Esteban Chaves has retired from pro cycling, saying that he is "very happy to close this chapter" of his life.

The 35-year-old, a former winner of Il Lombardia and multiple stage victor at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, announced the decision in a YouTube video published by EF Pro Cycling on Monday.

In the video, the Colombian says: "The decision is the right one."

"I am very happy. I am very proud of the sporting career I have had. I’m very happy to close this chapter in the way we are closing it. Who am I without my bike? Without the bike, I am Esteban. I am a son, I am a brother, I am a husband, I am a father. I am a human being who dreams of setting an example, who dreams of being at peace, who dreams of having a lot of contact with nature. I am a human being who learns."

Chaves spent eight seasons with Orica GreenEDGE, which became Mitchelton-Scott, during which time he won three stages at the Giro and two at the Vuelta, also finishing on the podium of both in 2016.

Since 2022, he rode for EF Education-EasyPost, for whom his last race was this year's Vuelta. His last victory was the 2023 Colombian National Championships, but his proudest moment that year was the birth of his daughter. As well as his success on the bike, Chaves was a fan favourite for his sunny personality.

"Cycling has been an indispensable and fundamental part of my life," he says in the EF film. "And it has shaped the person and character I am. What I felt the first time I rode a bicycle, I still feel now.

"I'm 35 years old, I completed my primary schooling but not much more, so you're kind of pigeonholed into the role of being a cyclist. You think you can't do anything else, that you don't know what you can learn. That's completely false."

"What will happen when the Grand Tours tart and I'm no longer there, when' its no longer my goal. What will I feel?" Chaves asks. "It's a fear that will come when the time comes, it will be faced and the feelings and everything will be seen."

He continues: "Not having a marked path, not having a route to take gives me the creeps, it terrifies me, it scares me, it excites me... I respect that.

"Now I want to experience and feel that it's ok to fail. That it's alright, that nothing happens. It was something intrinsic, it comes from me, from within. It's not because I couldn't take it anymore, it's not because of what people from outside tell me. It's something I've felt since my daughter was born."

Esteban Chaves will be leaving the Australian squad Team BikeExchange after eight years to join the American team EF Education-Nippo in 2022 on a one-year contract.

The Colombian has had a turbulent time of late having battled the Epstein-Barr virus between 2018 and 2019 and has since been slowly getting back to top form. He put in a superb display at the Volta a Catalunya to take a stage win, as well as second on another and taking two jerseys (points and mountains).

While at BikeExchange, Chaves won the Italian Monument Il Lombardia in 2016 as well as three Giro d'Italia stages and two Vuelta a España stages. He's also podiumed in both of those races, not to mention winning the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Herald Sun Tour along the way.

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The 31-year-old is now moving on to join EF Education-Nippo on a one-year deal, beginning at the start of next year.

Chaves said: "I wanted to join the EF Education-Nippo for several reasons. First of all, from the outside, you can see it is like a big family where everyone is driven by the passion of cycling. Also, one of the directors is a rider I really admired when I started riding my bike - Juanma Garate - and finally, I would love to have Colombian team-mates. But most importantly, the cycling kit is really cool, don’t you think?"

The Colombian looks set to be the replacement for Sergio Higuita who will be joining Bora-Hansgrohe from 2022. Chaves will be joining fellow countryman Rigoberto Urán among others.

"I love the feeling of freedom when riding your bike and the pride of getting to the top of the mountain or finishing a race," Chaves continued. "Also, I love that it is a sport that you can practice with friends and family. Most of all, I really like the power of cycling as a tool to show that dreams come true if you work hard. 

"I’m excited about everything! New bike, new kit, new team-mates, new helmet, new races, new challenges. I feel like a neo-pro again,"

Esteban Chaves is one of many riders on the move, keep up with all the transfers in the men's and women's WorldTour with our transfer page.

Esteban Chaves described his win on stage four of the Volta a Catalunya as a "joy", saying it "gives me a lot of confidence".

The Colombian attacked with seven kilometres remaining of the final 18.6km finishing climb at Port Ainé and held on for a memorable solo victory, crossing the line seven seconds ahead of a bunch of nine riders.

Just a day after finishing second on another summit finish, the victory is the 31-year-old's first triumph since an emotional win at the 2019 Giro d'Italia and confirms that he is back among the world's leading climbers after a number of seasons disrupted by injury and illness.

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"I am very happy, very pleased," he said, producing his trademark smile.

"I had a lot to do to win and I couldn't lose anything but we controlled it really well.

"I had really good sensations but above all it's the first victory for the team as BikeExchange."

Chaves, whose European base is in Andorra, knew the climb well having trained on the slopes of the ski resort a number of times.

But the Volta is his first race of the season, the latest he has ever started a campaign.

His form, therefore, was an unknown at the start of the week. "I have never started the year with a spring like this before," he added.

"There have been difficult years but always we have continued working and fighting and it is very gratifying.

"We have worked really hard in the last few years, there have been difficult years, but the team, my girlfriend and everyone has really helped.

"It is a joy to win. It gives me a lot of confidence."

Chaves told Cycling Weekly earlier in the winter that he still believes he can win the Tour de France. Overhauling a 1-04 deficit to Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) at this race's GC, however, looks a tall order.

"For sure [he will aim to keep the mountains and points jersey]. They are a lot of options in play.

"(But) it is hard [to fight for GC] but if I have the opportunity then we'll see."

Esteban Chaves came out on top on stage four of Volta a Catalunya 2021 after kicking on solo with around 7km to go on the summit finish and holding off the group of overall favourites.

Chaves (BikeExchange) managed to stay ahead of the chasing group of favourites led by Ineos Grenadiers all the way to the line with Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) leading in the chasers seven seconds later.

The pace was high all day due to the break having Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) within it, the 24-year-old German was just over a minute down in the overall standings. Ineos Grenadiers kept the chase rapid with the break eventually being caught at the bottom of the final 18.4km climb.

