British cyclist Simon Yates wins Giro

Simon Yates of Britain won the Giro d’Italia race on Sunday, 1 June. He finally achieved the prestigious prize that eluded his long-time pursuit.

Yates, riding for Team Visma Lease a Bike and securing the overall title, finished with a lead of nearly four minutes. He was 3 minutes, 56 second ahead of the 21-year old Mexican sensation Isaac Del Toro. And 4:43 in front of the 2019 champion Richard Carapaz from Ecuador. The win is Yates’ second Grand Tour triumph, following his 2018 Vuelta a España title, which was, until now, the most defining moment of his career.

Yates, who is 32 years old, took the pink jersey on Saturday’s penultimate race with a brilliant tactical attack and incredible endurance. ‘I’m still in shock,’ Yates admitted. ‘It’s something I’ve worked towards for a long time.’ It was a particularly heartwarming victory after previous setbacks, such as a collapse last year after wearing pink in the Giro for 13 consecutive days. In 2020, withdrawals were made due to a coronavirus. And in 2022 a knee injury. ‘This is the peak of my career,’ he declared, reflecting on a journey marked by dogged perseverance.

British champion Simon Yates arrives in Circus Maximus

The 143 kilometres of the final stage, mostly a ceremonial circuit around Rome, culminated beside the Circus Maximus (ancient chariot race stadium). Before the start of the stage, the peloton was blessed by Pope Leo XIV in a neutralised non-competitive period.

Olav Kooij, a Dutchman, finished the race by winning the sprint in the final stage. It was his second win of this Giro since he won the 12th, and the third overall. ‘A perfect final weekend,’ Kooij said, celebrating Yates’ triumph as well as his own success.

Yates’ win was a true family affair, but with a competitive edge. Adam Yates rode for UAE Team Emirates and was a support rider to Del Toro. This pitted them against eachother. In spite of their rivalry, they shared a special moment by posing arm-in hand for photos on the final stage. Adam’s role as a supporter showed the Yates’ twins’ peloton status, while Simon’s Tour de France fourth place finish in 2023 complemented their shared heritage.

The race saw other riders put on impressive performances. Del Toro stole the white jacket as the top-ranked young rider, despite some tactical errors on Saturday. ‘I’m learning,’ Del Toro said, expressing pride in his runner-up position and a 10-day stint in pink. Mads Pdersen of Denmark won four stage victories to secure the maroon points jersey, while Lorenzo Fortunato from Italy was awarded the blue mountain classification jersey.

In the final stage, there was a sense of solemnity as a moment’s silence was observed in memory of Robert Gesink’s late wife. Yates saw the day as a chance to establish himself among cycling’s greatest.