Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) finished off three weeks of hard work on the Italian roads by crossing the line surrounded by his teammates at the end of today's flat stage into Brescia. Adding a second grand tour win to his palmares, the Astana leader has once again given the Italians someone to cheer for in the big three-week races and he thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations on the final day.

With his win yesterday at the top of the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo climb Vincenzo Nibali firmly underlined that he was by far the strongest rider in this year's Giro. Having finished off the hard part of his work in the previous days, the Italian only had to enjoy a mostly easy ride on the flat roads to Brescia to bag his second grand tour win after his maiden triumph in the 2010 Vuelta.

With Ivan Basso fading somewhat in recent years and Nibali himself unable to repeat that 2010 win, the Italians have not really had a grand tour protagonist able to win the biggest races in the last few seasons. Today's win, however, writes Nibali's name onto the list of the very select few riders capable of battling for the victories in the world's hardest stage races.

His compatriots have enjoyed celebrating their champion throughout the three weeks and today's final stage gave them their last opportunity to show their appreciation of their biggest cycling star. Nibali thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“Today has been a day of many emotions," he said. "It’s like the final day of the Tour: along all 200km of the stage, it was spectacular for the crowds along the road: it was inexplicable, incredible, and a great pleasure for me and all cycling.”

Nibali is a very different kind of grand tour winner compared to some of the most recent rulers of the biggest races. Bradley Wiggins, Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans are all known to be very careful in their preparation and planning and especially the former has built up a reputation as extremely focused on the numbers of his training.

On the contrary, Nibali has appeared relaxed and tranquil throughout most of the race, always stressing his day-to-day approach, and he once again underlined that part of his nature after stepping down from the Giro podium.

“I keep records of my training data, but I’m not very methodical," he said. " I don’t count the kilometres: I’m not a maniac about these things. I just try to work well, day after day. And that’s how I rode the Giro: I took it day by day, giving my best, and in the end I have realized my dream.”

Being a national hero, Nibali can now expect to see drastic changes to his life. Nonetheless, he vowed to keep his feet firmly grounded.

“I have never stopped being the way I am," he said. "I’ve always been like this. I’ve tried to better myself in recent years as a rider, but my character hasn’t changed: I try to be open and courteous to people, even if it is hard when you’re racing every day.”

Nibali first showed his grand tour potential when he finished 6th in the 2009 Tour de France. Since then he has finished on the podium no less than 4 times before taking today's win and he is thus one of the most consistent grand tour performers in recent years.

However, he has not been tempted by his recent success to target a Tour win this year. Instead, he will now rest up from three weeks of tough racing before he starts his second part of the season where the Vuelta a Espana should lay the foundations for a bid to become world champion on home soil in Florence.