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Enlarge Photo Liquigas team rider Ivan Basso of Italy poses with the trophy on the podium after... Italian Ivan Basso wrapped up his second Giro d'Italia title on Sunday, arriving at a packed Roman amphitheatre to a hero's welcome just three years after being banned in disgrace.The Liquigas rider, winner in 2006, had another victory all but sealed and carefully negotiated the cobbled streets of Verona to ensure there were no late calamities on the final time trial of the three-week race.
"It's a fantastic day for me," Basso, 15th on the 21st and last stage, told reporters after finishing his 87 hours 44 minutes and one second journey.
"The Giro has been spectacular and uncertain and the fans have enjoyed themselves. I thank my team who have been exceptional. It's been really difficult."
Roared on by throngs of compatriots who lined the 15 kilometre route through the city of Romeo and Juliet, Basso reaffirmed his love for the world's second biggest stage race by unleashing a huge smile as he crossed the line.
The 32-year-old then entered Verona's Arena, one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, to be greeted by thousands more screaming fans and his two small children.
There he went up a specially-constructed pink carpet to claim his pink winner's jersey and complete a cycling resurrection few other drug-haunted riders have managed.
Basso was banned for two years in 2007 for his involvement in Spain's Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the latest in a series to rock the troubled sport.
He said he had not actually doped but had intended to do so and acknowledged he should therefore receive a suspension.
BLOWN APART
A low-key return to the Giro last year may have lulled his rivals into a false sense of security and this time he seized his chance at the perfect moment having recovered from a crash on stage seven and the bad weather of a topsy-turvy race.
The Giro was blown apart by a surprise breakaway on stage 11 when opposing teams failed to properly communicate and favourites like previous leader Alexandre Vinokourov of Astana were left well back.
With top names Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong skipping the Giro to concentrate on July's Tour de France, Basso kept himself well-positioned before snatching the leader's jersey off unheralded Spaniard David Arroyo with two stages to go.
Some exceptional performances in the mountains meant he finished 1 minute 51 seconds in front of second-placed Arroyo of Caisse d'Epargne and 2:37 ahead of team mate Vincenzo Nibali overall.
Nibali's achievement is remarkable given he was a very late callup for the Giro after Liquigas rider Franco Pellizotti was withdrawn just before the race because of a doping probe.
Sweden's Gustav Larsson of Saxo Bank won the final time trial in 20:19 amid muggy skies in northern Italy.
Australian world champion Cadel Evans, fifth overall, finished top of the points classification having soldiered on bravely without any real help from his faltering BMC team.
Compatriot Matthew Lloyd won the mountain classification and fellow Australian and former race leader Richie Porte was the best young rider.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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