Simon Yates conquers his demons to stunningly snatch Giro d'Italia glory on penultimate day
On the mountain where his dreams of Giro victory were shattered by Chris Froome 's famous solo breakaway in 2018, Yates turned the tables with a masterclass of his own as his rivals were left to question their own tactics.
The 32-year-old Lancastrian rode away from Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz on the brutal gradients and the gravel to turn an 81-second deficit and third place into pink and a three minute, 56-second lead over Del Toro, and can now celebrate his second Grand Tour crown in Rome on Sunday.
That it happened on the Finestre made it all the more special for Yates.
'I think when the route of the parcours was released, I always had in the back of my mind to try and do something here and close the chapter, let's say,' he said. 'I'm just still a bit speechless that I was able to do it.
'I felt good, the whole race I did, but I never had the right moment to show what I could do and I found the opportunity today. I was trying to get away from Richard and Isaac because I knew when I could race at my own pace, I'd be really strong – and that's what I managed to do.
'The whole team have been fantastic the entire race, and without Wout (Van Aert) in the valley and the rest of the team the entire day, it wouldn't have been possible.
'Maybe I was looking relaxed this morning, but I had doubts I could do it. The guys encouraged me and believed in me, so thanks to them.
'It's unbelievable, I'm trying to find the words now, but words are failing me – sorry.'
Australian Chris Harper took the stage 20 win from a breakaway in Sestriere but all eyes were further down the road as Yates blew the race apart with surely his finest day on a bike, shedding tears after the finish line.
Carapaz and his EF Education-EasyPost team had been lining up an attack at the foot of the feared Finestre – the 18km climb which averages 9.2 per cent, with the final third ridden on gravel – and duly launched it almost as soon as the road went up.
As UAE Team Emirates' Del Toro followed, Yates was initially distanced but was merely biding his time as he soon set off in pursuit, catching the pair and then launching his own attacks, opening up a gap with the fourth and riding clear, still with more than 40km of the 205km stage remaining.
Carapaz tried to respond but could not, while the 21-year-old Del Toro, spending an 11th day in the pink jersey, simply stuck the Ecuadorian's wheel, refusing to take a turn until it proved to be too late.
Yates crossed the summit of the climb, above the snow line and in the clouds, more than 90 seconds ahead of them, already the virtual leader of the race.
That gap only grew on the descent as he hooked up with Visma-Lease a Bike team-mate Wout Van Aert and the pair behind accepted defeat, allowing the gap to balloon on the approach to the final climb into Sestriere.
With Sunday's final stage in Rome one for the sprinters, Yates stands ready to celebrate his second Grand Tour victory following his win in the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. He will be the third Briton to win the Giro after Froome in 2018 and Tao Geohegan Hart in 2020.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
37 minutes ago
- The Independent
Kaden Groves clinches first Tour de France stage victory as Tadej Pogacar takes one more step to overall title
Kaden Groves won stage 20 of the Tour de France from a breakaway in Pontarlier as Tadej Pogacar came through the penultimate day unscathed to ensure he will wear yellow into Paris on Sunday. Groves left Frank van den Broek and Briton Jake Stewart behind with 16 kilometres of the rolling 184km stage from Nantua remaining, taking advantage of their hesitancy to quickly build a lead as he won by 55 seconds from Van den Broek, completing a trilogy with wins in all three Grand Tours. Behind, the peloton rolled in some seven minutes down, happy to survive a damp day that saw several riders crash as Pogacar retained his four minute 24 second lead over rival Jonas Vingegaard on the last day before Paris. The addition of three ascents of the Montmartre climb to Sunday's finale may rule out the usual Champs-Elysees sprint and keep the racing on for one more day - subject to a threat of rain - but Pogacar can almost start celebrating his fourth Tour title and begin plotting a record-equalling fifth. 'Today we weren't sure whether to go for the stage or wait for tomorrow but when the rain falls I have a super feeling normally in the cold weather,' an emotional Groves said. 'It's my first ever solo win and it's a Tour stage so it's pretty incredible. 'There's so much pressure at the Tour. Having won in the Giro and won in the Vuelta all I ever get asked is if am I good enough to win in the Tour and now I've shown them.' Groves' first career Tour stage win was a third of this race for his Alpecin-Deceuninck team but the first since stage two, with their previous two winners Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel since lost to injury and illness. Stage 20 was likely earmarked for Classics specialist Van der Poel but Groves demonstrated his class as not just a sprinter but an all-rounder, as he looked among the strongest riders on the day's punchy climbs through the Jura hills. Fourteen teams started the day without a win in this Tour so a furious fight for the breakaway was expected, but such was the pace that it was more a case of riders falling off the back than launching off the front of a rapidly-shrinking peloton. It was down to less than 50 when Tim Wellens attacked on the second-categorised climb, leading to 13 riders getting themselves clear before the peloton sat up with a little under 100km to go. A long-range attack from Harry Sweeny came to nothing as the groups came back together, but after a nasty crash for Ivan Romeo and local rider Romain Gregoire, only Groves, Stewart, Van den Broek were left with 20km left. When Groves attacked, Stewart and Van den Broek looked at each other, and in that moment the stage was decided. Pogacar mathematically secured the king of the mountains' polka dot jersey early on this stage, with yellow set to follow on Sunday provided he crosses the line in Paris.