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Ineos Grenadiers continued the pace for the entire climb with a couple of riders trying attacks, but only Chaves managed to stay away to take the stage, moving him up to sixth in the general classification.

Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) holds onto his overall lead of 45 seconds over team-mate, Richie Porte with another team-mate, Geraint Thomas, in third at 49 seconds.

How it happened

The fourth stage of the 100th Volta a Catalunya started in Ripoll before taking on three tough climbs over the 166.5km to the summit finish up Port Ainé.

A 12-man breakaway went away on the first climb of the day, the Port de Toses. The break was made up of Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe), Antwan Tolhoek (Jumbo-Visma), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Rigoberto Urán (EF Education-Nippo), Clément Champoussin (Ag2r-Citroën), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Antonio Pedrero (Movistar), Sergio Samitier (Movistar), Joe Dombrowski (UAE Team Emirates), Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma), Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), and Juan Pedro López (Trek-Segafredo).

The break got a maximum gap of around five minutes before Ineos Grenadiers started properly chasing due to Kämna being just over a minute down on the overall leader, Yates. But Kämna decided to kick on solo on the second of the three climbs, pulling out 1-20 over the rest of the break and holding around 3-30 on the peloton.

All of the chasing riders behind Kämna were caught just before the final climb with 19km to go as the gap had dropped to 2-20 up to the German. Ineos Grenadiers continued the high pace on the Port Ainé with Rohan Dennis riding the solo Bora-Hansgrohe rider back, catching him with 14km to go on the climb.

Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) was the first rider to try and attack with 10km to go but Ineos pulled him back very easily with Richard Carapaz and Geraint Thomas working for Yates with Richie Porte also well placed.

The next to chance their arm was Esteban Chaves (BikeExchange). He started the day 1-21 down in ninth place overall, which meant that he quickly pulled out a gap of 16 seconds with 7km to go.

Enric Mas (Movistar) was the first rider who tried to attack across to Chaves with 3.5km to go, but the push on by the Spaniard only saw the gap up to the leading Colombian jump to 20 seconds.

Further attacks came with Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) trying a move, but he was unable to get a gap on his other main rivals as Thomas took over from Carapaz, quickly bring Mas back into the fold.

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Porte took over the pacing just after the 2km to go mark, slowly bringing the gap down to Chaves out front. But the pacing was not enough to close in on Chaves, who took his first win of the season, and first victory since the 2019 Giro d'Italia.

That win moved him up a few places in GC but it was Yates who remained in control at the top ahead of fellow Ineos Grenadiers riders Porte and Thomas at 45 and 49 seconds respectively.

The remaining three stages of the Volta a Catalunya all suit a rider who packs more of a punch instead of pure climbing ability, as they slowly make their way to the race finish in Barcelona on Sunday.

Results

Volta a Catalunya 2021 stage four, Ripoll to Port Ainé (166.5km)

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Team BikeExchange, in 4-29-47

2. Michael Woods (Can) Israel Start-Up Nation, at 7 seconds

3. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers

4. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers

5. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma

6. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team

7. Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers

8. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe

9. Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkéa-Samsic

10. Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Team BikeExchange, all at the same time

General classification after stage four

1. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, in 14-14-15

2. Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers, at 45s

3. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 49s

4. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team, at 1-03

5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe, at the same time

6. Esteban Chaves (Col) Team BikeExchange, at 1-04

7. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 1-07

8. Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education-Nippo, at 1-20

9. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma, 1-29

10. Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange, at 1-32

Almost five seasons on since the world anointed him as a future Grand Tour winner, Esteban Chaves has declared that he can put his barren run of form behind him and still win one of cycling’s biggest races.

In 2016, BikeExchange’s Colombian star won a stage and finished second in the Giro d’Italia, following it up with a third-placed finish at the Vuelta a España, just weeks before he won Il Lombardia.

Those standout results followed a fifth place at the 2015 Vuelta when he first showed his immense promise.

The hope of kicking on and winning one of the three Grand Tours, however, has yet to materialise, with injury and illness setting him back in the past few years.

In 2018, after winning a stage of the Giro d’Italia but then dropping out of overall contention after sitting in second place, he was diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever, with one of the main symptoms being chronic fatigue.

At the 2020 Vuelta a España, Chaves looked in good form until stage 10 when he dropped away from a high of seventh on GC to finish 27th.

Asked if his future years will be focused on chasing stages and one-day victories, the 31-year-old flatly rejected such suggestions. “Not really, no,” he told Cycling Weekly from his Colombian home where is continuing his winter training.

“I have had a few really good results in one-day races but that’s not my objective. I am a pure climber, my abilities can show better in Grand Tours and one-week races. It’s not a mystery.

“I still really believe I can win the Tour de France. If I didn’t believe, I wouldn’t ride my bike anymore.

“This is why I am still doing this job, still riding as a pro because I really believe. I know I have the talent and I know my body can do it. I hope it will be sooner rather than later because it’s too painful [not competing for top honours].”

In his return to form, Chaves won an emotional stage of the 2019 Giro, and he is convinced by the process and the method he is pursuing.

“We need to get back to basics, keep believing and working and let the body come back to the feeling it had in 2017, when the health problems, and issues and injuries started,” he added.

“Every Grand Tour I have done after has been one step forward. The body doesn’t change in six months and it’s harder with injuries. It hasn’t been easy because the body needed time to adapt.

“But more than the body, I need to get the confidence back, get the head where it should be.

“I don’t know about genetics and ages and that stuff, I’m not a doctor or medic, but I do know that I feel young. I turned 31 last month but I feel as I did 10-12 years ago.”

Currently training at an altitude of 2,400m before he returns to Europe in March to begin his season racing at the Volta a Catalunya, País Vasco and the Ardennes Classics, Chaves is reluctant to set specific time frames and instead offers a pragmatic view.

“It’s impossible to know how the body will respond and what will happen,” he said. “I wish that we could set a year or a goal and can say in one year, in six months, in five years. I wish.

