CHRIS Froome became the first Briton to win the Giro d’Italia as he coasted home in yesterday’s processional stage in Rome.

The 33-year-old is the seventh man to complete a Grand Tour hat-trick after adding Italian success to the 2017 Vuelta and four Tour de France wins.

“It is such an emotional feeling to be in the pink jersey going into Rome,” Froome told Eurosport.

“It’s especially emotional after the rollercoaster the race has been.”

Froome finished 46 seconds ahead of Dutch defending champion Tom Dumoulin in the overall standings.

Bury’s Simon Yates, who led for most of the race and claimed three stage wins, finished 22nd in the general classification, with Ireland’s Sam Bennett claiming the sprint finish for a third stage win of his own.

Froome’s triumph also means he is only the third man, after legendary pair Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, to hold cycling’s three most prestigious stage races at the same time.

The traditional leisurely pace of the final stage dropped even lower as the peloton succeeded in getting the stage neutralised for general classification purposes.

Riders only needed to complete the 115km, 10-lap, loop of the city centre.