Giro d'Italia stage 21 – Live coverage

Buongiorno and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 21 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia. 

The final 30.3km time trial to Milan is set to crown Egan Bernal as overall winner as Filippo Ganna tries to hold off the other time trialists to win the final stage.

We'll have all the action from the first rider off to Bernal finishing in Piazza Duomo,  plus all the post-race celebrations and analysis. 

As the Cyclingnews blimp takes height over Milan, the first rider is about to start the TT. 

Riccardo Minali (Intermarche) is first off at 1:45 local time.

He is trying to 'defend' is maglia nera as last in the GC.   

Click below fore the full start times. 

Giro d'Italia: stage 21 time trial start times (opens in new tab)

Minali rolls down the start ramp and so we're off! 

Most of the riders start at 1-minute interviews, with the final 15 riders off every three minutes to ensure a fair fight for the GC placings.

Minali is riding steady on the roads towards central Milan.

This is the map of the TT. 

Other riders are warming up for their effort. 

This is the start ramp. 

It's warm, sunny and 23C in Milan at the moment.

Bodnar is the first rider off who is really targeting the stage victory. 

Bodnar is fully kitted out for the TT with a full length skinsuit covering all his arms.

He quickly catches and passes Richeze.

Here's Ganna. 

3-2-1 Ganna is off! 

Ganna is world time trial champion and chasing a fifth consecutive time trial victory after his three wins in 2020 and his victory in the opening TT in Turin.

If he wins, he will beat Francesco Moser's record of four wins in 1994-1985.

Ganna's biggest rival Eduardo Affini of Jumbo starts too. 

The stage will perhaps be decided between these early starters and TT specialists. 

Peter Sagan is also underway. And Cameron Meyer will start soon. 

The Australian could go all out today.

Ganna dives into a tight curve and accelerates out of the saddle as soon as possible before quickly getting back into his aero tuck.  

There are sections exposed to side winds and so Affini tries to stay close to the right.  

According to unofficial times after 5km, Ganna already leads Affini by 11 seconds.

We'll see if that is right at the first time split after 9.2km.  

Ganna is flying and about to catch his minute-man Iljo Keisse.

Ganna sets 10:18 at the first tine check 

Affini sets 10:33. He's 15 seconds slower than Ganna.  He seems to have endured a slow start and is perhaps fatigued after a long, hard Giro. 

Minali is the first to finish the TT in a time of 37:27 in central Milan.

Ganna has 15km to go. He's halfway to probable victory as he pushes a 58x14 gear.  

Bodnar is new fastest time with 34:42. 

That's the benchmark for Ganna to beat. 

Ganna is chasing down his minute men one after another. 

21:55 for Ganna at the second time check. He's the fastest. 

The second check is after 18.8km. 

Elia Viviani finishes his Giro in a time 2:50 slower than Bodnar.

Ganna is taking risk but its not a perfect ride, he almost crashes on a fast corner.

Brandl sets a time of 35:11. Good but not the best time. 

Affini is 30 seconds or slower than Ganna. He's pushing  a big gear but is struggling to get it round. 

Seven minutes left to race for Ganna. 

Ganna is not fully focused and may have a slight problem with his bike but he keeps blasting away. 

Ganna is in the centre of Milan now. 

Ganna passes Cimolai and the ISN rider waves him past.

4km to go for Ganna. 

Ganna is on the long straight Corso Buenos Aires that cuts to the centre of Milan.

He bumps over tram tracks but stays in his aero position.

Ganna has a flat! 

He signals he has a rear flat and so does a bike change. 

His bike change was quick but he lost at least 15 seconds. 

Ganna is close to the finish.

Ganna sets a time of 33:48 despite his late puncture.

He is fastest. 

Ganna is not happy but he is fastest, moving Max Walscheid off the hot seat. 

Here comes Affini. Can he go faster? 

Affini stops the clock in  34:01 

That is 12 seconds slower than Ganna, who was hit by a late puncture. 

Ganna heads to the hot seat. It is difficult to see who can beat him now. 

Maybe Cavagna or Bettiol but it will be a big ask. 