“But it’s not like this and this is the beauty of life. It’s a question mark and it makes you fight every day.

“If you know in five years you will do this, it’s boring. This is life, this is why it’s beautiful and awesome because we have no idea.

“We have to keep working, keep fighting and pass through all of these moments - good, bad, lonely. And when the results arrive it will be awesome. If you don’t enjoy this process then you’re f***ed.

“You need to enjoy the process and learn a lot, not just the numbers, results, and objectives. But this perspective comes with a lot of maturity and experiences in your life.”

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After he’s made his bow for the season, he and the team will decide whether he should target the Giro d’Italia or the Tour de France, with selection for the Olympic road race a target thereafter.

“I have the belief that it is the big dream for every single athlete in the world to be on the startline in the Olympic Games,” he said. “We have five spots, a really strong team, and the goal at first is just to be there.”

Does the course in Tokyo offer him a chance of winning and improving on his 21st at the 2016 Rio Games? Patience, once more, is the game.

“It’s too early to talk about that,” he said. “It’s a one-day race, a lot of things can happen and it depends on how you approach the race, your progression.”

Esteban Chaves has renewed his contract with Mitchelton-Scott to keep him with the Australian squad until 2021.

The extension will result in the Colombian spending seven years with his only WorldTour team to date, having signed from his first professional team Colombia-Coldeportes in 2014.

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The 29-year-old won the summit finish stage 19 in the Dolomites during this year's Giro d'Italia, a year after his win on Mount Etna in the Italian Grand Tour.

However, in between Chaves suffered from the Epstein-Barr virus and didn't race for the rest of the 2018 season following the Giro, making his comeback victory in 2019 an emotional one.

The Colombian will line up for Italy's Il Lombardia this weekend, having won the Italian Monument in 2016, and says he will look back fondly on his 2019 as he looks to get back to his best in 2020.

"I’m really happy, I’ve always felt good with this organisation, with this team, with the boys, with everyone, we’re like a big family," Chaves said. "So I’m happy to be staying here for another two-years.

"I’m happy with my 2019 season, every month and every race we were one step up, so that is super important. The team from the beginning have looked after me really well and have given me confidence. The experience this year was awesome and we’re working step-by-step to get back to my best level.

"I want to continue to make a story with the team like we have done in the past, I also want to help the new guys and continue to learn from the older guys. I want to continue my contribution to this organisation."

Mitchelton-Scott sports director, Matt White, is confident he will be able to get performances out of the Colombian over the next two seasons, saying that at his peak Chaves can win any race you put in front of him.

"There's a lot of positives to take out of this season for Esteban," White said. "His health has been really good this year and we know that when he can get back to the level he is capable of competing at, he can win at any race on the calendar.

"Esteban is really motivated to achieve a lot more goals in different areas as well, and we could see some surprises in his calendar for next year."

Mitchelton-Scott's roster will remain largely unchanged for 2020, with the only significant departure being Matteo Trentin, who will leave for CCC, having recently finished runner-up to Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) in the men's road race at the Yorkshire World Championships.

We’ve been visiting Scott Sports’s new HQ this week. Pride of place went to the extra-small frame size Scott Addict RC on which Esteban Chaves won Stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia last week.

It’s been a tough year for Chaves, with him starting out wondering if he wanted to continue as a pro, but he’s clearly overjoyed to be back on peak form. Scott has also made a video documenting how his love of cycling was rekindled by stepping back from competition last year and spending time with his friends and family in Colombia.

At 1.64m tall and weighing just 54kg, Chaves is the archetypal climber and rides Scott’s Addict RC lightweight climber’s bike, kitted out with rim brakes rather than the disc brake option. When we tested the Addict RC a couple of years ago, the stock bike in size Medium came out at 6.6kg, so it’s certain that Scott’s mechanics have had to add ballast to bring his frame up to the UCI’s 6.8kg minimum.

Chaves runs a full Shimano Dura-Ace configuration with Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and an 11-28 cassette along with Dura-Ace carbon wheels. The Mitchelton-Scott team are on Pirelli P-Zero 25mm tubs.

Chaves’s cockpit and saddle come from Syncros, a Scott-owned brand, while the bottle cages are from Elite.

Scott hadn’t cleaned the bike, with Chaves’s sweat marks still on the top tube. The Fun logo on the side of the head tube is for Chaves’s foundation in Colombia, which raises funds to help young cyclists as well as paying for operations for disabled children.

Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) celebrates not only a win at the Giro d'Italia in San Martino di Castrozza but return after a difficult year.

The Colombian won the summit finish stage 19 in the Dolomites, one year after his win on Mount Etna in the 2018 Giro d'Italia. But in between, he suffered from the Epstein–Barr virus and didn't race for the rest of the season after the Giro finished.

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"Today was an incredible day, very beautiful," Chaves said.

"It's a liberation from the past two or three years of setbacks and difficulties, always with ups and downs. But this is a thanks to everyone who is always around me, my family, my team, my friends, my foundation."

The final climb covered 13.1km and reached 1,471 metres, with Chaves making his bid for victory from an escape, while behind Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (Movistar) defended his pink jersey lead.

At the top of the climb, the 29-year-old, who works for Simon Yates, had time to reflect.

"This shows that I can be at the maximum level and it can be for many more years to come," he continued.

"I believe the that life can be summed in today's final climb; no matter how hard things might get, you have to keep attacking, keep trying, keep pushing, because you never known when everything can turn around and you will be first across the finish line."

Chaves finished ahead of Andrea Vendrame (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) and Amaro Antunes (CCC Team).

Just as in Anterselva two days ago, he had his family waiting for him to embrace him. And the cheer of Italian tifosi, who know him well after his years racing in Italy first for Team Colombia and then for Mitchelton-Scott.

"I never felt pressured, we've been here, working, but it was a very special day because it shows that dreams can come true. And today I am realising a dream today once again," he said.

"To have my family waiting at the finish line it's something special, it's part of the Giro, and I want to say hello to my brother, who celebrated his birthday yesterday."

