ROME

In the end, Milan won that sprint by a length and didn’t have to worry about any of his big rivals, with Paul Magnier finishing outside the top 10 in eleventh…

1. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
2. Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta)
3. Paul Penhoet (Groupama-FDJ)
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets)
5. Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost)
6. Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
7. Tobias Lund (Decathlon CMA CGM)
8. Corbin Strong (NSN Cycling Team)
9. Toon Aerts (Lotto Intermarche)
10. Luca Mozzato (Tudor Pro Cycling)

18:02

VICTORY FOR VINGEGAARD AS DANE MAKES HISTORY

And shortly after Milan and the sprinters powered over the line, Jonas Vingegaard comes home with six of his Visma-Lease a Bike team-mates all in a line to complete his Grand Tour clean sweep.

Vingegaard wins the Giro and becomes the eighth rider in history – and the first of his generation – to win all three of cycling’s major Tours.

18:02

JONATHAN MILAN WINS STAGE 21 OF THE GIRO

And finally the towering Italian comes good as he powers to an emphatic victory in the Italian capital – that was superb from the Lidl-Trek sprinter, who breaks his duck at the last chance.

17:59

FINAL KILOMETRE

It’s all Soudal Quick-Step with three riders on the front, including the maglia ciclamino. Groenewegen is isolated and will have to do it on his own…

17:58

2KM TO GO: HERE COMES THE USUAL SUSPECTS

Lidl-Trek, Unibet, Soudal and Decathlon are all on the front now for Milan, Groenewegen, Magnier and Lund. Game on.

17:57

3KM TO GO: TRIO REELED IN

And that’s that for the leader, with Ganna’s brave effort finally thwarted. Sobrero and Stuyven will now drop back into the sprint trains of Lidl and Soudal respectively.

And there’s a counter-attack from Mirco Maestri of Polti VisitMalta, who steals a small march over the pack.

17:55

4KM TO GO: GANNA IS HUMAN AFTER ALL

The trio’s lead is down to single figures now as the sprint trains get their acts together. Magnier is missing the presence of Jasper Stuyven, mind, which would count against him.