Peter Sagan finishes, waving to the public. He will be on the final podium thanks to winning the cyclamen-coloured points jersey.

Here's Ganna at speed.

Here's Ganna on his stunning blue Pinarello bike.

And here is Affini.

Cam Meyer finishes in 37: 41. 

He was ill early in the Giro but played a big role in Yates finishing on the podium.

Meanwhile other riders are still warming up. 

All the GC riders are still to race.

Remi Cavagan is out on the TT course. 

The TGV of Clermont Ferrand is perhaps the only one who can beat Ganna's time. 

10:31 for Cavagni. He's 13 seconds slower than Ganna, who set 10:18, but Ganna lost about 20 seconds due to his late puncture.

This could be close.

Cavagna is racing in his French TT champions' colours.

He went close to victory in Stradella and will want revenge today.

Cavagna is diving through the corners. 

Cavagna is off the pace at the second time check. He is 18 seconds down on Ganna. But remember Ganna flatted in the final part and lost 20 seconds.

Here comes Cavagna. 

Cavagna is in central Milan. 

Ganna is watching worringly from the hot seat.

2km to go for Cavagna.

Cavagna is pushing a huge gear.

Jan Tratnik is fast but only for 4th place with a time of 34:30.

Cavagna is coming in now. Can he beat Ganna? It will be close.

Cavagna crashes!

He went straight on a corner with 500m to go! 

He's up and going again but he's blown ay chance of victory. 

Cavagna seemed to fail to see the corner and then lock-up his brakes.

He slowed and then flipped over his bike at the barriers. 

He wasn't hurt but lost ant chance of victory.

Ganna gesticulated, Italian style, asking how did he do that? 

Ganna could have been beaten but now remains in the hot seat.

Cavagna got up to finish and set a time of 34:00, just 12 seconds slower than Ganna. 

Cavagna stops and leans over the barriers, in pain and angry about his crash.

He sits on a kerb and seems shocked about what happened. He is not injured.

Next off is Alberto Bettiol. Could he pull off a surprise and take advantage of  the crashes and punctures?

Opps the finial roads are packed with riders and team cars.

Matteo Sobrero of Astana bangs on the Groupama team car door. 

He was on a good ride and finished just 13 seconds down on Ganna. 

He was only 1.7 seconds from second place.

Meanwhile the Israel Start-Up Nation have tested a new TT today, with Matthias Brandl riding what looked like a new un-marked aero frame.

Click below for the full story.

New Factor time trial bike spotted at Giro d'Italia (opens in new tab)

Vincenzo Nibali is riding his final TT and so will finish the Giro despite his crashes, injuries and problems.

Paul Mertens (Jumbo-Visma) has finished the TT, the Giro and the final race of his career.  

We're into the final of the TT now, with the GC riders starting every three minutes.

Attila Valter is underway. 

Spanish TT champion Pello Bilbao is off now. 

Bettiol is off the pace at the first time check. He's 25 seconds slower than Ganna. 

Gianni is on a good ride, he is is 7th fastest after 18.8km of the 30.3km course. 

George Bennett is off, and Dan Martin follows him. 

Joao Almeida will soon start his TT. He has a real chance of moving up from eighth to even fifth. 

Hugh Carthy and Romain Bardet could be passed, while Dani Martinez could also jump passed Bardet and take fifth place.

Alberto Bettiol sets a time of 34:22, that the sixth best time so far.

Carthy – who had been as high at third on the overall after he followed Bernal's attacked on the upper slopes of the Passo Giau on stage 16 – now faces a race against the clock with a battle on his hands to make it back into the top five.

To displace Martínez, in sixth, Carthy would have to make up a 26 second gap, while his deficit to Bardet, the weakest of the three in the time trial, is 34 seconds. He’ll also have to watch his back as Almeida sits just 28 seconds behind in eighth. 

Not only does Almeida look to be carrying formidable form into the third week of the Giro d’Italia but he also came fourth in the opening race against the clock in Turin, finishing 21 seconds quicker than Carthy in the 8.6 kilometre time trial.

"It’s an important day," Carthy said.

It's important because there are also significant UCI  ranking points up fro grabs, which impact of team's WorldTour licences and rider contract values.