The Sun
38 minutes ago
- The Sun
Loris Karius lifts lid on relationship with Diletta Leotta after she revealed moment he locked himself in her room
LORIS KARIUS has spilled the beans on his glam romance with TV stunner Diletta Leotta. The ex-Liverpool goalkeeper explained the difficulties of living miles apart from his wife and how he's able to make up for his absence. 11 11 Karius, best remembered for that Champions League final meltdown against Real Madrid, has swapped Anfield heartache for happily-ever-after with Italian stunner Diletta, 33, who fronts the footie on DAZN. The pair first met in 2022, welcomed baby Aria in 2023 and tied the knot in a plush 2024 bash straight out of a fairy tale. But it's not all roses and romance, they're juggling marriage and parenthood from different countries. Karius now plays for German Bundesliga two side Schalke after leaving Newcastle while Diletta's continues her DAZN gig in Milan. But according to the goalkeeper his wife loves it and creates an atmoshphere where its right for them to feel the love even from a distance. He told Sport Bild: 'Diletta even advised me to extend at Schalke. "She thinks the club is great and she likes everything she has seen here so far. "Diletta also thinks that royal blue is the perfect choice for my sporting success. She is fully behind this decision." Karius however admits it's tough not seeing little Aria every day but FaceTime is saving the day. He added: 'But of course it's hard for me when I can't see my little daughter Aria for days. Glamorous sports presenter Diletta Leotta shocks in full see-through outfit as she leaves little to imagination "But that's what FaceTime is for and we see each other regularly - as often as possible." The 32-year-old goalkeeper also admitted he's open to a second child even though he's not planned anything yet. He added: "We would love to have a second child, we don't know when yet and nothing concrete is planned so far." The goalie also revealed that his missus is the real celeb in the family – especially in Milan. He added: 'She gets recognised more than me. She's a superstar over there.' But Karius wasn't quite ready for the full Italian family welcome. On meeting Diletta's clan in noisy Sicily, he fled the lunch table and locked himself in the bedroom for a lie-down. His wife Dilette revealed on a podcast: 'He was shattered by life, bless him. 'He said, Please stop, I need a break. "He went upstairs to his room locked himself in and threw himself on the bed destroyed by life." Since his Liverpool nightmare, Karius has done the rounds – Besiktas, Union Berlin, Newcastle and now Schalke in Germany's second tier, where he just signed a deal until 2027. 11 11 11 11 11
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Tour de France: Tadej Pogacar poised to seal fourth title as Groves wins penultimate stage
Kaden Groves of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team won the penultimate stage of the Tour de France, from Nantua to Pontarlier, as Tadej Pogacar safely negotiated what is expected to be the final meaningful stage of this year's race. With the closing stage in Paris on Sunday potentially subject to neutralisation, due to the threat of rain, the Slovenian is now on the threshold of achieving a fourth win in six years. With many teams still desperately seeking a stage win, the competition to make the day's breakaway was ferocious, with risky attacks and last-ditch moves characterising the final kilometres of racing. On a rolling route, through the Ain, Jura and Doubs, the last hour of which was covered in a torrential downpour, a crash 21km from the finish changed the outcome of the race. The decisive action came on the descent of the final climb, the Côte de Longeville, 24km from Pontarlier. After a lone attack from Harry Sweeny of EF Education EasyPost was reeled in, the local rider, Romain Grégoire, of Groupama-FDJ took the initiative. But on a tight left-hand bend, made slick by the rain, Iván Romeo, of Movistar, and Grégoire came down at speed and slid into a concrete kerb. The French rider was able to remount and chase, but Romeo was left nursing his wounds. In the aftermath, a group of three, including Groves, moved clear, with the Australian then opting to attack alone 16km from the finish. The 26-year-old increased his advantage in the final kilometres to win by almost a minute and add his first Tour stage win to past successes in the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. This report will be updated.
