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Verona - Ivan Basso won the Giro d'Italia for the second time Sunday, taking his first major title after a two-year doping ban.
Basso took the race lead after Friday's epic mountain stage, stayed in front during another climbing leg Saturday and cruised to victory in the concluding individual time trial, which ended beside Verona's ancient Arena.
"It was a really tough Giro and I think the victory is that much greater (than the first) because it was such a spectacular race," Basso said. "I have to thank my team. They were really fantastic for me."
David Arroyo Duran of Spain finished second overall - one minute, 51 seconds behind - and Basso's Liquigas teammate Vincenzo Nibali was third, 2:37 back.
Basso also won the 15th stage, which finished with the steepest climb of the race, to Monte Zoncolan. His focus now will shift to his attempt at becoming the first rider to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year since Marco Pantani in 1998.
Basso finished second in the Tour de France in 2005 and was third the year before.
Basso won his first Giro in 2006, then was suspended in 2007 for his involvement in the Spanish doping scandal Operation Puerto.
Gustav Erik Larsson of Sweden won the final 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) stage in 20 minutes, 19 seconds. Marco Pinotti finished second, two seconds behind, and Alexandre Vinokourov was third, 17 seconds back.
Basso's Liquigas teammates gave him a big hand during Friday's descent from the renowned Mortirolo pass and the ensuing climb to Aprica, gaining enough time to take the overall leader's pink jersey from Arroyo Duran, the Spaniard who led for five stages.
A late replacement for the suspended Franco Pellizotti _ who failed the UCI's biological passport program _ Nibali was Basso's biggest helper. Nibali entered the final stage with a one-second lead over Michele Scarponi in the overall standings and gained another 12 seconds in the time trial to secure third place.
Scarponi finished fourth overall, 2:50 back, and world champion Cadel Evans was fifth, 3:27 behind.
Results:
1. Erik Gustav Larsson, Sweden, Saxo Bank, 20 minutes, 19 seconds.
2. Marco Pinotti, Italy, Columbia, 2 seconds behind.
3. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, Astana, :17.
4. Cadel Evans, Australia, BMC, :22.
5. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, :23.
6. Ignatas Konovalovas, Lithuania, Cervelo, :23.
7. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Sky, :29.
8. Cameron Meyer, Australia, Garmin, :32.
9. Michele Scarponi, Italy, Androni, :35.
10. Tom Stamsnijder, Netherlands, Rabobank, :37.
Overall standings (After 21 of 21 Stages):
1. Ivan Basso, Italy, Liquigas, 87 hours, 44 minutes, 1 second.
2. David Arroyo Duran, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 1 minute, 51 seconds behind.
3. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, 2:37.
4. Michele Scarponi, Italy, Androni, 2:50.
5. Cadel Evans, Australia, BMC, 3:27.
6. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, Astana, 7:06.
7. Richie Porte, Australia, Saxo Bank, 7:22.
8. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Cervelo, 9:39.
9. Marco Pinotti, Italy, Columbia, 14:20.
10. Robert Kiserlovski, Croatia, Liquigas, 14:51.