Almeida starts his TT.  

Moscon finishes fast, setting 34:32 

That is the eighth fastest so far.

Dam Martin takes it steady on a slow corner. His tenth place is not at risk today. 

Colombian TT champion Dani Martinez starts his ride. 

He needs to pull back just 8 seconds to finish in the top five.  That should not be too difficult. 

Bardet starts next. His ride will be about saving  what he can in the final GC. 

36:13 for Nibali. He rode carefully and finishes in the middle of the GC. 

The Sicilian is still expected to ride the Tour de France in four weeks time but only target stage victories as he prepares for the Tokyo Olympics.  

The final GC guys are at the start area. Yates, Caruso and Bernal will be off very soon.  

Yates is underway. 

And now Caruso rolls down the start ramp. 

Caruso gets a huge cheer as he rolls out of Senago.  

Bernal is on the rollers until very close to his start. He is trying to keep his back muscles warm.

Here goes Bernal! He bangs his thigh muscle but seems relaxed.

3-2-1 Bernal starts his TT. 

The Colombia fans and from his home town are waiting for him in Milan.

Almeida sets 22: 30 at the 18.8km time check. 

Bernal is clearly not taking huge risks. He leads by Caruso by 1:59 and so can ride carefully. 

11:04 for Yates after 9.2km 

Caruso is currently 12 seconds faster than Bernal but that is not a problem.

Caruso is fast, very fast. 

Is he trying to spook Bernal? 

Caruso is on track to extend his lead on Yates and so cement his second place overall. He will also close in on Bernal.  

Caruso went deep yesterday but has something left for today. 

Bernal sets 10:47 at the 9.2km time check.

Bernal is faster than Yates and has pegged his losses to Caruso. 

Here comes Almeida. 

He sets 34: 15. That's a great ride and is fifth fastest so far.

Almeida has confirmed his Grand Tour talents again. With his all-round ability, he could be a great Tour de France rider in the years to come.

Hugh Carthy sets 36: 15. 

Almeida has moved past him in the GC. 

Carthy will drop down to eighth place overall. 

Martinez sets 35:09, that will lift him up in the GC. Will he get fifth?

Bernal is described as a pink butterfly by Italian TV. 

He's spinning his gear as he rides fast towards Milan. 

Bernal sets 23:19 for 18.8km. He is 23 slower on Caruso and so is in control of his destiny and his Giro victory.

Bernal has 9km to race.

Bardet sets 35:58 and so will finish behind Almeida and Martinez in the GC. 

It will be: Martinez 5th, Almeida 6th, Bardet 7th, Carthy 8th.

Vlasov sets a time of 35:14, He will keep his fourth place overall. 

Next in will be Simon Yates. 

With only the podium riders left to finish, Ganna is going to win the TT. 

That means seven stage wins for Italy, or one of every three. That's a good strike rate for the home nation.

Here comes Simon Yates.

Yates sets 36:33.

That confirms his third place on the final podium in Milan.

Caruso is in next, then Bernal. 

Caruso sets a time of 35: 11

That secures his second place overall. For once the Sicilian has left his role of domestique to be a team leader.

Caruso puts up his thumb in a sign of satisfaction and then hugs his wife beyond the finish line.

Bernal is near the finish. 

He is 1km from winning the Giro! 

EGAN BERNAL WINS THE 2021 GIRO D’ITALIA!

Bernal sets a time of 35: 41

He crosses the finish line not in an aero tuck but with his arms open in celebration. 

He celebrates with his girlfriend Fernanda, who has followed him for much of the Giro. 

He also hugs Ganna, as Ineos celebrate a double win.

There are hundred of Colombian fans in the centre of Milan to celebrate Bernal's victory. 

He walks to the podium area and will soon pull on the final winner's maglia rosa and lift the Trofeo Infinito. 

Bernal is the second Colombian to win the Giro, seven year after Nairo Quintana, who also win when he was just 24 years old. 

Bernal won the Giro d'Italia 1:29 ahead of Damiano Caruso, with Simon Yates third overall at 4:15. 

This is the top ten for the stage and the final GC.

