The 2019 Giro has been amazing for fizik riders, with overall victory for Richard Carapaz of Movistar Team and a podium for Team Jumbo-Visma’s Primož Roglič.

The 102nd edition of the Corsa Rosa brought a fresh format and new character to the 21-stage Grand Tour and was closely fought throughout. The General Classification battle swung from one fizik rider to another and was tough to predict right to the end, with the top four placings all up for grabs on the final day time trial shootout in historic Verona.

But the Ecuadorian climber’s efforts throughout the three weeks – with great support from his Movistar Team – had given him a big enough lead and was enough to ensure he held on to the spot in his Infinito R1 Movistar Team shoes and Antares 00 saddle.

In the final overall standings Carapaz was 1’05” ahead of Vincenzo Nibali, and 2’30” from Roglič with Mikel Landa just 8 seconds behind.

HOW CARAPAZ DID IT

The 26-year-old – who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday 29 May – set the GC battle alight as he won Stage 4 by pulling away from a strong breakaway group, then claimed Stage 14 with a brilliant solo attack on the last two climbs.

He benefited from the superiority of his team – who won the General Super Team – not least the efforts of Landa who finished in a fine fourth position having worked hard for his younger team-mate in the final week. With a previous General Classification third place at the Corsa Rosa, and a near-miss at the Tour de France, Landa is undoubtedly a class act. And his two stage podium finishes this year – third on stage 13 and second on stage 20 – in support of Carapaz and in defence of his Maglia Rosa, also mark him as a loyal team player.

But it was Carapaz who was strongest and became the first Ecuadorian to win the Giro d’Italia – and the second South American after team-mate Nairo Quintana. With the final eight days in the Maglia Rosa, Carapaz sustained peak performance using his Infinito R1 Movistar Team shoes and Antares 00 saddle.

THE FIGHT FROM ROGLIC

29-year-old former ski jumper Primož Roglič captured the hearts of many fans with huge sustained effort to finish third overall with his Antares 00, as well as taking two stage wins at the 2019 Giro. In doing so, Roglic became the first Slovenian to make the final podium of a Grand Tour, his previous best having been fourth at the 2018 Tour de France.

But this year his target has been the Corsa Rosa, the early stage races building up to a Giro that featured three Individual Time Trials, and all with some climbing. And he set about it with determination from the very first starting ramp.

Roglič beasted the opening 8km Time Trial in Bologna – with its steep 2km finish – with a clear indication of his intent for the Grand Tour, setting him up for five days in the Maglia Rosa. He then took the second TT, Stage 9 into San Marino, winning by 11 seconds on the 34.8km route, putting himself back into second place on GC.

And the fairytale ending would have been making it three-out-of-three with the closing 17km TT in – but the final week in the mountains, and the Movistar riders, had caught up with him.

But this edition belonged to Richard Carapaz: it seems certain that we will see him with more Grand tour victories. And Roglic? He’ll be back!

Thanks to everyone for the entertainment.