After illness had taken Richie Porte out of contention, Team Sky headed into the Giro d'Italia in the unusual position of not having a potential overall winner. As Dario Cataldo and Kanstantsin Siutsou were also ruled out of GC contention due to crashes, the team focused entirely on stage wins in what was an unusual grand tour for the British team.

Team Sky pushed the pace on the final stage at the Giro d’Italia as Ben Swift finished just outside the top 10 in the bunch sprint.

The 172-kilometre finale was raced hard in the closing stages with a final stage win up for grabs and it was Team Sky who came to the front in a bid to keep the pace high.

Philip Deignan worked hard to string out the bunch, while Dario Cataldo covered moves on a tough ramp on the day’s finishing circuit in Trieste.

Swift moved himself into position for the final sprint but was consumed by the pack, eventually finishing 16th as Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) claimed the stage.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) finished the test safely to become the first Colombian winner of the Giro, eventually clinching the maglia rosa by a margin of two minutes and 58 seconds over former Team Sky rider Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step). Fabio Aru (Astana) rounded out the podium, four minutes and four seconds back.

Heading to the start in Belfast without a designated general classification leader, Team Sky looked to target stage victories during the race, with that objective focused further after Kanstantsin Siutsou crashed out on stage 14.

It was a new way of riding for the team, who looked to put men up the road and into breakaways at every available opportunity.

That attacking style of racing came close on numerous occasions to securing a stage win, with both Swift and Cataldo both taking tantalising second places across the three weeks. Deignan showed great form on his return from injury, while Salvatore Puccio, Bernhard Eisel and Chris Sutton worked tirelessly for the cause during the race. Edvald Boasson Hagen was also sadly unable to complete the race after being forced out due to injury.

Sebastian Henao was the team’s lead finisher on the general classification, the 20-year-old Colombian coming home in a promising 22nd position in his Grand Tour debut.

Sports Director Dario Cioni evaluated the race and admitted: “It’s been a very different Giro from what we’ve done in the past. We didn’t have a main GC guy and the first week ruled us out of the GC with Dario and then Kosta.

“The positive thing was that the team really stepped up to the challenge and looked to prove themselves out on the road.

“Swifty was really close in Ireland to a stage win. Dario was incredibly close on the Oropa climb. Philip did a really good ride to finish third up to Panarotta and ride with the main guys and attack on Plan di Montecampione. Puccio, Bernie and CJ all rode really well, even if they were a bit more hidden because they were working for the others. Again it was a real shame to lose Edvald with his injury.

“Sebastian was really impressive. He finished just outside the top 20. He finished with leaders on a really tough stage like Val Martello. He also showed what he can do in the TT climb up Monte Grappa.”