Tom Dumoulin claimed the Giro d'Italia title ©Getty Images

Tom Dumoulin was crowned winner of the centenary edition of the Giro d'Italia as the Dutchman overtook his general classification rivals in the individual time trial in Milan.

The Team Sunweb rider was expected to make inroads into his 53 second deficit to race leader Nairo Quintana of Colombia, due to his specialty in the time trial discipline.

Dumoulin would also need to overtake Italy’s defending champion Vincenzo Nibali and France's Thibaut Pinot, who began the day in the podium positions 39 seconds and 43 seconds off the race lead.

A superb performance in the 29.3 kilometre time trial, which began at the Monza Formula One course, saw Dumoulin finish in a time of 33min 23sec.

He would finish second on the stage behind fellow Dutchman Jos Van Emden, who triumphed in 33:08.

Dumoulin's thoughts were fixed on his general classification rivals and he was able to celebrate a maiden Grand Tour victory when Pinot, Nibali and finally Quintana failed to hold their respective leads over him.

"It's really crazy, I've won the Giro,”" said Dumoulin.

"It was such a nerve wrecking day, I needed to stay calm and I almost couldn't.

"Luckily I had good legs and I just went for it.

"I didn't want to know the time splits, my sport director was only supposed to tell me when to stop taking risks and he did it at half way.

"When I crossed the line he told me I had won but when I looked at the television screen I saw I only had three seconds lead and I panicked a bit.

"I was angry but eventually I pulled it off and I'm super happy."

Tom Dumoulin triumphed after overhauling his rivals in the time trial from the Monza race course to Milan ©Getty Images
Tom Dumoulin triumphed after overhauling his rivals in the time trial from the Monza race course to Milan ©Getty Images

Dumoulin finished the three week Grand Tour with a 31 second lead over Quintana, with the Colombian finishing the time trial 1:08 off the pace of his rival.

Nibali would complete the podium after ending a further nine seconds back, while Pinot ended in fourth place as a disappointing time trial saw him finish 1:17 behind Dumoulin.

While Dumoulin claimed the pink jersey, Colombia's Fernando Gaviria was confirmed as the winner of the points classification, aided by his four stage wins.

Team Sky's Spanish rider Mikel Landa secured the mountains classification, while Luxembourg's Bob Jungels overhauled Britain's Adam Yates on the final stage to be crowned as the best young rider.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour season will continue with the Critérium du Dauphiné.

The race, a key build-up event for the Tour de France, will begin on June 4.