Simon Yates celebrated a monumental achievement in his cycling career after securing victory in the Giro d’Italia, marking his second Grand Tour win. The 32-year-old from Lancashire clinched the prestigious title following a stunning and decisive attack on the final mountain stage, a move that proved to be the race-winning moment.
Despite not being widely favored to win, Yates defied expectations with his extraordinary performance over the Colle Delle Finestre climb. This victory not only adds the Giro d’Italia to his palmarès but also marks a significant milestone in his career, reflecting years of determination and resilience.
“It’s a huge moment in my career, a defining moment maybe,” Yates said after the closing stage in Rome. “I don’t think anything comes close. I’m just incredibly proud of the whole team over the three weeks. It’s a sweet success.” His triumph was the result of years of hard work and overcoming setbacks, including a painful collapse during the 2018 Giro, when he seemed destined for victory but ultimately faltered on a critical mountain stage.
This latest win places Yates among a select group of British riders who have conquered the Giro, joining the likes of Chris Froome and Tao Geoghegan Hart. Wearing the iconic maglia rosa the leader’s pink jersey Yates entered Rome with a matching pink bike and kit, embodying the spirit of the race as he was escorted safely through the final ceremonial sprint stage to seal his overall victory.
His Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Olav Kooij took the final stage win in a sprint finish, with Yates celebrating just behind him. Kooij reflected on the final weekend as “really amazing for the team,” praising the collective effort that contributed to their success.
Yates’s winning attack on the Finestre was a moment of poetic redemption. The same mountain where he had suffered a crushing defeat seven years earlier became the platform for his comeback and ultimate triumph. The attack shocked spectators and reshaped the general classification, catapulting Yates into the lead.
Social media reactions captured the excitement, with fellow riders and cycling fans expressing disbelief and admiration. Geraint Thomas, a former Tour de France champion, was vocal in his astonishment, remarking on the drama between Yates, Isaac Del Toro, and Richard Carapaz in the race’s final stages. Thomas criticized Del Toro’s tactics, highlighting the importance of experience in managing race dynamics.
Yates himself admitted to being overwhelmed by the moment. “I always had in the back of my mind that maybe I could come here and close the chapter,” he said. “Maybe not to take the jersey in the race, but at least the stage, to try to show myself the way I know I can do.” He confessed that he “really did not believe” such a scenario was possible and was moved to tears as he crossed the finish line.
Del Toro, the young Mexican rider who had shown promise as a potential winner, praised Yates’s tactical intelligence. “Yates was the most intelligent,” he said, acknowledging the superior strategy that helped secure the victory.
Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz, the 2019 Giro champion, was critical of Del Toro’s race management, suggesting that the Mexican rider lacked the necessary experience to secure the overall win. “In the end, Del Toro lost the Giro,” Carapaz stated. “He didn’t know how to race and in the end the smartest [rider] won.”
The strategic decisions made by Carapaz’s team also came under scrutiny. Juan Manuel Gárate, the sports director for Carapaz’s EF Education EasyPost team, explained the team’s approach in the final stages. He acknowledged that sometimes it is necessary to accept a risk: if Yates attacks and Del Toro fails to respond, the chances of winning diminish. “To win, you have to play the game. And with that comes the risk of losing,” Gárate said.
In the end, Simon Yates’s Giro d’Italia victory was not just a testament to physical endurance but also to strategic acumen, resilience, and a deeply personal journey coming full circle. His win stands as a defining highlight of his career, earned through grit, intelligence, and a touch of redemption on the mountains that once spelled heartbreak.