Chaves won a stage in the 2016 and 2018 Giro, and placed second overall in the 2016 Giro d'Italia. In the Vuelta a España, he counts two stage wins and third overall behind winner Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome in 2016.

Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) claimed victory at the summit finish on stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia 2019.

An emotional Chaves celebrated with his family after crossing the finish line first, following a long road to recovery since being diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus last season.

The Colombian was part of the day's breakaway, who managed to stay clear of the peloton, fighting it out amongst themselves on the climb to San Martino di Castroz for the stage win.

Chaves attacked relentlessly, trying multiple times to drop the rest of a breakaway group that included François Bidard (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Pieter Serry (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).

However, with a final push at 2.5km to go before the road flattened out to a 4% incline into the finish, Chaves pulled clear and soloed to the finish line.

Andrea Vendrame (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermic) finished second with Amaro Antunes (CCC) third.

Further down the road, Miguel Ángel López (Astana) attacked the other GC riders on the climb, with Mikel Landa (Movistar) immediately onto his wheel. However, the Spaniard then dropped back, either not able to hold the Colombian's wheel or being told to hold back and wait for his team-mate and race leader Richard Carapaz.

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) then attacked coming into the finish, with Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) covering the move quickly.

At the finish line López had taken back just under a minute on his GC rivals. Richard Carapaz (Movistar) holds the race lead with a 1-54 advantage over Vincenzo Nibali with two stages left to race.

How it happened

Stage 19 offered up a relatively short 151km route, culminating in a summit finish up to San Martino di Castrozza.

Once the peloton were satisfied with the makeup of the breakaway, they were allowed to head up the road with 140km to go.

The large group took out a considerable advantage, first climbing the stunning hairpins of the third category San Boldo pass and then sweeping up the points available at the intermediate sprint point, where Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) leads Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) by just 13 points.

Before the summit finish was a fourth category climb to Lamon, where Manuele Boaro (Astana) attacked just before the line and opened up a gap.

Boaro sat up with 18km to go, as the breakaway extended their lead to over nine minutes and headed towards the finish, ready to fight it out amongst themselves up the final climb for the stage win.

Marco Canola (Nipp0-Vini Fantini) started off what would be a flurry of attacks in the breakaway group, making his move with 14.5km to go as Oliver Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ) responded. Amaro Antunes (CCC) then went, with François Bidard (Ag2r La Mondiale) the next to go up the road, joined by Pieter Serry (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).

With 10.5km to go, Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) attacked, looking to improve on his second place on stage 17.

Now eight minutes behind the breakaway, the peloton began the final climb as Chaves attacked once more with 7.7km of road left. After the barrage of attacks the leading group was down to four riders: Chaves, Serry, Bidard and Andrea Vendrame (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermic).

Movistar led the peloton under the 10km to go banner, with Marco Canola just about getting back on to the leading group before Chaves attacked again, momentarily distancing Bidard and Canola.

Chaves' attacking was relentless, stretching his legs once more with 5km to go, trying to make the most of the gradient before it flattened out to 4% in the run-in to the finish.

As the front of the race started coming back together, Chaves pushed on to try and distance them, taking Serry on his wheel with Bidard also chasing.

Astana came to the front of the peloton as Vendrame suffered a mechanical up ahead, the Italian having otherwise been one of the favourites to take the stage win.

Finally, with 2.5km remaining, Chaves put in the decisive attack, dropping Serry and Bidard and solo-ing to the finish to cap off an almighty comeback after suffering from the Eppstein-Barr virus last season that saw the Colombian sidelined for months.

Back in the peloton, Miguel Ángel López (Astana) attacked, looking to claw back time in the general classification. Mikel Landa (Movistar) initially jumped on the Colombian's wheel before either not being able to hold it or receiving orders to shepherd team-mate and race leader Richard Carapaz to the finish line. López would eventually take back just under a minute on his rivals.

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) looked to remind everyone he was still a threat as his attack was quickly shut down by Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) on the run-in to the finish. The Italian sits 1-54 off Carapaz in the pink jersey, with tomorrow's stage 20 the last mountain stage and Sunday's time trial the last chances for anyone to unseat the Ecuadorian and prevent him from taking his first ever Grand Tour victory.

Results

Giro d’Italia 2019, stage 19: Treviso to San Martino di Castrozza (151km)

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott, in 4-01-31

2. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermic, at 10 seconds

3. Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC, at 12s

4. Giovanni Carboni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, at 24s

5. Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 32s

6. François Bidard (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 35s

7. Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo Vini Fantini, at 1-02

8. Manuele Boaro (Ita) Astana, at 1-37

9. Manuel Senni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, at 1-53

10. Olivier Le Gac (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-33

General classification after stage 19

1. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar, in 83-52-22

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, 1-54

3. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-16

4. Mikel Landa (Esp) Movistar, at 3-03

5. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 5-07

6. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 5-33

7. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 6-48

8. Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 7-17

9. Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Team Ineos, at same time

10. Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 10-06

Esteban Chaves may have missed out on victory during stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia, but second place still caused a surge of emotion for the smiling Colombian.

Mitchelton-Scott rider Chaves has been on the long road to recovery since being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus last season.

But he looks to be returning to his old self, making it into the breakaway and fighting hard to take second place on the road to Anterselva in the 2019 Giro. 

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Speaking after the stage, Chaves said: “It’s beautiful but it’s a lot of suffering as well.

“I’m not 100 per cent in my best shape but I have to try and I believe in myself.

“Second is good but also you have this strange taste in your mouth. But anyway we will continue to try until the end of the Giro.”

The 29-year-old took an eight-month break from racing after falling ill last year while racing the Giro d’Italia.

After winning stage six to Mount Etna in the 2018 Giro, Chaves fell dramatically out of contention and spent months searching for answers about his failing form.

He underwent numerous tests and even had minor surgery for a chronic sinus problem, later being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus.

The virus is a common ailment that causes infectious mononucleosis, or glandular fever.

