Seemingly Unstoppable Yates Throws Off-Balance Competition's Front-Runners
In a stunning performance on the historically challenging Colle delle Finestre, British cyclist Simon Yates seized the lead of the 108th Giro d'Italia, virtually securing his overall victory. Starting 39 kilometers from the finish, Yates displayed an unmatched climbing prowess, distancing himself from the group of GC contenders on the gravel-strewn ascent.
The Briton, riding for Team Visma-Lease a Bike, crossed the line as the laughing third-place finisher for the day's stage, with a commanding advantage in the overall race standings. Having initially trailed Mexican contender Isaac Del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) by over a minute and a half, Yates surged ahead to establish a substantial gap.
The 32-year-old's triumph comes seven years after a memorable crash at Colle delle Finestre when he wore the pink jersey for 13 days. Chris Froome, then, had benefited from Yates' mishap during the grueling climb. This year, the Finestre featured an 18.5-kilometer ascent, with the last eight kilometers comprising gravel roads.
While Sunday's final stage in Rome does not promise knife-edge competition for the race leader, Yates now looks poised to secure his second Grand Tour victory, a feat he achieved with his 2018 Vuelta a España triumph. The stage, which starts and finishes in Rome, will see the riders pay a symbolic visit through the city, passing the Vatican and sharing an audience with Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter's Basilica.
As Yates' assault on the Colle delle Finestre left his rivals in the dust, both Carapaz and Del Toro appeared frustrated, admitting, "We were probably the strongest, but not the brightest." Carapaz lamented, "He lost the Giro," referring to Del Toro's failed attempt to keep the lead. Australian Chris Harper clinched the day's victory as a solo rider, with Yates finishing third behind Alessandro Verre.
[1] ntv.de/sport[2] tno/sid/dpa
[1] Simon Yates' triumphant cycling performance at the Colle delle Finestre in the 108th Giro d'Italia cemented his lead in sports, moving further away from contenders like Carapaz and Del Toro.
[2] After securing a substantial gap from his rivals, Yates is on the brink of claiming his second Grand Tour victory in sports, having previously triumphed at the 2018 Vuelta a España.
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