Giro leader Del Toro hits back with stage 17 triumph
OVERALL LEADER Isaac del Toro bounced back from the disappointment of seeing his advantage slashed by storming to a brilliant victory on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday.
The Mexican saw his lead cut from 1min 20sec to just 26 seconds in stage 16, but attacked on the Le Motte climb before powering away from Romain Bardet and Richard Carapaz in the final two kilometres.
Del Toro celebrated his maiden Grand Tour stage victory with a bow and is now 41 seconds ahead of Ecuadoran rider Carapaz overall, with Simon Yates 10 seconds further back.
It was a spectacular response from Team UAE's Del Toro, who timed his surge to victory to perfection at the end of a mountainous 155km ride to Bormio in the Alps.
'It's incredible, everybody wants this and today I realised I will never give up,' he said.
Advertisement
'I will always stay one step in front, and I will always try… I don't have anything to lose, and today wasn't easier than yesterday, but for sure I had a better mentality.'
The 21-year-old finished three seconds clear of Frenchman Bardet and six seconds ahead of pink-jersey rival Carapaz to extend his general classification lead.
Yates, who started the day in second overall, was cut adrift by Del Toro's attack, which only Carapaz could initially follow, and crossed the finish line nine seconds behind.
It was heartbreak for Bardet, who will retire in two weeks, as he came up just short in his latest bid to complete a hat-trick of stage wins on every Grand Tour.
'As is often the case at the Giro, this is my fourth second place in four participations,' said the 34-year-old, who led on his own until being caught by Del Toro and Carapaz.
'I did my best. It's definitely a shame because I had everything in place to win, but you can't control the behaviour of the other teams. I'm proud of this last appearance in a Grand Tour.'
Darren Rafferty finished in 127th position, while fellow Irish rider Sam Bennett was 154th. Overall, the duo are 86th and 147th, respectively.
Bennett is 42nd in the points classification on 17 points.
Thursday's 18th stage is a hilly 144km route from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno in Lombardy.
You can view the standings in full here.
– © AFP 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
French Open STOPPED after medical emergency in crowd as screams are heard on commentary
THE French Open has been halted after a crowd emergency. Screams were heard from the stands during Qinwen Zheng's match with Victoria Mboko. Advertisement 3 A match between Qinwen Zheng and Victoria Mboko was halted Credit: TNT Sports 3 A spectator required medical assistance Credit: TNT Sports 3 Zheng was on the cusp of winning at the time of the incident Credit: AFP It is believed someone fell over and badly injured themselves. Play was stopped and medics rushed to the crowd to attend to an individual in need. Adam Fielder, who was on commentary, said: 'Something has happened in the crowd here at the top, a medical emergency right now. 'We are just going to have a bit of a delay here whilst whoever it is needs treatment gets the required assistance. Advertisement 'I am sure the paramedics will be on site shortly to deal with this. So tough these situations, because you need the person to get the relevant assistance, just no idea how long this delay is going to be for the players. 'Tough for Zheng, having just saved those break points, she would have fancied her chances at riding the momentum into this next game and try to get this match won as quickly as possible. It's just the not knowing, how long this is going to be.' Co-commentator Lucie Ahl added: 'That's what the issue is, Mboko is still standing up and watching on, supervisor is coming onto the court. 'It is very hot, it was hotter yesterday but we've had these types of temperatures.' Advertisement Most read in Sport Breaking Both Zheng and Mboko had to wait patiently while the matter was dealt with - Zheng was a set and 5-3 up at the time. The court supervisor spoke to the players, telling them: 'It could be a long time, someone fell and they are injured very badly.' Coco Gauff makes humiliating mistake as she walks on to French Open court without crucial equipment
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside vast Champions League security op with 5,000 cops, riot units & ring of steel…& that's NOT even in host Munich
A MAJOR security operation with riot cops and a ring of steel is being mobilised for the final PSG vs Inter Milan Champions League showdown - but it is 500 miles away from the host city. Security officials are on high alert as thousands of fans are expected to flock to Munich to witness the European football season's epic climax. 14 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporters set off flares and wave a team logo flag as they gather ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final Credit: AFP 14 Anti-riot police officers stand guard during a football match in France Credit: AFP 14 Inter fans celebrate after a match win Credit: Getty 14 Police cars in front of the Allianz Arena in Munich where tomorrow's finale will take place Credit: Getty 14 But a separate security operation will take place in Paris, where footie fans are equally charged up as they continue to cheer for their home team The French capital will deploy 5,400 police officers for Saturday's final game, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said. Although the match will be held in Munich, a Just like the read more in football To tackle this, police units will be deployed alongside "mobile gendarmes", which are French mobile police units. Many of the officers will be on the watch around the capital's Champs-Élysées avenue, where fans are expected to take to the streets if their home team lifts the cup tomorrow. Cops are expected to shut down the traffic near the venue, and constant camera surveillance will be activated. Security will also be beefed up around Parc des Princes, PSG's home stadium on the southwestern edge of the city, the Paris police chief added. Most read in Champions League Nunez said: "We have a large network throughout the metropolitan area. So yes, a massive deployment in the capital and its metropolitan area with 5,400 personnel mobilised. "We have called up personnel from the police headquarters, and the