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Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish took an indefinite break from racing after being diagnosed with the virus.

Chaves started training again last August but did not make his return to the peloton until the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in February.

On the remaining four days of the Giro, he added: “The first objective for the stages to go is of course to keep Simon [Yates] as high as possible on the general classification, and Mikel [Nieve] and [Lucas] Hamilton and myself to look to go in breakaways like we did today, to be there to drop back if Simon needs or to try for the stage ourselves.”

Esteban Chaves will return to the Giro d’Italia to support Simon Yates, after a tough few years in Italy for the Colombian.

Chaves, second-place finisher in 2016, will act as super domestique for British team-mate Yates who is looking for redemption after last year’s edition.

Mitchelton-Scott rider Chaves has been recovering from a long illness and is hoping he has returned to full strength.

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Chaves said: “It will be special, like always, when I go back to Italy.

“I have a special relationship with Italy and last year in Rome was one of the toughest days on the bike for me.

“Last year’s Giro, for me and for the team, had a lot of ups and downs, so to go back there for this race is special and exciting.”

Mitchelton-Scott had high expectations heading into the 2018 Giro with Yates and Chaves as joint leaders.

The Australian team were dominant in the mid part of the race, taking victory with Chaves atop Mount Etna on stage six with Yates going into the leader’s jersey.

Yates then took his first stage victory on day nine, but Chaves fell dramatically out of GC contention shortly after.

But Mitchelton-Scott looked like they would still win the overall with Yates, as he took stage victory on days 11 and 15.

On the penultimate mountain stage Yates blew up and lost the race lead, finishing more than an hour down in Rome.

Chaves underwent numerous tests and had minor surgery for a chronic sinus problem after his Giro collapse.

He was eventually diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, taking an eight-month break from racing to recover.

The 29-year-old said: “I was super excited to return to racing this year, but also nervous and, I can’t lie, sometimes panicked.

“What happened last year is something out of my control. When I was finally back training and racing, somewhere in my head I was worried that it can come back.”

Chaves returned to racing at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana this year, also riding in Andalucia, Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya.

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He has yet to take a win but sports director Matt White says the signs are positive.

“The most important thing for Esteban for the early season was to get that race load,” White said.

“He has almost been on a program of one week on, one week off, for the last eight weeks and he is showing no signs of those races having a negative effect on him, which is a really great sign and means we can look forward to the Giro.

“The other important aspect was confidence. When you sit out on the sidelines for so long you do lose your mojo and you lose the feeling of racing in the bunch.

“Riders take a lot of risks in their day-to-day racing and when you’re only training or riding your bike it’s a very different feeling and different for your confidence.”

On Chaves’ leadership capabilities, White added: “Esteban is definitely coming in as a super domestique role.

“He is a winner as well, but our clear leader for the Giro is Simon Yates and Esteban will be doing whatever he can to aid Simon and our goal of winning the Giro.”

Esteban Chaves said “it is beautiful to be back racing” at the Volta a Valenciana after an eight month absence due to illness.

The 29-year-old took to the road for the first time in 2019 in the opening time trial, securing a respectable 36th place.

Mitchelton-Scott rider Chaves was diagnosed with mononucleosis ahead of the Vuelta a España last season, having not raced since the Giro d’Italia in June.

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The Colombian won stage six of the Giro to Mount Etna and was sitting on the podium until stage 10, when he dramatically fell out of contention.

After undergoing numerous tests and minor surgery for a chronic sinus problem, Chaves was finally diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Speaking after his return in Spain, Chaves said: “It was a really good day.

“It’s beautiful to be back to racing, not just the effort but everything else – being with the team, the fans, the guys from other teams.

“It was awesome.”

Chaves finished 36 seconds down on stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), who took the leader's jersey at the end of the 10.2km test around Orihuela.

Chaves added: “I think it was a good way to start but it is just that, the start.

“We have many days in front and a long way to go, but it was a good effort and I’m obviously happy with the result, especially for a TT."

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After the diagnosis, his team announced in August that Chaves would not race the Vuelta a España, which was won by team-mate Simon Yates.

He returned to training in August, with Mitchelton-Scott doctor Manuel Rodriguez saying his progress and symptoms would be closely monitored.

Epstein-Barr virus is a common virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, or glandular fever.

Chaves’ British team-mate Adam Yates is also riding the week-long stage race in Spain – he finished 43^rd in the opening TT at 41 seconds down in Boasson Hagen.

Australian Jack Haig was the strongest Mitchelton-Scott rider on the day, finishing in 14^th at 23 seconds.

The 25-year-old said: “It’s quite a pleasant surprise.

“I took the mindset that I had nothing to lose so I went really hard on the flat section and if I blew up on the climb then I blew up.

“Once I got to the climb I actually was a bit cautious at the beginning, but then it wasn’t super long so I just went full to finish at the top hard.”

Volta a Valenciana continues with a 166km loop starting and finishing in Alicante on stage two.

Esteban Chaves will rejoin the peloton in February at the Vuelta a la Valenciana in Spain.

The Colombian has taken an eight-month break from racing after he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus this season.

Chaves, 28, last raced at the Giro d’Italia in June, where won a stage before dramatically falling out of contention after stage nine.

Winning stage six to Mount Etna, Chaves was in the top-three until stage 10 when he lost 25 minutes after being dropped on the first climb of the day.

The Mitchelton-Scott rider underwent numerous tests and even had minor surgery for a chronic sinus problem.

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His team announced in August that Chaves would not race the Vuelta a España, which was won by his 26-year-old team-mate Simon Yates.

At the time, Chaves said: “It’s been a hard period.

“Since 2012 I haven’t been off the bike this long.

“In this sport, we are used to answers and results coming fast and this process was slow and the time can make you crazy.”

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He returned to training in August, with Mitchelton-Scott doctor Manuel Rodriguez saying his progress and symptoms would be closely monitored.

Epstein-Barr virus is a common virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, or glandular fever.

Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish took an indefinite break from racing after being diagnosed with the virus for a second time this summer.

The 33-year-old, who was eliminated from the Tour de France on stage 11 after missing the time cut, pulled out of the European Championships in August on medical advice.

Cavendish is also due to return to racing early next year at the Vuelta a San Juan along with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates).

Mitchelton-Scott have said that Esteban Chaves's sudden drop in form at the 2018 Giro d'Italia is down to glandular fever as well as sinus and allergy reactions.

Chaves has looked back to his best at Giro d'Italia after winning stage six to Mount Etna and staying in the top-three overall until stage 10 of the race.

On that day, the first stage after the rest day, the Colombian lost over 25 minutes to the overall leader and his team-mate Simon Yates after he was dropped on the opening climb right at the start of the stage.

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Chaves struggled to make an impact from there for the rest of the race, eventually finishing the race well over three hours down on race winner Chris Froome (Team Sky).

Since finishing the Giro, the 28-year-old took an extended period of rest after being diagnosed with the viruses. He has now been given the all-clear to return to training, but Mitchelton-Scott said they would remain cautious over his return to full fitness. Chaves had been scheduled to ride at the Vuelta a España starting on August 25, but won't take to the start line in Malaga, with his team unable to confirm if he'd race again in 2018.

“It’s been a hard period," Chaves said. "Since 2012 I haven’t been off the bike this long, especially because I can’t. It was not fast like you want. In this sport, we are used to answers and results coming fast and this process was slow and the time can make you crazy.

“But, we worked really well with the team and I want to thank you them for their support and patience, from the head with Shayne and Gerry, to the masseurs and mechanics that have been close to me in this process.

“We discovered some sickness, the doctors can always explain better, we had a surgery as well, and after that it was just waiting and having confidence to overcome what was a weird case.

“I’m happy to be back on the bike. It still hurts for sure, but I can already feel some differences; it’s a different suffering than I had before. Now it’s the normal suffering we get when starting again after such a long time off training.

“We are on the right path again and we have to keep patience and confidence like always.”

“After thorough testing, Esteban was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus as well as chronic sinusitis process," Mitchelton-Scott doctor Manuel Rodriguez explained.

“Epstein-Barr is not a new virus nor an uncommon one, but Esteban's tests showed that it was gaining strength and attacking when his immune system was down or in times of fatigue, most obviously in races or high intensity training periods. Its strength likely allowed the introduction of other viruses into his body.

“After a period of rest and treatment for the viruses, Esteban was cleared for minor sinus surgery before undertaking a final recovery period.

“We are confident that the treatments have been successful and it is safe for Esteban to return to training but to prevent the reoccurrence of symptoms we will monitor his health without a deadline to return to racing.”

Colombian Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) bombed out of the Giro d'Italia's overall classification as the race crossed the drenched central regions of Italy.

Chaves, second overall in 2016, sat second in the general classification behind British team-mate and race leader Simon Yates when stage 10 left Abruzzo after the rest day. He finished the race's longest day, 244 kilometres, six-and-a-half hours later.

Dropped in the opening kilometres of the stage, Chaves fought to rejoin, but failed. He crossed the line 25 minutes behind and drifted to 39th overall.

Attention now turns to Yates's overall hopes. Chaves and the team will rally behind him as he attempts to win the grand tour ahead of stars Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb).

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"We've still got to understand my problems," Chaves said.

"I just didn't have the strength and couldn't stay with the best on the first climb. We tried to chase with the team and got to within one minute, but it didn't work out."

Chaves enjoyed the rest day with Yates, sitting shotgun to the race leader with two weeks left. The first climb out of the start town of Penne, though, finished his Giro hopes.

Teams were ready, too. Mitchelton and other teams warmed up on turbo trainers given the hard start predicted. Chaves and Sports Director Matt White had even driven the first 100 kilometres on the rest day.

Yates, as he has since the race started in Jerusalem, rode like a cyclist on the verge of winning his first grand tour. Chaves paid, however, through the tough hills of Abruzzo, Marche and Umbria. White guessed that allergies affected him.

With Chaves now clearly out of the overall picture, any question of team leadership is answered.

"I'm confident that I'm going well, I have great legs, but not going to think this is going to be easy. My rivals are extremely strong. I'm confident, but I understand what I'm trying to achieve," Yates said.

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"I think it becomes harder, because we are on the final climbs and before, we had two cards to play.

"Now it's only me and we'll have to adjust. For sure he'll be a strong help for me in the climbs, so you can look at it two ways."

"Nothing changes, we're still trying to win the Giro," White explained.

"Esteban's chances for GC are gone, which means I've got one very handy helper for Simon when it matters. We're only back to the same square as every other team now."

Mitchelton-Scott dominated the Giro d'Italia's first summit finish to Mount Etna on stage six, with Esteban Chaves taking the stage victory and Simon Yates taking the overall lead.

The pair finished together on top of the volcano in Sicily, after Chaves had attacked from the breakaway on the climb and Yates attacked from a group of overall favourites in the final 1.5km.

Yates, happy to take the six second bonus and second place to steal the overall lead from the dropped Rohan Dennis (BMC), let his Colombian team-mate roll across the line to take the day's victory having ridden in the break all day.

The main favourites, including defending champion Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) and Chris Froome (Team Sky) all finished in an eight-man group 26 seconds back, with Pinot able to sprint ahead to take the final time bonus for third place.

Maglia rosa Dennis finished 1-04 back on the winner, and drops out of the overall lead as Dumoulin stays in second, 14 seconds behind Yates with Chaves in third place.

How it happened

A huge number of riders were desperate to make it into the early breakaway today, with racing going for over half an hour before a decisive group finally got away.

A group of 28 riders slipped out of the bunch with the GC teams finally slowing to allow them to drift off, however seemingly failed to realise the presence of Esteban Chaves, just 47 seconds down on GC and potentially aiming for a decent overall finish.

