Pogačar pipped Pellizarri to victory on Stage 16 and memorably gave him his pink jersey and glasses as a memento. The two had met some years before at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race.

Pogačar's UAE Emirates teammates controlled the breakaway today until the final climb.

As well as being his 6th stage win, he also matched the record of the legendary Belgian rider Eddie Merckx by winning five stages of the Giro while wearing the leader's pink jersey.

The Slovenian will finish the first Grand Tour of the season nearly 10 minutes ahead of Daniel Martinez of Colombia.

Last year's runner-up, Geraint Thomas, who celebrated his 38th birthday today, will be on the third step of the podium.

It's the second year in a row that a Slovenian has won the race, following Primož Roglič's victory last year.

Tomorrow's 125 km stage in Rome is mostly flat and includes eight circuits of the city centre near the Vatican. The final stage, in the Eternal City, usually ends in a bunch sprint.

Foto: AP
Foto: AP