Simon Yates closes in on Isaac del Toro as Primoz Roglic abandons Giro d'Italia on day of thrills and spills
Isaac del Toro barely clung on to the pink jersey from Simon Yates on a dramatic, attritional stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia that saw Primoz Roglic abandon the race and Juan Ayuso tumble out of contention.
Christian Scaroni won the stage from Piazzo sul Brenta to San Valentino, crossing the line arm in arm with XDS Astana teammate Lorenzo Fortunato after 203 gruelling kilometres that included 4,900 metres of climbing, but the drama was all behind the leading pair.
Pre-race favourite and 2023 winner Roglic climbed into his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe car after crashing during a wet start to the stage that also saw Wales' stage two winner Josh Tarling and Alessio Martinelli abandon the race, the latter falling down a ravine.
On a terrible day for UAE Team Emirates, Ayuso – who was expected to be Roglic's main rival – cracked on the penultimate climb, going on to ship almost 15 minutes, and teammate Del Toro found himself exposed on the Passo San Valentino as Yates and then Richard Carapaz attacked.
Carapaz, who was also caught in the early incident that did for Roglic, burst free with a devastating attack that perhaps marks him out as the main threat in the final days of the race, and Del Toro was left alone as Yates then made his own move to get within a few seconds of pink.
Del Toro started the day with an 80-second advantage over Yates but that was just 26 seconds by the end of the day, with 2019 winner Carapaz five seconds further back in third. Derek Gee moved up to fourth ahead of Damiano Caruso, with Egan Bernal gaining places, sitting sixth, despite also losing time. Adam Yates, who did his best to help the struggling Del Toro late on, is 10th, five minutes off pink.
Tyrone's Darren Rafferty, a teammate of Carapaz, was part of the day's main 23-man break before finishing 40th, over 18 minutes back. He lies 80th on GC over two hours behind Del Toro, while compatriot Sam Bennett is in 147th.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Schumacher's inner circle as F1 boss reveals who ‘regularly' sees tragic star… & his shock at pal who WON'T visit
AN F1 boss has revealed insider information on Michael Schumacher's inner circle - like who "regularly" visits him and his shock at one pal who won't. Schumacher hasn't been in the public eye since 7 Schumacher lifts the trophy after victory in the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco Credit: Getty 7 German formula one world champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari hugs his wife Corinna in 2004 Credit: Alamy 7 Ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star Credit: Re-Engineering Australia Foundation 7 The F1 legend's family Now ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star - and revealed who regularly him. He told "I believe Luca Badoer, who is a close family friend, visits him. read more f1 "If there is a third, I don't know who that would be." But Hopkins also spoke of a pal who won't visit Schumacher - He added: "Flavio is, as we know, a flamboyant character. I would have thought he would have probably been the first person who would have wanted to see Michael in whatever way that was. But you have to respect that decision. "That's down to the individual. Not necessarily shared by all. I know there are close friends that go and see Schumacher and that's their own choice and for their own reasons. Most read in Motorsport "But Flavio has obviously got his and it's very deep and personal how we remember people, and how we want to remember people. "I think we all have to respect that one." Michael Schumacher's Monaco Grand Prix-Winning Ferrari F2001 In 2020 Briatore's former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: 'Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes.' Addressing this rumour, Hopkins said: "I'm not in that circle to know the absolute facts about Schumacher. Not many people are. Does he communicate through his eyes? Quite possibly. "There is rumour he does watch Grand Prixs. But this is just speculation and perhaps unfair for anyone to make assumptions and guesses. "Any remark I make will be unqualified as well in that sense, so it's difficult to be drawn on it." In April, Schumacher belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart with help from Corinna. The helmet will be auctioned to raise money for Stewart's charity Race Against Dementia . But Hopkins has described the signing as potentially being a "one-off". He said: "I suspect that [Jackie Stewart helmet signature] gesture was a one-off. There was a lot of media around that and maybe for the family too much media. 7 Michael Schumacher and Flavio Briatore Credit: Getty - Contributor 7 Alpine F1 Team Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore looks on in the paddock during qualifying Credit: Getty 7 Race winner Michael Schumacher celebrates on the podium in 1994 Credit: Alamy "They try to keep everything quiet and private, so I'd hazard a guess that it was a one-off. "It was a great gesture from the family to organise that." Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Schumacher unless they were Security guard Markus Fritsche had copied the private material while working for the Schumachers and sold it to the two men. In February the trio were found guilty of their part in the Fritsche was given a two-year suspended sentence, while Tozturkan was jailed for three years and Lins was given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a German court. Schumacher's wife Corinna wanted a harsher sentence for Fritsche. She said: 'What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. 'He should receive a punishment for this that deters others from potentially doing the same.' When Schumacher's head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two. The brain injury was so serious that he spent 250 days in a coma. The best medical treatment that money could buy brought the sporting great, who is worth £468million, back to consciousness. There had been rumours that further treatment in Paris had allowed Schumacher to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed. What do we know about Schumacher since his accident? MICHAEL Schumacher's life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury. Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend. December 29, 2013 - The skiing accident : Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain. January 2014 - Schumacher fights for his life : Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as 'critical but stable'. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world's F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital. June 2014 - Schumacher brought out of his coma : After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland. September 2014 - Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team. 2015–2018 - Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together. May 2017 - German magazine sued by Schumacher's family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher's right to privacy. September 2019 - Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris : French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed. December 2019 - Manager issues rare statement : Schumacher's longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health. September 2021 - Netflix documentary 'Schumacher' released : A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: 'Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength.' December 2023 - 10 years since the accident : Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as 'full of affection'. September 2024 - Daughter Gina's wedding : Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family's £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it 'A1 fake news'. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks. December 2024 - Schumacher to become a grandfather : Gina announces she is pregnant, three months after her wedding. She shares the news on Instagram, writing: 'Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.'
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Horror moment Max Verstappen's dad flips rally car in terrifying crash revealed in unseen footage
THIS is the horror moment Max Verstappen's dad Jos crashed and flipped his rally car at high speed. Disaster struck for the former F1 driver, 53, as he was competing in the Royal Rally of Scandinavia in Sweden. 4 Max Verstappen's father Jos suffered a nasty crash on Friday but emerged unscathed Credit: 4 Jos' rally car rolled after his rear wheels dipped in the gravel Credit: 4 He cracked the windscreen of his car and caused other damage, being forced to retire Credit: The rollover crash brought Jos and his navigator Renaud Jamoul's day to a halt earlier than expected last Friday. The pair started well - they were 18th overall and best out of the Master classification - but came unstuck on stage nine. It caused the Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 to do a 360, suffering damage in the process, with newly released video painting a grim picture. READ MORE SPORT NEWS The latest clip showed the car with a huge crack in the windscreen, but fortunately, both Jos and Renaud escaped uninjured. Verstappen said: "I went a little bit too quick into the corner and then I missed the apex, the inside of the corner. "I was in the loose gravel, on full grass and I couldn't make the corner. Very easy to happen in this kind of rally. "It was a typical Sweden roll. I flipped it and I was back on the four wheels. Every crash should be a lesson. Most read in Motorsport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "The roll cage is all fine but the front was a little bit damaged, there was some rear damage and one damper was broken. "I must say I really enjoyed it, the way of driving . Obviously these people from these countries they used to that, the only driving they do is on these kind of stages." Lewis Hamilton hit with grid penalty at Monaco Grand Prix after blunder saw him forced to apologise to Verstappen It was Verstappen Snr's third-ever start on an unfamiliar gravel surface. He didn't manage to travel to Barcelona to watch his son Max compete in the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. The Red Bull ace championship leader Oscar Piastri. The 27-year-old also picked up three-penalty points after "deliberately" colliding with George Russell on Lap 61, when asked to let the Mercedes driver through after using an escape road. The punishment moves the race ban. 4