He was joined by team-mate Jack Haig, as well as Chad Haga and Sam Oomen (Sunweb), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Alessandro Tonelli and Giulio Ciccone (Bardiani-CSF), Mikaël Chérel, Quentin Jauregui and Nico Denz (Ag2r La Mondiale), David De La Cruz an Sergio Henao (Team Sky), Marco Frapporti and Francesco Gavazzi (Androni-Sidermec), Manuele Mori, Jan Polanc and Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates), Edoardo Zardini (Wilier Triestina), Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo), Ben Hermans and Rubén Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy), Sebastian Reichenbach and Jérémy Roy (Groupama-FDJ), Niklas Eg (Trek-Segafredo) and Dayer Quintana (Movistar).

The group established a maximum gap of around 3-30, but it jumped between 2-40 to 3-10 as BMC chased on the front of the peloton behind in service of maglia rosa Rohan Dennis.

By 40km remaining, after a fast day of over 44kmh average speed, the break still had 2-30 with the finish to Mount Etna looming.

The gap gradually dropped towards the foot of the 16km categorised part of the climb, with the break carrying 1-24 onto the lower slopes with a number of riders immediately blowing up.

Robert Gesink was the first to attack out front with 14.4km to go and 1-12 on the bunch, with Chérel and Hermans following, but they were quickly caught before De Marchi tried his luck.

He was followed by Ben Hermans before Sergio Henao and Esteban Chaves attacked with 11.8km to go. They again, were eventually forced to slow and reform in the group.

Ciccone then attacked with 9.8km to go but was reeled in, before trying again with 6km to go as the reduced group of five riders chased behind with around 40 seconds on the bunch.

Chaves then pushed on with 5.3km to go and was able to shake Henao, who had been marking him, riding straight past Ciccone, gaining around 35 seconds on the main bunch and 23 on his breakaway rivals.

Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) pushed on with number of favourites from the main group, with Froome put into immediate trouble along with maglia rosa Rohan Dennis.

Froome was able to work his way back in as the favourites caught everyone but Chaves, but Dennis continued to struggle with 3.3km to go.

Pozzovivo dragged out a group of Bennett, Yates, Pinot with 3km to go as Dumoulin chased and brought them back with Chaves still 20 seconds up the road.

Those movements from the favourites' group seemed to put them at somewhat of a stalemate heading into the final 1.5km, with Simon Yates attacking with 1.4km to go after seeing his rivals just watching each other.

The Briton quickly caught Chaves within the last kilometre, and the pair rode together towards the finish line where Chaves was allowed to roll across the line alongside his team-mate to take victory, with Yates moving into the overall lead.

Pinot was able to sprint from the group of favourites behind for third place and the four bonus seconds, with Froome finishing at the back of the group. Dennis finished 1-04 down on the winner, but remains in the top-10 overall.

Friday's stage will see the riders head to Italy's mainland for a flat 159km sprinters' stage from Pizzo to Praia a Mare, with two mountain stages to come at the weekend.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2018, stage six: Caltanissetta to Etna (164km)

1 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott, in 4-16-10

2 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott

3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 26s

4 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo

5 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida

6 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team

7 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar Team

8 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb

9 Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

10 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, all same time

General classification after stage six

1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, in 22-46-03

2 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 16s

3 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott, at 26s

4 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 43s

5 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 45s

6 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team, at 53s

7 Pello Bilbao (Esp) Astana Pro Team, at 1-03

8 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 1-10

9 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 1-11

10 Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-12

Colombian Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) is uncertain if he has returned to his 2016 form, when he placed second in the Giro d'Italia and third in the Vuelta a España, but says that his approach to the 2018 Giro d'Italia has been ideal.

Chaves was not at his best and always felt "rushed and stressed" in 2017. The team gained experience from the season and planned differently for 2018, going back to a schedule similar to 2016.

"Am I better or as good as 2016? Good question," Chaves said by telephone before training with Sam Bewley in Paipa, Colombia, an area made famous by Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

"I ask that to myself sometimes, too. I will see in the Giro d'Italia. Sometimes I think that I'm better than 2016, but then sometimes not. Especially here in Paipa the climbs are new and I can't compare myself to past training rides. You never know."

He and New Zealander Bewley went to Paipa to train at altitude for two and half weeks before Chaves tries to win the Giro d'Italia with Brit Simon Yates.

Chaves already had a taste of what its like when he took over the famous pink leader's jersey head of the final mountain stage in 2016. Only Grand Tour star Vincenzo Nibali could dislodge him, but he held on for second place overall. Later that year, he and Quintana put Chris Froome in a Colombian sandwich when Quintana won the Vuelta a España and Chaves placed third.

"2017 was a pretty hard year, but we learned a lot. We were chasing all the time something after the injury. We were rushing too much and when you are doing that, it's not a good sign. For the next time it happens, the most important thing is too keep calm and do a slow process to get back to the level."

Chaves suffered knee problems with tendonitis that led him to pull out of races. Instead of the Giro, the team sent him to race in the Tour for the first time alongside Simon Yates, who finished seventh.

"It wasn't just the Tour, but the entire season I was rushing too much, racing with my weight, mentally that makes you tired. You try to do everything and it's not right. You train too much maybe, you don't rest, you don't listen to your body," he explained.

"It was a learning process for the team and the people around me, but more for myself for sure. You enjoy years like 2016, but from years like 2017, you learn more."

Chaves drove up from his home in Bogotá to the heights that produced climber Nairo Quintana, 2014 Giro and 2016 Vuelta winner. They have their coach, and a local mechanic and masseur. In their downtime, Chaves serves Bewley some local Colombian plates.

If the start of the season is anything to go by, Chaves is on track. He won a stage and the overall of the Sun Tour in Australia and rode a good time trial in Paris-Nice. After the Volta a Cataluyna, just like in 2016, he returned to Colombia to make his final Giro d'Italia preparations.

"We've had some good improvements, everything is starting to look on track and things come more natural. Easier. Not easier because you are still working hard, but natural and you can sleep at night without so much stress," Chaves said.