Minister of State has placed numerous mobile forces, CRS [riot police] and mobile gendarmes at my disposal. Everyone is on deck." French riot police 'tear gas entire streets' as fans 'throw fireworks' in chaotic scenes before PSG vs Arsenal S hocking footage from just hours after the PSG vs Arsenal match showed a car ploughing into a crowd of football fans before being torched. The burning wreck of the vehicle can be seen on Rue Christophe-Colomb, close to the Champs-Elysées. Young PSG supporters were seen confronting riot police. There were reports that some targeted even shops and banks, leaving the windows smashed. A Paris Police Prefecture spokesperson said at least "43 people were arrested during the PSG victory celebrations", mainly for public order offences. Meanwhile, cops in the host city of Munich are also bracing up for the high-stakes final game. An increased police presence is expected throughout the city, with more than 2,000 special police officers deployed around key areas. 14 14 PSG supporters set off flares as they gather ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match Credit: AFP 14 German police at a Bundesliga match between Credit: Getty 14 Inter Milan fans celebrate winning Serie A in 2021 Credit: Reuters 14 Aerial view of Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Credit: Getty This include the massive Allianz Arena stadium, where the match will take place and the Olympic Park, where thousands of fans will gather for a free public viewing. A German police spokesperson said: "It is to be expected that high-risk individuals will be here. But we are well prepared. "The Italian fans in particular have a certain potential. Therefore, the match has been assessed as a high-risk match." Units of Bavarian riot police will be deployed to tackle any chaos. Hawk-eyed undercover cops will comb through the area while mobile and fixed barriers in different positions will be built throughout. The barriers are designed to help prevent car rammings similar to the one witnessed in Liverpool last week during a Premier League victory parade, which left 79 people injured. There has been a spate of violence in recent weeks surrounding big football matches. Shocking British and Spanish football fans were seen brawling in the streets, launching bottles and smoke grenades and even being pushed back by police water cannons. The ugly scenes have kicked off mainly near the fanzone in Wroclaw - where the final was held - with riot police forced to defuse the violence. Just hours before 14 Fans clash in ugly scenes in Poland before the Europa Conference Final Credit: AFP 14 Supporters were seen hurling punches, kicking, launching bottles and smoke grenades Credit: AFP 14 Tottenham Hotspur fans in the streets of Bilbao Credit: Reuters 14 Tables and chairs were thrown to the floor Credit: EPA Soon, chairs were hurtling through the air as the fans squared up to each other before police, some armed with guns, came to separate them. Cops were even forced to hurl powerful water cannons at Last week, Bilbao launched its Spanish security officials were on high alert and had deployed a ring of steel to fortify the San Mames Stadium as brawls had broken out and streets had been rashed ahead of the final. Shocking images showed Brit fans tearing down traffic lights, vomiting in the city's streets and chucking bottles, vapes and cans around. Local media reported that some footie fanatics have become "difficult to control". Europe , but only one of them can go home with the riches. Luis Enrique's side saw off La Liga winners 7-6 on aggregate. Champions League 2025 prize money INTER and PSG are guaranteed to take home at least £15.9m, but the runner-up prize will not appeal to either of them. For winning the competition, either of the pair could walk home with £21.9m Winner: £21.5m Runner-up: £15.9m Semi-finalist: £12.9m Quarter-finalist: £10.7m Round of 16: £9.4m League stage qualification: £1.7m League stage win : £1.8m League stage draw: £590,000
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
TNT Sports presenter Miroslava Montemayor stuns in see-through top as she gets ready to host Champions League final
MEXICAN TV host Miroslava Montemayor has turned heads with a stunning look ahead of the Champions League final. The 35-year-old presents TNT Sports' coverage of the tournament in Mexico. Advertisement 5 Miroslava Montemayor has stunned with a plunging see-through outfit Credit: INSTAGRAM @tntsportsmex and @miroslavamont 5 The Mexican is TNT's Champions League host Credit: Instagram @miroslavamont 5 Miroslava is a former model and represented Mexico at Miss International 2013 Credit: Instagram @miroslavamont 5 The 35-year-old has fronted TNT's coverage of the CL since 2019 Credit: Instagram @miroslavamont Miroslava is known for her And her latest wardrobe choice has sent her 884,000 followers into a frenzy. Miroslava previewed PSG's showdown against Inter Milan on Saturday night. She picked her best XI of the tournament - controversially leaving out Barcelona wonderkid Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL But fans admitted they "forgive her" as she dazzled in a gorgeous see-through black dress. One fan gasped: "You are a queen." Another commented: "Simply stunning." Miroslava also gave her followers a glimpse into TNT's halftime show for the final in Munich. Advertisement Most read in Football Rocking a traditional German dirndl, she wrote: "Behind the scenes of rehearsals for the Champions League halftime show… Munich, here we come!" One lovestruck fan replied: "I need to watch this." Champions League places CONFIRMED after Aston Villa VAR controversy as Newcastle have to be saved by Man Utd And a second said: "The look is EVERYTHING." Miroslava represented her country at Miss International 2013 in Japan. Advertisement She began her foray into TV over a decade ago after leaving modelling behind. 5 Miroslava rocked traditional German dress as the TNT team prepare to head to Munich Credit: INSTAGRAM @lareimers and @miroslavamont Her first TV gig was on Azteca Noreste sports show ADN. She joined up with ESPN in 2015, fronting a number of their Spanish-language shows. Advertisement The presenter turns her hand to everything from American football to tennis. Miroslava left ESPN in 2019 to join TNT, where she has since fronted the network's Champions League coverage in Mexico.