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Red Bull weigh up potential candidates if Max Verstappen faces F1 race ban
MAX VERSTAPPEN is just one point away from a race ban after ramming into George Russell in the Spanish Grand Prix last time out. The Dutchman must be on his Advertisement 6 Verstappen admitted ramming into Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix was "not right" Credit: PA He was slapped with his first two penalty points in the current rolling 12-month period after last year's Austrian Grand Prix on June 30. Verstappen will be teetering on the edge of a ban until after the Mexican Grand Prix on 27 October There has been wide speculation over who will step into the Red Bull hot seat if the Dutchman is suspended, so SunSport gives you everything you need to know on the potential candidates. Advertisement 6 Isack Hadjar has finished in the points in five of the nine races this season Credit: Alamy ISACK HADJAR The French-Algerian 20-year-old has impressed in his rookie campaign for Racing Bulls. He has enjoyed a meteoric rise from being BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Advertisement Since then he has finished in the points in five of the nine races this season and and secured a glittering fifth in qualifying in the Monaco show piece. Most read in Sport The last rookie to achieve that feat was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. It is early days yet but Hadjar's aggressive driving style has been compared to Verstappen's fierce approach. He also tested the 2024 car and found it "comfortable" rather than tricky like many others who have sat in the Red Bull cockpit. Advertisement When Red Bull boss Christian Horner was asked about Hadjar, he said: "I think he's been the most outstanding rookie. He's exceeded all of our expectations. "He's been fast, consistent, and constantly delivered. His future, if he keeps performing as he is, is very bright." 6 Liam Lawson was axed as Red Bull's No2 driver after just two races this season Credit: Getty LIAM LAWSON The Kiwi 23-year-old isn't completely off the radar despite suffering a woeful TWO-RACE stint as a Red Bull driver at the start of this season. Advertisement He suffered three early exits in all three qualifying sessions, including the sprint, and didn't bag a single point before However, Lawson has experience with this season's car and that could boost his credentials when weighing up the options for a one-off race. Things are looking up for the Racing Bulls driver too with him securing his first points in Monaco. 6 Daniel Ricciardo was bought back into the Red Bull family in 2023 to race for their junior team Credit: EPA Advertisement DANIEL RICCIARDO This is a huge blast from the past but Aussie maestro Ricciardo, 35, is a wild shout to fill in for Verstappen. Afterall, he is an experienced, senior head in the paddock, remains a favourite of Horner and has bags of experience with the team. Ricciardo knows the team inside and out, having spent two seasons with the junior side before enjoying five years as a Red Bull driver. He won seven grands prix racing alongside both Red Bull legends Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen. Advertisement Horner bought him back into the Red Bull family at the end of 2023 with the then-junior team Alpha Tauri before he was dropped for Liam Lawson the following year. 6 Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa filled in for Verstappen in FP1 in Bahrain this year Credit: Rex AYUMU IWASA The Japanese Super Formula driver has been part of the team's junior drivers' programme since 2021. Marko said at the start of the season: "We have Ayumu Iwasa as our reserve driver' with the 23-year-old an F3 and F2 race winner. Advertisement It is a big shout for him to replace Verstappen for a one-off race though with his more likely destination being a stand in driver for Racing Bulls. He filled in for Verstappen in FP1 at this year's Bahrain Grand Prix, and made his Racing Bulls debut in practise in Suzuka last year. 6 Brit driver Arvid Lindblad has been making waves in Red Bull's junior programme Credit: Getty ARVID LINDBLAD The 17-year-old Brit is a future star of Red Bull, having been with the team for four-years. Advertisement He continues to make waves this season, making his debut in F2 for Camps Racing, as part of Red Bull's junior team. He stood on top of the podium this season for the Saudi Arabian sprint race and in Spain last time out. It would still be a huge step up to be thrust into the Red Bull seat and his age is also a barrier. The FIA announced in 2016 that an F1 driver must be at least 18 unless they are "judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition". Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Earlier this year Helmut Marko revealed they had applied for an exemption from the FIA's ruling that drivers under the age of 18 are not eligible to receive a super license. They want to promote Lindblad to official reserve driver status so he may be well be on the F1 grid soon.
