Nibali was able to hold on to and extend his lead throughout the remaining 13 stages of the race, and there was much drama and excitement along the way. Pre-race favourite Wiggins pulled out of the race after stage 12 due to illness, as did reigning champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp). Terrible weather saw stages shortened and mountains removed from the course and stage 19, which was supposed to feature the legendary Gavia and Stelvio climbs, was removed from the race entirely. It was the first time in 24 years that a stage of the Giro has been cancelled due to bad weather.
Away from the mountains Mark Cavendish proved, once again, that he’s without equal when it comes to sprint finishes, taking home five victories. Cavendish survived through the mountains to win the final stage into Brescia, securing the points classification in the process.
Today we’ve pulled together a gallery of images from stages 16 to 21 of the Giro d’Italia. You can find a similar gallery for stages 1 to 9 here and one for stages 10 to 15 here.
- A scenic stage 16 took the riders from Valloire (in France) to Ivrea.
- Michele Scarponi (left) chats with Danilo Di Luca. Di Luca was removed from the race and fired by his Vini-Fantini team after returning a positive test for EPO just before this year’s Giro.
- Stage 17 took the riders 214km from Caravaggio to Vicenza.
- Cadel Evans gets a helping hand from his teammates.
- Stage 17 featured only a single climb, the Crosara, which played host to a stage-winning attack by Giovanni Visconti.
- The tifosi line the Crosara climb on stage 17.
- Giovanni Visconti crosses the line to take out stage 17 after attacking on the Crosara, the day’s only climb.
- Visconti is surrounded by soigneurs and the media after taking his second stage win of the 2013 Giro.
- Nibali finished 19th on stage 17, 19 seconds behind dual stage winner Giovanni Visconti. After stage 17 Nibali’s lead over Evans in the general classification was 1 minute 26 seconds.
- After stage 17 Mark Cavendish held a slender four-point advantage over Cadel Evans in the race for the points jersey (the maglia rossa).
- The stage 18 ITT started at the Mori velodrome and took the riders on a 20.6km climb to Polsa.
- Riders await the start of the time trial.
- Nibali sets off in pursuit of Cadel Evans on stage 18.
- Nibali stomped his way up the 20.6km climb in the ITT to win stage 18 and further increase his lead over Cadel Evans.
- Stage 19 was supposed to feature the Gavia and Stelvio climbs but was eventually cancelled due to terrible weather.
- Heavy snow awaited the riders on stage 20.
- Fabio Aru is escorted out of the cold, snowy conditions after finishing fifth on stage 20.
- Ahead of stage 21 the leaders of the various classifications pose for a photo. From left to right: Stefano Pirazzi (KOM classification), Carlos Betancur (Young Rider classification), Vincenzo Nibali (general classification) and Mark Cavendish (points classification).
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- Vincenzo Nibali and his Astana team celebrate on stage 21.
- The final stage saw the riders cover 197km from Riese Pio X to Brescia.
- Mark Cavendish won a hectic sprint on the final stage to claim his fifth win of this year’s Giro.