Video. Cyclists receive Pope Leo XIV's blessing in Giro d'Italia finale
A historic detour marked the final stage of this year's Giro d'Italia as 159 cyclists pedalled through the Vatican gardens, receiving the blessing of newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
"You are role models for young people all over the world," the pope told the peloton, after shaking hands with Simon Yates and other race leaders.
The three-kilometre ride behind St Peter's Basilica paid tribute to Pope Francis, who had originally planned the event for the 2025 Holy Year. His successor, the first North American pope, chose to keep the gesture alive in his memory.
While popes have blessed Giro riders before, and the race has previously passed through or near St Peter's Square, this marked the first time the route took the peloton inside the Vatican walls.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Video. Cyclists receive Pope Leo XIV's blessing in Giro d'Italia finale
A historic detour marked the final stage of this year's Giro d'Italia as 159 cyclists pedalled through the Vatican gardens, receiving the blessing of newly elected Pope Leo XIV. "You are role models for young people all over the world," the pope told the peloton, after shaking hands with Simon Yates and other race leaders. The three-kilometre ride behind St Peter's Basilica paid tribute to Pope Francis, who had originally planned the event for the 2025 Holy Year. His successor, the first North American pope, chose to keep the gesture alive in his memory. While popes have blessed Giro riders before, and the race has previously passed through or near St Peter's Square, this marked the first time the route took the peloton inside the Vatican walls.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Cyclists receive Pope Leo XIV's blessing in historic Giro d'Italia finale
A historic detour marked the final stage of this year's Giro d'Italia as 159 cyclists pedalled through the Vatican gardens, receiving the blessing of newly elected Pope Leo XIV. "You are role models for young people all over the world," the pope told the peloton, after shaking hands with Simon Yates and other race leaders. The three-kilometre ride behind St Peter's Basilica paid tribute to Pope Francis, who had originally planned the event for the 2025 Holy Year. His successor, the first North American pope, chose to keep the gesture alive in his memory. While popes have blessed Giro riders before, and the race has previously passed through or near St Peter's Square, this marked the first time the route took the peloton inside the Vatican walls.
France 24
3 days ago
- France 24
Simon Yates secures his first Giro d'Italia triumph
Briton Yates effectively secured his second Grand Tour triumph on Saturday when he took the leader's pink jersey from revelation Isaac del Toro with an epic effort in the Italian Alps. The 32-year-old, who rides for Visma-Lease a bike, is the first man to win the Giro without taking a single stage since Alberto Contador 10 years ago. Yates came out on top in a Giro missing last year's winner Tadej Pogacar and teammate Jonas Vingegaard and which was blown wide open by the retirements of pre-race favourites Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso. The win also validates his pre-season decision to move to cycling giants Visma after 10 years with the same Australian team, now called Jayco-AlUla. "I think it's really still sinking in. What a huge moment in my career, probably, yeah, the defining moment," said Yates. "I've had some good successes, but I don't think anything (else) comes close. So I will celebrate, for sure, and we'll see what's to come." Kooij won the bunch sprint which has become a feature of the finales in Rome, pipping Kaden Groves, Matteo Moschetti and Mads Pedersen to claim his second win of this year's hugely entertaining three-week race around Italy. Perfect finale It was a perfect day for Visma with Yates and Kooij both victorious in the Eternal City. "We couldn't wish for a better final weekend. Yesterday was really amazing for the team and today I just had to give everything that was still left in the legs. The team made it a lot easier, I just had to push it until the line," said Kooij. "With sprints it's never easy to do it like perfectly but today we really committed, we just went all in, we were in perfect position and just happy to make it to the line. "I was really happy with this Giro, making it ot Rome and then winning here it's really special." Yates started the day stood alongside Pope Leo XIV who blessed the peloton in a short stop in Vatican City before the race proper started. The riders dismounted in front of the pontiff and Yates shook his hand before standing alongside points jersey winner Pederson, king of the mountains Lorenzo Fortunato and Del Toro for a pre-race blessing. Del Toro had to content himself with the white jersey for best young rider after failing to spot the danger in Yates' attack on the Colle delle Finestre climb on Saturday which ended up deciding the title.