Here's the moment Bernal won the Giro.  

Here's Bernal at speed in pink during the TT. 

Bernal's name has already been etched on the winner's Trophy. 

"It's difficult to realize what I’ve done. I have just won a Giro d'Italia. I have no words after what happened in these two years," Bernal said.

Colombia is celebrating but so is Italy after Caruso's impressive second place. 

Team Bikexchange can also celebrate Yates' third place. 

The podium celebrations start with Ganna on the podium as the stage winner. 

Now its time for the GC podium. 

Yates and Caruso stand next to Egan Bernal, who climbs on the top step in the maglia rosa.

The Colombian national anthem rings out across Piazza Duomo.

Caruso, Bernal and Yates stand together on the podium, for a moment taking off their masks to reveal their smiles.

Bernal was emotional about taking the maglia rosa.

"The maglia rosa is special. It’s the most beautiful race in the world's most beautiful place," he said.  

"I’ll never forget this Giro, how I won my first ever stage and the way I won it, with attacks and sprinting on the flat for bonus seconds against Remco Evenpoel. That who I am and the cycling I like. 

"In this race I found the freedom to race as I like to do. So winning in this final time trial is special." 

Bernal also spoke his time trial ride. 

"I was just focused on my effort and was just thinking I can't do a mistake, I didn't want to lose the Giro in one corner," he said. 

"I was starting to push in the parts where I could push, but in the corners, don't take any risks. Finally - it's the first time trial that I enjoyed it. 

"I always suffer in the time trials but today was a special one, with my coach on the radio. It was really nice.

It was special - (seeing) a lot of Colombian flags everywhere and all the people cheering for me. When I finished and realized I won, it was an incredible feeling. I can't describe what I'm feeling."

The whole Ineos team climb on the podium and open bottles of spumante, spraying each other in celebration. 

All the team and staff are on the podium, celebrating a second consecutive victory after Tao Geoghegan Hart's win last October.  

Bernal lifts the trophy above his head for the photographers. 

It is his moment of victory. 

Filippo Ganna was happy to win the TT and overall with Bernal.  

"I was sweating and scared I could have lost the win. I showed that even with a puncture I could still win a time trial," Ganna said.  

The podium ceremonies continue with Peter Sagan climbing on the podium with the cyclamen points jersey. He takes his young son Marlon on the podium with him. 

Sagan has now won seven green jerseys at the Tour and one at the Giro.

Here is Bernal talking about his Giro victory.

Simon Yates was hoping to win the Giro but after some problems and time loss, he was happy with third place.

"I came up against two guys who were much better than me and this is the best I could do. Of course I'm very happy. I podium at a Grand Tour, especially the Giro is not an easy feat, so I'm very proud of what I've done," he said. 

He savoured his stage win

"My stage win was the best by a mile. I really enjoyed that, and the team put a lot of hard work into that stage as well, so to enjoy that with them was a pleasure." 

"The stage I was the worst was stage 16 in the rain and snow there. You can't be good for three weeks, I don't think anybody can. I did my best.

"I enjoyed it. I did the best I could but of course I always want to do better. One day in the future I'll come back and try again."

Filippo Ganna celebrated his own win and overall victory with Bernal. 

"To win my fifth TT in the Giro is fantastic. Today I also beat bad luck, I had a puncture but I managed to change the bike really fast, like an F1 pit stop," he said. 

"As a team, we brought home a beautiful result. Egan Bernal did something wonderful that has been built over these last three weeks. We worked hard to keep Egan always at the front of the peloton. 

"This Maglia Rosa is a success for the whole team and thanks to Egan for having finished it all off in the best possible way."

This is the final podium. 

Here's Bernal enjoying the moment with the Giro d'Italia winner's trophy. 

To read our full stage report and see out full results and growing photo gallery, click below.  

Egan Bernal seals Giro d'Italia victory (opens in new tab)

Thanks for following our daily full stage live coverage. 

The Giro d'Italia is over for another year but our journalists on the race in Milan will soon post interviews and analysis from the final stage. 

Our live race coverage continues on Monday with all the action from the Dauphine. 

Grazie e arrivederci!