With a famous climbing show on the legendary Colle Delle Finestre, Simon Yates took the leadership of the 108th Giro d’Italia and almost secure the overall victory. The British cycling professional attacked the famous gravel mountain about 39 kilometers before the finish and deprived the overall overall Isaac del Toro on the penultimate stage.
At the last stage on Sunday with start and finish in Rome, the overall leader is no longer attacked. After the triumph at Vuelta 2018, Yates made the second victory in mind on a Grand Tour. The Australian Chris Harper (Jayco Alula) secured the day victory as a soloist on Saturday, Yates was third behind the Italian Alessandro Verre (Arkea-B & B Hotels).
In the day’s victory of the Australian outlier Chris Harper, Yates in the Sestriere ski resort was enough for third place. Exhausted and happy he broke out in tears at the finish line. The 32-year-old is 3:56 minutes ahead of the young Mexican del Toro before the final stage in Rome. Tokyo Olympic champion Richard Carapaz is 4:43 minutes back.
Early attack on the Finestre
With 1:21 minutes behind del Toro, Yates went third into the all -important stage. Carapaz set the first attack on the over 18 kilometers long and an average of 9.2 percent steep finest. Very early in the mountain – and not as many expected within the last eight gravel kilometers.
Del Toro drove after Carapaz, Yates Castle to the duo. A number of unsuccessful attacks followed, but in the fourth attempt Yates finally had the crucial gap. Del Toro initially limited himself to the guard of Carapaz, the Ecuadorian had went second into the stage. True to the motto “When two argue, the third” will be happy “Yates then let his two rivals to be slowed down at 2,178 meters and then drove a controlled departure.
Del Toro and Carapaz result in their fate
When Yates’ Coup emerged, del Toro and Carapaz took out and showed their fate. However, a circle closed for Yates. Seven years ago, after 13 days in the Rosa jersey, he had given up the overall lead on Colle Delle Finestre after a violent slump. Back then, Chris Froome was a beneficiary at the spectacular increase, in which 18.5 kilometers – the last eight of them on gravel slopes – had to be completed.
Giro ends in Rome
The tour of Italy ends on Sunday with a symbolic stage through Rome-including a passage through the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV will receive and bless the drivers on St. Peter’s Basilica. The late Pope Francis had made the extraordinary route possible. The journey begins at Circus Maximus and leads over cobblestones, among other things, past numerous historical sites.