Emerging talent Damiano Cunego was crowned 2004 Giro d'Italia winner after coming home safely in the pack at the end of Sunday's 20th and final stage over 144km from Clusone to Milan.
The stage was won by fellow Italian Alessandro Petacchi, his ninth stage success in this year's event, a post-war record.
PHOTO: EPA
Cunego, 22, had started the day two minutes and two seconds clear in the overall standings and barring an accident his Giro triumph was a formality.
Petacchi, dominant in virtually every sprint finish since day one, was again seen to best advantage, edging clear in the final few meters for a comfortable success in four hours seven minutes one second.
Second place went to compatriot Marco Zanotti with Dutchman Aart Vierhouten in third.
Cunego rode home in 19th, eight seconds behind the winner but holding on firmly to his lead ahead of Ukraine's Serhiy Honchar.
Three seconds further away came two-times Giro winner and Cunego's Saeco team mate Gilberto Simoni, who has found himself upstaged by Cunego ever since the youngster took the overall lead two weekends ago.
Cunego is seen as a breath of fresh air in the sport and has already been spoken of as the successor in Italian affections to Giro and Tour de France winner Marco Pantani, who died of a cocaine overdose in February.
Cunego won four stages and effectively put the Giro in safe-keeping last Tuesday when racing home first on stage 16 to Falzes.
In only his third year as a professional, Cunego had been expected to help Simoni retain his Giro title but as the race went on it was the younger man who became the designated leader of the Saeco team.
Sunday's hero does not intend a tilt at the Tour de France just yet but the Olympics in August look to be on the agenda.
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