Luka Mezgec claimed a 6th place on the closing stage of the Giro d’Italia. In the streets of Milan, Iljo Keise was the strongest in a sprint-a-deux, as Alberto Contador sealed his overall win.

The final stage from Torino to Milan traditionally was colored by its celebrations and champagne. When the peloton approached Milan the race went on for the last time.

The 5.350km final circuit on wide, well-surfaced avenues had to be covered seven times to finish on Corso Sempione. A late attack by Iljo Keise (Etixx – Quick Step) and Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEGDE) stayed clear, as the sprinters team were unable to set up an organized chase. Keise was the strongest in the sprint-a-deux. In the bunch sprint for the third place, Mezgec took 6th.

“I suffered from a badly timed mechanical, so it was a huge effort to come back in the front on a circuit like this. In the end, the breakaway of two was still in the front so the sprint went kind of unusual.

“The team did a great job in the finale but with the effort to come back my legs weren’t 100% anymore. It’s sad to finish the Giro like this,” said Mezgec.

Coach Marc Reef added: “Luka was unlucky with three laps to go, as Tobias gave him his wheel. Three men brought him back to the front of the bunch but the gap with the two leaders increased. Also a lot of other riders punctured at that moment and there was a big chaos. At the end we couldn’t close the gap anymore and Luka became 4th of the bunch and 6th in the stage result.”