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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Not redemption but release - how Yates finally conquered the Giro
Simon Yates loves the Giro d'Italia but he could have been forgiven for hating it. Even in a sport synonymous with suffering, this Grand Tour has inflicted unusual punishment on Yates over the years. Advertisement The British rider looked set to win at his first attempt in 2018, only to dramatically crack two days from Rome. Illness, injury and indifferent form plagued his attempts over the next four years. He returned for this edition, after two years away, a contender, but not widely considered one of the pre-race favourites. Perhaps the absence made his heart grow fonder. The Englishman's determination to conquer this beautiful yet brutal race steelier. After quietly keeping himself in contention, Yates' audacious attack on stage 20 saw him seize the maglia rosa - the leader's jersey - for the first time since that 2018 collapse. Advertisement On Sunday in Rome, he rolled across the line in pink, sealing his second Grand Tour title since the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. Yates' tumultuous love affair with the Giro has its happy ending. Quietly seeking closure The tears tumbled from Yates as soon as he crossed the line in Sestriere on Saturday and continued to fall throughout his post-stage interviews. "I've really invested a lot of my career and my life into targeting this race, and there've been a lot of setbacks," said the usually stoic 32-year-old when he could finally speak. Setbacks is an understatement. An underwhelming eighth in 2019. Forced to withdraw after contracting Covid-19 in 2020. Advertisement A difficult fortnight in 2021 before a strong final week to finish third. Sustaining a knee injury in a crash early on in 2022 that ultimately forced him to abandon. That first year still cut the deepest though. In 2018, he held the leader's jersey for 13 days, won three stages, but on stage 19 fell from first to 18th overall as compatriot Chris Froome pulled off a staggering comeback on his way to his first and only Giro title. Yates ended up finishing 21st. How fitting it was on the same climb Yates crumbled on seven years ago - the Colle delle Finestre - that he saw his window and rode away from rivals Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz to glory. Advertisement Afterwards, Yates revealed he had privately been targeting the climb since the route was announced, wanting to "close that chapter" from 2018, despite not having ridden it since. Even then, Yates thought it would be for a stage win, rather than for the pink jersey. He did not draw attention to his aim and Yates' return to the Finestre was not the dominant narrative before stage 20. The focus was on a showdown between leader Del Toro and second-placed Carapaz. And it helped free Yates to ride away. New team, new approach Visma won three stages in the 2025 Giro as well as the overall title [Getty Images] Having resisted the allure of Team Sky when he turned professional in 2014, Bury-born Yates and twin brother Adam joined Australian outfit Orica–GreenEdge. Advertisement Adam left at the end of 2020, but Simon remained with the team, now called Jayco–AlUla, until the end of last season, taking a pay cut to join Visma-Lease a Bike. Visma's experience of winning Grand Tours has proved vital for Yates. The Dutch team have won four Vueltas, two Tours de France and now two Giros since 2019. Putting generational talent Wout van Aert up the road to help Yates bury his rivals on the final climb on Saturday was masterful. It had not all been heartbreak for Yates at the Giro. He won six individual stages from 2018 to 2022, often in swashbuckling style. This year was different. He quietly went about his business before striking at the ideal moment. Advertisement Yates did not place higher than third on any stage and did not enter the top 10 overall until stage seven. He is the first Giro winner since Alberto Contador in 2015 not to also win a stage. Yates moved up to second on stage 14 and, though he slipped back to third on stage 17, his measured approach appeared to be paying off, with 2019 chamion Carapaz left to do most of the attacking. Then came stage 19. Yates lost more time and was visibly annoyed at the finish, saying his team had not raced to the agreed plan. He went into the penultimate stage one minute 21 seconds down on Del Toro. That sense of 'not again' that engulfed Rory McIlroy's final round at this year's Masters was palpable. It seemed Yates' chance had gone. Advertisement Even Adam was against him, riding in support of UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Del Toro. But Yates showed maturity by apologising to his team before the start on Saturday, admitting he was just disappointed at his own performance, before channelling that frustration as Visma's