Cycling: A spectacular stage decided the Giro d'Italia today. Simon Yates claimed the pink jersey with a courageous attack on the Colle delle Finestre and is now on the verge of the overall Giro victory. Thus, he celebrates the greatest success of his career at the scene of his greatest defeat. The stage win goes to Chris Harper.
Yates writes beautiful story
It's been seven years since Simon Yates (Visma | Lease a Bike) lost the Giro d'Italia to Chris Froome on the Colle delle Finestre. He cracked and experienced the worst day of his career. Today, he can finally put that trauma behind him. The Briton was in top form on the climb and his attack left all his rivals behind. While Richard Carapaz ( EF Education – EasyPost) and Isaac del Toro (UAE – XRG) were sizing each other up, Yates was able to steadily increase his lead, thanks in part to his relay partner Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike). However, the stage win on the 205-kilometer route from Verrès to Sestriere went to Chris Harper (Jayco AlUla). The Australian was initially part of a large breakaway group but dropped all his companions on the Colle delle Finestre. This marks his first victory in a Grand Tour and thus the biggest victory of his career.
Carapaz tests del Toro – and he ignores Yates
The 31-man breakaway group, including Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), Mads Pedersen (Lidl – Trek), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain – Victorious), and Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers), had a lead of over ten minutes at the foot of the Colle delle Finestre. Team EF Education – EasyPost rode at full speed into the climb with the peloton. Captain Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost) attacked as soon as his last teammate dropped back from the lead. However, overall leader Isaac del Toro (UAE – XRG) refused to be shaken off. A little later, Simon Yates (Visma | Lease a Bike) also caught up and subsequently made a decisive break. Del Toro had previously matched every attack by Carapaz but didn't respond when Yates went on the offensive. When Yates' lead exceeded two minutes and the Briton was thus virtually in the pink jersey, the two resigned themselves to such an extent that the gap continued to widen.
Isaac del Toro pays the price
For almost three weeks, Isaac del Toro (UAE – XRG) was the star of the Giro d'Italia. Today, the Mexican had to pay a high price for his inexperience. The 21-year-old may not have lost the Giro d'Italia due to weakness, but rather because of tactical ineptitude and personal differences with Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost). After countering every attack from his Ecuadorian rival on the Colle delle Finestre, he not only allowed the already dropped Simon Yates (Visma | Lease a Bike) to catch up, but even to pull away. He then shifted all the blame onto Carapaz, failing to realize that his pink jersey was in jeopardy. At the same time, he probably hoped that his teammates could catch up. But that wasn't the case. The gap grew ever larger. Finally, del Toro completely resigned himself to defeat when Carapaz also refused to lead. Thus, Isaac del Toro (UAE – XRG) suffers a painful defeat early in his career, from which he will learn.
SIMON YATES, FROM OUTTA NOWHERE #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/OK2MB1ZoR8
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 31, 2025
The defeat of Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz led by Simón Yates, who took part in the Giro de Italy and the dos. Estrategia magistral del Visma. pic.twitter.com/liABGhH8Eo
— Alfonso Hernández (@AlfonsoH) May 31, 2025
Chris Harper wins the Colle delle Finestre stage! Career moment for the Aussie #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/HifdeYgZud
— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) May 31, 2025