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The Independent
an hour ago
- General
- The Independent
Pope Leo blesses cyclists competing in the Giro d'Italia
Pope Leo imparted his blessing to more than 150 cyclists participating in the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, as the final stage of the three-week race commenced with an unprecedented route through the Vatican gardens, behind St. Peter's Basilica. Upon entering Vatican City, overall race leader Simon Yates and other classification leaders dismounted to greet the Pope, presenting him with a replica of the leader's pink jersey. "You are role models for young people all over the world," Leo told the peloton. "May God bless all of you on this last part of the Giro d'Italia. Congratulations to all of you. 'May you know that you are always welcome here in the Vatican. You are always welcome by the church, which represents God's love for all people." In an unscripted moment, Nairo Quintana of Colombia, the 2014 Giro champion, paused to greet the Pope after the other riders had moved on. While popes have blessed the Giro riders before and the race has previously passed through or next to St. Peter's Square, this marked the first time that the route took the peloton on a three-kilometre (nearly two-mile) route inside the Vatican walls. Bringing the race inside the Vatican was originally intended as an homage to Pope Francis during the 2025 Holy Year but after Francis died, Leo, the first American pope, decided to honour the event in Francis' memory. The cyclists entered the Vatican through the Petriano gate to the left of St. Peter's, rode around the basilica and then climbed up toward the gardens before exiting near the Santa Marta hotel at the Perugino gate. Santa Marta was where Francis lived. The passage through the Vatican occurred during the non-competitive neutralised period before the stage. The official start was given after the riders exited the narrow Perugino gate. British rider Yates could cruise to the title with an advantage of nearly four minutes over Isaac Del Toro of Mexico. The 143-kilometre (89-mile) final stage concluded with a circuit of eight laps through downtown Rome and finished next to the Circus Maximus. It is the third time since Leo was elected that he has met with the sports world. Two weeks ago, . Then last week, he welcomed the players and staff of Italian soccer champions Napoli to the Vatican.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Simon Yates finishes safely in peloton to seal victory at Giro d'Italia
Britain's Simon Yates sealed victory in the Giro d'Italia following the final stage from the Vatican City to Rome. Yates took a lead of almost four minutes into stage 21 and finished safely in the peloton as Visma-Lease a Bike team-mate Olav Kooij came out on top in a sprint finish. Advertisement Yates effectively sealed victory on Saturday's penultimate stage when he exorcised his personal demons on the Colle delle Finestre with a stunning solo attack to claim the race leader's pink jersey. On the mountain where his dreams of victory were shattered by Chris Froome's famous solo breakaway in 2018, Yates turned the tables with a masterclass of his own as his rivals were left to question their own tactics. The 32-year-old Lancastrian rode away from leader Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz on the brutal gradients and the gravel to turn an 81-second deficit and third place into a three minute, 56-second lead over Del Toro. Advertisement With the final stage a largely-ceremonial affair, which started with the leading riders meeting Pope Leo XIV, only a serious crash would have denied Yates a second Grand Tour victory following his success in the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. He is the third British rider to win the Giro after Froome in 2018 and Tao Geohegan Hart in 2020.
The Independent
17 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Simon Yates finishes safely in peloton to seal victory at Giro d'Italia
Britain's Simon Yates sealed victory in the Giro d'Italia following the final stage from the Vatican City to Rome. Yates took a lead of almost four minutes into stage 21 and finished safely in the peloton as Visma-Lease a Bike team-mate Olav Kooij came out on top in a sprint finish. Yates effectively sealed victory on Saturday's penultimate stage when he exorcised his personal demons on the Colle delle Finestre with a stunning solo attack to claim the race leader's pink jersey. On the mountain where his dreams of victory were shattered by Chris Froome's famous solo breakaway in 2018, Yates turned the tables with a masterclass of his own as his rivals were left to question their own tactics. The 32-year-old Lancastrian rode away from leader Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz on the brutal gradients and the gravel to turn an 81-second deficit and third place into a three minute, 56-second lead over Del Toro. With the final stage a largely-ceremonial affair, which started with the leading riders meeting Pope Leo XIV, only a serious crash would have denied Yates a second Grand Tour victory following his success in the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. He is the third British rider to win the Giro after Froome in 2018 and Tao Geohegan Hart in 2020.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Britain's Simon Yates seals Giro d'Italia in Rome for second grand tour title
Britain's Simon Yates has won the Giro d'Italia for the first time after safely completing Sunday's final stage in Rome. The 32-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider claimed the leader's pink jersey on Saturday's penultimate stage to Sestrière, wiping out Isaac del Torro's advantage on the Colle delle Finestre. Advertisement Yates began Sunday's almost-processional stage, which was won by Olav Kooij, with a lead of three minutes and 56 seconds over Del Toro and added the 2025 Giro title to the Vuelta a España he won in 2018. Sunday's stage was also notable for the peloton stopping to meet Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. Jeremy Whittle's report will follow
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Britain's Simon Yates seals Giro d'Italia in Rome for second grand tour title
Britain's Simon Yates has won the Giro d'Italia for the first time after safely completing Sunday's final stage in Rome. The 32-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider claimed the leader's pink jersey on Saturday's penultimate stage to Sestrière, wiping out Isaac del Torro's advantage on the Colle delle Finestre. Yates began Sunday's almost-processional stage, which was won by Olav Kooij, with a lead of three minutes and 56 seconds over Del Toro and added the 2025 Giro title to the Vuelta a España he won in 2018. Sunday's stage was also notable for the peloton stopping to meet Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Jeremy Whittle's report will follow