plan worked perfectly. Dropping to third probably helped him in the end, with Del Toro and Carapaz marking each other somewhat bafflingly as Yates went clear. Regardless of their tactics, Yates was the strongest when it mattered most. What next? Yates' partner missed her initial flight to Italy on Saturday because she was watching him race but joined him for the celebrations in Rome on Sunday [Getty Images] Like McIlroy, Yates sobbed before the smile arrived when he knew he had finally won the title he wanted most. Advertisement He had a broad grin in Rome, but was also perceptive about what he has achieved. "A lot of people can resonate with the story, losing the race a long time ago now, in 2018," he said before the final stage. "The way I've managed to take it, I really think it's touched a lot of people." He is set to ride this year's Tour in support of team-mate Jonas Vingegaard, who is bidding for a third title, with Yates possibly able to target stage wins too. Perhaps this victory will free him up to win more Grand Tours. Perhaps it won't. There will be a lot of talk of redemption but Yates had not shamed himself in failing to win the Giro before. Misfortune and stronger competitors had defeated him. Advertisement How poetic this year gave him the chance to complete the circle of his Giro story. As Yates said: "Life comes around, it gives and it takes." This is not redemption but release. Relief. Rejoice.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Not redemption but release - how Yates finally conquered the Giro
Simon Yates loves the Giro d'Italia but he could have been forgiven for hating in a sport synonymous with suffering, this Grand Tour has inflicted unusual punishment on Yates over the British rider looked set to win at his first attempt in 2018, only to dramatically crack two days from injury and indifferent form plagued his attempts over the next four returned for this edition, after two years away, a contender, but not widely considered one of the pre-race the absence made his heart grow fonder. The Englishman's determination to conquer this beautiful yet brutal race quietly keeping himself in contention, Yates' audacious attack on stage 20 saw him seize the maglia rosa - the leader's jersey - for the first time since that 2018 Sunday in Rome, he rolled across the line in pink, sealing his second Grand Tour title since the 2018 Vuelta a tumultuous love affair with the Giro has its happy ending. Quietly seeking closure The tears tumbled from Yates as soon as he crossed the line in Sestriere on Saturday and continued to fall throughout his post-stage interviews."I've really invested a lot of my career and my life into targeting this race, and there've been a lot of setbacks," said the usually stoic 32-year-old when he could finally is an underwhelming eighth in 2019. Forced to withdraw after contracting Covid-19 in 2020.A difficult fortnight in 2021 before a strong final week to finish third. Sustaining a knee injury in a crash early on in 2022 that ultimately forced him to first year still cut the deepest 2018, he held the leader's jersey for 13 days, won three stages, but on stage 19 fell from first to 18th overall as compatriot Chris Froome pulled off a staggering comeback on his way to his first and only Giro title. Yates ended up finishing fitting it was on the same climb Yates crumbled on seven years ago - the Colle delle Finestre - that he saw his window and rode away from rivals Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz to Yates revealed he had privately been targeting the climb since the route was announced, wanting to "close that chapter" from 2018, despite not having ridden it then, Yates thought it would be for a stage win, rather than for the pink did not draw attention to his aim and Yates' return to the Finestre was not the dominant narrative before stage 20. The focus was on a showdown between leader Del Toro and second-placed it helped free Yates to ride away. New team, new approach Having resisted the allure of Team Sky when he turned professional in 2014, Bury-born Yates and twin brother Adam joined Australian outfit Orica– left at the end of 2020, but Simon remained with the team, now called Jayco–AlUla, until the end of last season, taking a pay cut to join Visma-Lease a experience of winning Grand Tours has proved vital for Yates. The Dutch team have won four Vueltas, two Tours de France and now two Giros since generational talent Wout van Aert up the road to help Yates bury his rivals on the final climb on Saturday was had not all been heartbreak for Yates at the Giro. He won six individual stages from 2018 to 2022, often in swashbuckling year was different. He quietly went about his business before striking at the ideal did not place higher than third on any stage and did not enter the top 10 overall until stage is the first Giro winner since Alberto Contador in 2015 not to also win a moved up to