Simon Yates is going to win Giro d’Italia after remarkable turning on the last day

The British cyclist Simon Yates of the Dutch team Visma-Lease A Bike will win the Giro d’Italia. On Saturday he achieved a 3 -minute lead and 56 seconds on the number two in the general classification of the Italian cycling race, the Mexican Iscaac del Toro. Saturday’s mountain was the penultimate stage. On Sunday, a ride through Rome follows, which is seen as a formality in which virtually nothing changes in the rankings.

It is remarkable that Yates is almost certain of Giro win. Prior to Saturday’s stage, he was third in the rankings. On the Colle Delle Finestre, Yates drove away from his competitors Del Toro and the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz. At the top of that climb, Yates had already cycled enough margin to take over the pink leader’s jersey of the Giro virtually. After the descent, the Brit met his teammate Wout van Aert, who had waited for his leader from the leading group of the race. A tactical move with which Yates managed to run even further on the competition.

Even more remarkable than Yates’ attack was the apparent capitulation of his competitors. Towards the final climb to Skiord Sestrière, Del Toro and Carapaz did not want to work together to pick up time on Yates. He managed to run minutes as a result.

« I actually have no words for it, what have we seen at Del Toro and Carapaz? » Said Eurosport analyst Jip van den Bos afterwards. Because of the stalemate between the Mexican and the Ecuadorian on the final climb, they are both hopeless for the overall victory in the Giro.

After the finish, Yates burst into tears, surrounded by his carers and dozens of cameras. When Del Toro passed the finish line more than five minutes later, he took his ‘hat off’ for Yates.

The stage win went to Australian Chris Harper on Saturday, who was the strongest in the leading group. For Yates it will be the second victory in a big round, in 2018 he was the best in the Tour of Spain.

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