In a unique situation, Van der Breggen had to fend off her team mates to seal the general classification - with South African Ashleigh Moolman Pasio sitting in second before the stage with a deficit of 1min 23sec, while Van der Breggen's compatriot Demi Vollering was in third just over three minutes adrift.

Van der Breggen challenged for the stage win, but the sprint came down to Rivera of Team DSM and British rider Lizzie Deignan of Trek-Segafredo.

The American crossed the line after 113 kilometres - from Capriva del Friuli to Cormons - first in 2 hours 56min 40sec.

Three seconds back was Switzerland's Elise Chabbey of Canyon-SRAM Racing for third place, who crossed the line just in front of Van der Breggen, who had done enough to win her fourth Giro Donne title.

Twenty seconds behind the Dutch rider was the peloton, where Moolman Pasio and Vollering were a part of.

The peloton was led in by Denmark's Emma Norsgaard of Movistar in fifth, followed by Germany's Liane Lippert of Team DSM and Ilaria Sanguineti of Valcar-Travel & Service in sixth and seventh.

Rivera pointed to the sky following her stage win, dedicating the victory to her father, a healthcare worker who died from COVID-19 a few months ago.

"My dad was watching me from above, and that was for my dad," said Rivera.

"Also, it is my fiancee's birthday today and I am not home, so this is for my two guys.

"I feel really strong, I have a lot of motivation, and I had an angel on my shoulder today."

Van der Breggen won by 1:43 over Moolman Pasio in the general classification, while Vollering was 3:25 off the pace in third.

The Dutch rider also won the points classification while her team mate Niamh Fisher-Black topped the young rider classification.

SD Worx were the clear winners in the team classification.

Marta Cavalli of FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope won the blue jersey for the best Italian rider while Dutch rider Lucinda Brand of Trek-Segafredo won the mountain classification.