second on stage 14 and, though he slipped back to third on stage 17, his measured approach appeared to be paying off, with 2019 chamion Carapaz left to do most of the came stage 19. Yates lost more time and was visibly annoyed at the finish, saying his team had not raced to the agreed went into the penultimate stage one minute 21 seconds down on Del sense of 'not again' that engulfed Rory McIlroy's final round at this year's Masters was palpable. It seemed Yates' chance had Adam was against him, riding in support of UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Del Yates showed maturity by apologising to his team before the start on Saturday, admitting he was just disappointed at his own performance, before channelling that frustration as Visma's plan worked to third probably helped him in the end, with Del Toro and Carapaz marking each other somewhat bafflingly as Yates went of their tactics, Yates was the strongest when it mattered most. What next? Like McIlroy, Yates sobbed before the smile arrived when he knew he had finally won the title he wanted had a broad grin in Rome, but was also perceptive about what he has achieved."A lot of people can resonate with the story, losing the race a long time ago now, in 2018," he said before the final stage. "The way I've managed to take it, I really think it's touched a lot of people."He is set to ride this year's Tour in support of team-mate Jonas Vingegaard, who is bidding for a third title, with Yates possibly able to target stage wins this victory will free him up to win more Grand Tours. Perhaps it won' will be a lot of talk of redemption but Yates had not shamed himself in failing to win the Giro before. Misfortune and stronger competitors had defeated poetic this year gave him the chance to complete the circle of his Giro Yates said: "Life comes around, it gives and it takes."This is not redemption but
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV blesses peloton ahead of final stage of Giro d'Italia
Pope Leo XIV addresses the pack of cyclists passing by the Vatican during the 21st and last stage of the 108th Giro d'Italia cycling race, 205km from Verres to Sestriere. Vatican Media/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa The Giro d'Italia peloton was blessed by Pope Leo XIV ahead of its final day of competition on Sunday. The Pope greeted the field before the start of the 143-kilometre stage, which began in Vatican City to pay tribute to the new leader of the Catholic Church and bid farewell to Pope Francis, before entering the official circuit. Advertisement Before riding through the Vatican, overall leader Simon Yates and the other cyclists shook hands with the Pope, who in return received a pink jersey, traditionally worn by the race leader. "Cycling is so important. Thank you for everything you do. I hope you always remember your role as a role model for others. You are always welcome here," the Pope said. The stop in the Vatican was reportedly one of the last decisions of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. It's the first time that the final Giro stage has passed through the Vatican.
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Australian cyclist Chris Harper claims penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia, as Simon Yates bursts to the lead
Australian Chris Harper has won the penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia with the ride of his life — but he was still happy to play second fiddle to his one-time British teammate Simon Yates, who sensationally exploded the race to grab almost certain overall victory. Harper, a 30-year-old stalwart for Australian team Jayco AlUla, enjoyed his first ever individual grand tour victory with an epic solo effort on the brutal 20th 'queen' stage from Verres to Sestriere, conquering one of cycling's most brutal climbs, the Colle delle Finestre, to battle home alone one minute 49 seconds clear of the field. It was a wondrous moment for Harper, a fine 12-year pro, as he rode clear of a breakaway near the top of the climb on Saturday and then held on for his first race victory for nearly six years, as an incredible story was building behind him. His ex-Jayco teammate Yates, now at Team Visma-Lease a Bike, dropped race leader Isaac del Toro on the Finestre with another monumental ride to clinch the leader's pink jersey with just one flat, largely ceremonial flat stage left. Yates, who had started the day 1min 21sec adrift, ended it 3:56 ahead of del Toro and 4:43 ahead of Richard Carapaz, and he'll ride into Rome with a second grand tour title in the bag. The great irony is that 32-year-old Yates, a former Vuelta winner, had lost the Giro to Chris Froome by cracking on the same climb seven years ago when he was with the Jayco team known then as Mitchelton-Scott. Sunday's redemption ride left Yates sobbing with joy. "I don't know what I'm happier about, though, getting a stage win or seeing Yatesy win pink," Harper said. "He's an awesome guy, I had the pleasure of racing with him for a couple of seasons and I don't think anyone deserves the pink jersey more than him. "It means a lot for me to win on this stage. It's such a famous climb and I'm pretty proud to win the stage here. It's a super challenging one, and I'm really happy I could pull it off." Harper became Australia's third stage winner of the 2025 Giro after Kaden Groves took the sixth stage and Luke Plapp soloed away in the eighth. "I came here looking for GC (the general classification) and I was feeling good in the first week, but then got sick on the second rest day," he said. "I started to feel pretty bad and ended up on antibiotics, and then slipped off of the GC. After that, I was looking for a stage win." It came in dramatic fashion as he made one key push with 16km left and then finally rode his last challenger, runner-up Alessandro Verre (Arkea-B&B Hotels), off his wheel. Harper still couldn't be sure of the win, though, with Yates catching him fast in third place. "I asked the (team) car one last time how big the gap was, I knew Simon was coming, I wasn't super confident. Only once I got to about 1.5km to go, I knew I could hold on. It was a bit of a relief," he said. "When the route was released I always had in the back of my mind to try and do something here and close the chapter, let's say. "I'm still a bit speechless really." AAP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie Harper wins and Yates rides into pink at Giro
Australian Chris Harper has won the penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia with the ride of his life - but he was still happy to play second fiddle to his one-time British teammate Simon Yates, who sensationally exploded the race to grab almost certain overall victory. Harper, a 30-year-old stalwart for Australian team Jayco AlUla, enjoyed his first ever individual grand tour victory with an epic solo effort on the brutal 20th 'queen' stage from Verres to Sestriere, conquering one of cycling's most brutal climbs, the Colle delle Finestre, to battle home alone one minute 49 seconds clear of the field. It was a wondrous moment for Harper, a fine 12-year pro, as he rode clear of a breakaway near the top of the climb on Saturday and then held on for his first race victory for nearly six years, as an incredible story was building behind him. 🎙️ "Mentally and physcially, it's been a difficult Giro. I don't think anyone deserves the Maglia Rosa more than him [Simon Yates] " - 🏆 🇦🇺 @chrisharper94 #GirodItalia — Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 31, 2025 His ex-Jayco teammate Yates, now at Team Visma-Lease a Bike, dropped race leader Isaac del Toro on the Finestre with another monumental ride to clinch the leader's pink jersey with just one flat, largely ceremonial flat stage left. Yates, who'd started the day 1min 21sec adrift, ended it 3:56 ahead of del Toro and 4:43 ahead of Richard Carapaz, and he'll ride into Rome with a second grand tour title in the bag. The great irony is that 32-year-old Yates, a former Vuelta winner, had lost the Giro to Chris Froome by cracking on the same climb seven years ago when he was with the Jayco team known then as Mitchelton-Scott. Sunday's redemption ride left the Briton sobbing with joy. "I don't know what I'm happier about, though, getting a stage win or seeing Yatesy win pink. He's an awesome guy, I had the pleasure of racing with him for a couple of seasons and I don't think anyone deserves the pink jersey more than him," said Harper. "It means a lot for me to win on this stage. It's such a famous climb and I'm pretty proud to win the stage here. It's a super challenging one, and I'm really happy I could pull it off." "Mentally and physically it's been a challenging Giro," added Adelaide rider Harper, who became Australia's third stage winner of the 2025 Giro after Kaden Groves took the sixth stage and another Jayco man Luke Plapp soloed away in the eighth. "I came here looking for GC (the general classification) and I was feeling good in the first week, but then got sick on the second rest day. "I started to feel pretty bad and ended up on antibiotics, and then slipped off of the GC. After that, I was looking for a stage win." It came in dramatic fashion as he made one key push with 16km left and then finally rode his last challenger, runner-up Alessandro Verre (Arkea-B&B Hotels), off his wheel. Harper still couldn't be sure of the win, though, with Yates catching him fast in third place. "I asked the (team) car one last time how big the gap was, I knew Simon was coming, I wasn't super confident. Only once I got to about 1.5km to go, I knew I could hold on. It was a bit of a relief. "When the route was released I always had in the back of my mind to try and do something here and close the chapter, let's say," said Yates. "I'm still a bit speechless really."
