Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 22 May 2018
Yates favored to win Giro d'Italia heading into final week

By DANIELLA MATAR is enough to win the Giro."
Associated Press The manner of his victory in
As the Giro d'Italia heads Sunday's 15th stage makes
into the final week, it's not it hard to see anyone tak-
really surprising that a Brit- ing the pink jersey off his
ish rider leads the overall shoulders.
standings. Yates set off on a solo at-
The surprise is that the lead- tack with 17 kilometers (10.5
er is Simon Yates and not miles) remaining. The Mitch-
four-time Tour de France elton-Scott cyclist looked
champion Chris Froome. back after a few meters
Froome arrived at the Giro and continued to acceler-
bidding to become the ate. On a day when every-
third person to win three one was paying the price
Grand Tours in a row. But for the rigors of the previous
he crashed in training be- day and the iconic climb
fore the opening time trial, up Monte Zoncolan, Yates
lost time in a split on Stage appeared impervious to fa-
4 and injured himself again tigue. He extended his lead
in a second crash four days over defending champion
later. Tom Dumoulin to 2 minutes,
Yates, meanwhile, has had 11 seconds. Domenico Poz-
a stellar race and became Britain's Simon Yates celebrates after winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from zovivo remained third, 2:28
the first rider since 2003 Tolmezzo to Sappada, Italy, Sunday, May 20, 2018. behind. That comes im-
to win three stages in the Associated Press mediately after an equally
leader's pink jersey after a tough day, with four moun-
fantastic solo ride on the fi- the 25-year-old British rider I gave everything," said pect to win three stages," tain passes on the route up
nal climb on Sunday. struggled to hold back Yates, who won the young he said later. "It's a magnifi- to Bardonecchia.
Normally smiling through in- tears as his voice cracked rider classification at last cent achievement. I'm lost Even Thursday’s flatter
terviews, Yates is polite but with emotion. year's Tour de France. for words. I couldn't imag- stage ends with a steep
reserved. However, after "I don't know why I'm a "I came to the Giro to win ine this. But I don't know if Category 1 climb up to
Sunday's mammoth effort, bit emotional after today. the race but I didn't ex- the advantage I have now Prato Nevoso.q