MILAN, Italy — Discovery Channel rider Paolo Savoldelli won his second Giro d'Italia title yesterday, after two years of injuries and health problems that almost ended his cycling career.

Savoldelli, a teammate of Lance Armstrong, captured the sport's most significant race other than the Tour de France. Armstrong, who has never competed in the Giro d'Italia, will seek a seventh straight Tour title this summer.

"Being a Giro champion makes no difference," Savoldelli said. "I'll support Lance in France because he's the strongest."

Savoldelli, who also won the 2002 Giro, wore the overall leader's pink jersey for the last eight stages of the 20-stage race. In the last stage, the leader pedaled to the finish line unchallenged.

Savoldelli completed the 2,147-mile race in 91 hours, 25 minutes, 51 seconds. He finished 28 seconds ahead of Lampre-Caffita rider Gilberto Simoni, who was second overall. Simoni won the Giro in 2001 and 2003.

"I believe I have proven my value in an otherwise unlucky career," Savoldelli said after the win.

During the past two seasons, Savoldelli broke his leg in a crash and was weakened by various viruses. He injured himself in a crash this year while training.

Alessandro Petacchi of the Fassa Bortolo team won the final stage, covering 74 miles in 3 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds.