Stage 21 wrap-up: Basso parties into Milan, as Förster finally triumphs

A sweet win for Robert Förster (Image credit: Sirotti)

It was all CSC, all the time as the Giro d'Italia finished with its traditional criterium in Milano. After riding in from the Museo del Ghisallo, the squad of race leader Ivan Basso kept control of the peloton until just 3 km to go, when Milram tried to surprise with a late move by Alberto Ongarato. But Gerolsteiner got its act together and led out Robert Förster for his first stage win in the Giro this year. Max Richeze (Panaria) was second ahead of Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile), while Paolo Bettini boxed himself in and finished fourth, winning the points jersey as a good consolation prize.

The final stage was remarkable in that there was only one real attack all day. After Bettini won the 110 Gazzetta sprint in Cambiago, Gabriele Missaglia (Selle Italia) attacked and got a 3'10 gap. But the peloton (not only CSC) chased him down before the entrance to the finishing circuits in Milano, and it was gruppo compatto for the 11 x 4.8 km laps. CSC just kept getting faster and faster as it led home Ivan Basso to an impressive first Giro win, and no-one could challenge them. Paolo Bettini finished in the points jersey, while his teammate Juan Manuel Garate took the mountains, Bettini the 110 Gazzetta, and Paolo Savoldelli the gran combinata.