Giro d'Italia 2016 recap

The Giro d'Italia is the first of the season's three grand tours

The 2016 Giro d'Italia took place from May 6-29.

The race included three time trials, five summit finishes and seven sprint stages.

Look back on all the action with our stage-by stage recap...

THE STAGES

Stage 1: Friday, May 6 – Apeldoorn to Apeldoorn – 9.8km individual time trial

Winner: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

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Tom Dumoulin won the stage one time trial

Stage 2: Saturday, May 7 – Arnhem to Nijmegen – 190km

Winner: Marcel Kittel (Etixx - Quick-Step). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

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Marcel Kittel sprinted to victory on stage two

Stage 3: Sunday, May 8 – Nijmegen to Arnhem – 190km

Winner: Marcel Kittel (Etixx - Quick-Step). Race leader: Marcel Kittel (Etixx - Quick-Step).

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Kittel won his second successive sprint on stage three

Stage 4: Tuesday, May 10 – Catanzaro to Praia a Mare – 200km

Stage winner: Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

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Diego Ulissi escaped to victory on stage four

Stage 5: Wednesday, May 11 – Praia a Mare to Benevento – 233km

Stage winner: Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

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Andre Greipel won stage five

Stage 6: Thursday, May 12 – Ponte to Roccarso (Aremonga) – 157km

Stage winner: Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

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Tim Wellens won stage six out of the breakaway

Stage 7: Friday, May 13 – Sulmona to Foligno – 211km

Stage winner: Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

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Greipel claimed his second win on stage seven

Stage 8: Saturday, May 14 – Foligno to Arezzo – 186km

Stage winner: Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx - Quick-Step). Race leader: Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx - Quick-Step).

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Gianluca Brambilla took the race lead by winning stage eight

Stage 9: Sunday, May 15 – Chianti to Chianti – 40.5km individual time trial

Stage winner: Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo). Race leader: Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx - Quick-Step).

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Primoz Roglic won stage nine's time trial

Stage 10: Tuesday, May 17 – Campi Bisenzio to Sestola – 219km

Stage winner: Giulio Ciccone (Bardiani-CSF). Race leader: Bob Jungels (Etixx - Quick-Step).

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Giulio Ciccone won stage 10 out of the breakaway

Stage 11: Wednesday, May 18 – Modena to Asolo – 227km

Stage winner: Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida). Race leader: Bob Jungels (Etixx - Quick-Step).

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Ulissi claimed his second stage win on stage 11

Stage 12: Thursday, May 19 – Noale to Bibione – 182km

Stage winner: Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal). Race leader: Bob Jungels (Etixx - Quick-Step).

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Greipel claimed his third win on stage 12

Stage 13: Friday, May 20 – Palmanova to Cividale del Friuli – 170km

Stage winner: Mikel Nieve (Team Sky). Race leader: Andrey Amador (Movistar).

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Mikel Nieve won stage 13 out of the breakaway

Stage 14: Saturday, May 21 – Alpago to Covara (Alta Badia) – 210km

Stage winner: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge). Race leader: Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo).

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Esteban Chaves won stage 14

Stage 15: Sunday, May 22 – Castelrotto to Alpe di Siusi – 10.8km individual time trial

Stage winner: Alexander Foliforov (Gazprom-RusVelo). Race leader: Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo).

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Alexander Foliforov won the stage 15 time trial

Stage 16: Tuesday, May 24 - Bressanone to Andalo – 132km

Stage winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Race leader: Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo).

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Alejandro Valverde claimed the first Giro win of his career on stage 16

Stage 17: Wednesday, May 25 – Molveno to Cassano d’Adda – 196km

Stage winner: Roger Kluge (IAM Cycling). Race leader: Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo).

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Roger Kluge denied the sprinters on stage 17

Stage 18: Thursday, May 26 – Muggio to Pinerolo – 244km

Stage winner: Matteo Trentin (Etixx - Quick-Step). Race leader: Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo).

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Matteo Trentin won stage 18 out of the breakaway

Stage 19: Friday, May 27 – Pinerolo to Risoul – 162km

Stage winner: Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

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Vincenzo Nibali won stage 19 solo

Stage 20: Saturday, May 28 – Guillestre to Sant’Anna di Vinadio – 134km

Stage winner: Rein Taaramae (Katusha). Race leader: Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).

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Rein Taaramae climbed to victory on stage 20

Stage 21: Sunday, May 29 – Cuneo to Torino – 163km

Stage winner: Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin). Race winner: Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).

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Nikias Arndt (left) won the final stage

KEY STAGES

- Stage nine: The second of the three time trials is 40.5km long and has the potential to create the first significant gaps between the overall contenders.

- Stage 15: The last of the three time trials is all uphill for 10.8km. Riders in good climbing form could make significant gains and anyone starting to tire could be punished.

- Stage 19: This is arguably the toughest of all the summit finishes and if the general classification is still close, it could be decisive.

THE JERSEYS

- Pink: General classification.

- Red: Points classification.

- Blue: Mountains classification.

- White: Best young rider.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

- 2015: Alberto Contador (Spa)

- 2014: Nairo Quintana (Col)

- 2013: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita)

- 2012: Ryder Hesjedal (Can)

- 2011: Michele Scarponi (Ita)

Alberto Contador won last year's Giro

- 2010: Ivan Basso (Ita)

- 2009: Denis Menchov (Rus)

- 2008: Alberto Contador (Spa)

- 2007: Danilo Di Luca (Ita)

- 2006: Ivan Basso (Ita)