TRIESTE, Italy (AP) — Nairo Quintana showed why he’s considered as cycling’s next star by winning the Giro d’Italia yesterday to follow his runner-up finish in last year’s Tour de France.

The 24-year-old climbing specialist with the Movistar team won two stages and finished with a 2:58-minute advantage over fellow Colombian Rigoberto Uran for his first Grand Tour victory.

“It’s really emotional,” Quintana said. “I didn’t think there would be so many Colombians here today. It was incredible seeing how much support and how many banners there were.”

One such banner held aloft during the podium celebration with the Colombian flag on it read, “The Giro is ours. Gracias muchachos.”

Fabio Aru, a 23-year-old Italian who is also considered a top rider for the future, finished third overall, 4:04 back.

Quintana took the pink jersey by winning the grueling 16th stage over the Gavia and Stelvio climbs then also took the 19th leg, a mountain time trial.

Quintana finished second to Chris Froome in last year’s Tour. While he isn’t planning to enter the French race this year, he has designs on winning it next year.

“We need to look at our plans carefully,” Quintana said.

Slovenia’s Luca Mezgec won the final stage in a mass sprint. The Giant-Shimano rider clocked 4:23.58 hours over the mostly flat 172-kilometre (107-mile) leg from Gemona del Friuli to Trieste, which concluded with eight laps of a city circuit.