Vincenzo Nibali claims step on the Tour of the Alps podium as Team Sky Dominate

Vincenzo Nibali took to the podium of Tour of the Alps as he prepares for the Giro d'Italia

In his penultimate race before the Giro starts in just a few weeks time  the Italian rider said "On the last climb - I tried several times to attack to see if the race leader was loosing ground but he always responded well."

"These five stages served to verify my condition. I'm obviously happy because from day to day I've always been better. Tomorrow morning I leave for Belgium and on Sunday I will be at the start of the Liege, one of the five Monument that I have always liked. I went once close to winning and I think I'm ready to do better ”.

The 21-year-old Russian Pavel Sivakov. won the 2019 Tour of the Alps edition, while Italian Fausto Masnada won the last stage ending in Bolzano, he maintained the 27-second advantage he held over second-placed Sky team-mate Tao Geoghegan Hart going into the fifth and final stage.

Sivakov, who also secured victory on stage two, became the first Russian to win the race and denied Vincenzo Nibali a third title.

"This victory is our victory not only me, we have been really consistent all week with Tao winning two stages and today we managed the race perfectly," Sivakov said.

Italian Fausto Masnada won the final day of racing, crossing the line seven seconds ahead of Colombian Carlos Quintero in constant drizzle leading into Bolzano.

Sivakov finished along with Geoghegan Hart and Nibali 2min 14sec behind Masnada.

It was Sky's final multi-stage race before changing its name to Team Ineos after reclusive chemicals tycoon Jim Ratcliffe bought the outfit.

VIDEO: 2019 Tour of the Alps Stage 5 Highlights

2019 Tour of the Alps Stage 5 Top 10

1 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 4:02:06 
2 Carlos Julian Quintero Noreña (Col) Manzana Postobon 0:00:07 
3 Simone Velasco (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM 0:01:31 
4 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team   
5 Roland Thalmann (Swi) Team Vorarlberg Santic 0:01:33 
6 Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:14 
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida   
8 Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec   
9 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Sky   
10 Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Team Sky

2019 Tour of the Alps Final Overall Classification Top 10

1 Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Team Sky 18:58:00 
2 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:27 
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:33 
4 Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 0:01:03 
5 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 0:01:13 
6 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:46 
7 Jan Hirt (Cze) Astana Pro Team 0:02:03 
8 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:58 
9 Roland Thalmann (Swi) Team Vorarlberg Santic 0:03:14 
10 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo 0:04:27