Rome -
The British cyclist Chris Froome completed his triple of the major stage races by winning the Giro d'Italia yesterday, adding to his victories in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España last year, after a final stage won in a sprint by the Irishman Sam Bennett.
Froome, who becomes the first British cyclist to win the Giro, finished ahead of the Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, winner of the 2017 edition, and the Colombian Miguel Ángel López, who completed the podium.
However, Froome's victory in his third participation in the Giro is still pending due to the decision regarding the 'abnormal' anti-doping control in the last Vuelta a España.
The British cyclist is still under investigation for an adverse result in a doping test after a urine sample in last year's Vuelta a España showed excessive use of an inhaler for asthma.
The four-time Tour de France champion has denied any wrongdoing and claims to trust that the investigation will exonerate him from any suspicion.
"In his situation, I wouldn't have come," Dumoulin said. If he is not ultimately sanctioned by the cycling authorities, he will become the third rider in history to win the three Grand Tours consecutively (in his case, the Tour, Vuelta, and Giro), joining the legendary Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. (D)