When Nairo Quintana crashed on the descent of the Miragolo San Salvatore, on stage 15, it would have been easy for Dumoulin to press home his advantage – Quintana’s crash was a result of his own error of judgement, after all.

But the Dutchman marked himself as a sporting champion, even at that early stage, when he slowed the bunch down to allow Quintana to chase back on.

“I don’t want to take time on competitors when they crash or have a flat tyre or whatever,” he said after the stage.

Of course, the romantics would have pegged Nibali for the win – the Italian hero, at the milestone Giro d’Italia, just weeks after the death of his former team-mate, and fellow former champion, Michele Scarponi.

But Dumoulin’s victory was itself a brilliant tale of sportsmanship, sporting ability, and a gritty determination which ultimately brought him the biggest prize of his career.

The 100^th Giro d’Italia proved every bit the spectacle organisers had hoped for when they unveiled an intriguingly balanced route, with some of the race’s most spectacular mountains and no shortage of climbing in the final week.

The racing was enthralling to the end, with 53 seconds separating the top four after the final mountain stage telling you all you need to know.

And as winners go, there were none more worthy – and will be none more popular – than Tom Dumoulin.