"I was really close to losing everything [with the 2013 Trofeo Laigueglia crash], now it's great just to enjoy life, ride my bike, show Sam food he's never seen in my country, going to Israel and Jerusalem for the first time in my life for the start of the 2018 Giro," he continued.

"I'm just enjoying life, you forget to do that sometimes. Most people just go from home to office and to home again, stuck in traffic, but we travel the world and ride our bikes. It's a special life. I'm lucky. I'm going to smile."

Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) confirmed his first overall victory of the season after safely finishing in the front group on the final stage of the Herald Sun Tour.

The Colombian carried a 45 second advantage over his nearest rival Ruben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo) heading into the stage, with Chaves' teammates Cameron Meyer and Damien Howson sitting between them in second and third respectively.

Mitchelton-Scott worked hard on the difficult circuits of the fourth stage, controlling the initial breakaway of 14 riders to a maximum of 90 seconds advantage.

It was back together for the final lap, with Robert Power setting a gruelling pace on the climb that prevented any attacks that could threaten Chaves' overall advantage and put a lot of riders in trouble, significantly reducing the front group.

A group of 17 made into the final bend towards the line, with Sam Crome (Bennelong SwissWellness) taking the biggest win of his career as he sprinted ahead of Cameron Meyer.

https://youtu.be/zZ4IY7gjsfk

Chaves rolled in with Howson further down in the group, safely collecting the overall title in the 65th edition of the Australian race.

“It’s a really nice feeling to win here in the home country of the team," Chaves said on his victory. "We are really happy with the team, we rode really well.

“We raced this year different, every climb was full gas with the breakaway really close. It was intense but the team did very well so thanks very much to all of them. It is unbelievable to have one, two, three overall.

“I think this is only the second general classification I won in my career so it is very beautiful and I am really happy.”

Results

Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2018, stage four: Kinglake - Kinglake (152.1km)

1. Sam Crome (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, in 3-37-34

2. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

3. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo

4. Thomas Stuart (GBr) JLT Condor

5. August Jensen (Nor) Israel Cycling Academy

6. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) Aqua Blue Sport

7. Oliver Martin (Aus) Brisbane Continental Cycling Team

8. Freddy Ovett (Aus) ACA - Ride Sunshine Coast

9. Casper Pedersen (Den) Aqua Blue Sport

10. Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling Academy, all same time

Final overall classification

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott, in 18-34-09

2. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 26s

3. Damien Howson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 39s

4. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo, at 41s

5. Dylan Sunderland (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, at 1-03

6. Chris Harper (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, at 1-09

7. Sam Crome (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, at 1-48

8. Alexander Evans (Aus) Mobius BridgeLane, at 1-54

9. Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling Academy, at 2-02

10. Freddy Ovett (Aus) ACA - Ride Sunshine Coast, at 2-04

Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) looks set for overall victory at the Herald Sun Tour after a brilliant solo attack delivered him to the win on the summit finish to Lake Mountain.

The only rider in the race with a Grand Tour podium to his name, Chaves was the favourite for the stage, but his form remained uncertain after a disappointing 2017 season disrupted by a knee injury.

However Chaves has clearly enjoyed a good off-season, as he displayed scintillating early-season form by attacking at the base of the finishing climb to Lake Mountain, crossing the line 42 seconds ahead of the impressive Alexander Evans (Modius-BridgeLane) with the main group of chasers including defending champion Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott) at 1-09.

How it happened

With the race starting from the Mitchelton Winery a Mitchelton-Scott victory always seemed in the stars but the WorldTour team didn't have any riders represented in the 10-rider breakaway which got away soon after the start.

In the move were Matt Ross (KordaMentha-Australia), Etienne Van Empel (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij), Edmund Bradbury (JLT Condor), Brad Evans (Mobius BridgeLane), Steele von Hoff (Bennelong SwissWellness), Nicholas Reddish (Oliver's Real Food Racing), Ashley Mackay (Australian Cycling Academy), Jonathan Noble (Brisbane Continental), Kane Richards and Alexander Ray (McDonalds-Down Under).

The long 218km stage saw the break allowed a maximum lead of more than seven minutes. However with Mitchelton-Scott and Trek-Segafredo controlling the front of the bunch, that was quickly brought down as the race neared its conclusion, with the front group eventually caught on the approach to the finishing climb.

With four riders within a minute of the top of the general classification, Mitchelton-Scott had plenty of cards to play, but it was their very first move that succeeded as Colombian climber Chaves attacked near the base of the 20km final climb.

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Chaves quickly established a decent lead and settled into his rhythm as team-mates Damien Howson and Cameron Meyer sat in on the chase group covering any counter-attacks.

Australian Continental team Mobius-Bridgelane set a high tempo to limit Chaves's gap, before launching 20-year-old Alexander Evans off in pursuit. At one point Evans had Chaves within his grasp but was unable to bridge across, eventually crossing the line 42 seconds behind as the Mitchelton-Scott rider celebrated the stage win.

The result moved Chaves into the overall lead by 32 seconds, with Mitchelton-Scott also holding second and third places in the general classification with Cameron Meyer and Damien Howson.

The Herald Sun Tour concludes on Sunday with a rolling 152km stage around Kinglake. This stage saw attacking riding in 2017 with Ian Stannard taking the win, but didn't create big enough time gaps to shake up the general classification.

Results

Herald Sun Tour, stage three: Mitchelton Winery to Lake Mountain, 218km

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott, in 5-53-55

2. Alexander Evans (Aus) Mobius BridgeLane, at 42 secs

3. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-09

4. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

5. Damien Howson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

6. Nathan Earle (Aus) Israel Cycling Academy

7. Freddy Ovett (Aus) ACA-Ride Sunshine Coast

8. Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling Academy

9. James Whelan (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia

10. Sam Crome (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, all at same time

General classification after stage three

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott, in 14-56-35

2. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 32 secs

3. Damien Howson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 39 secs

4. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo, at 45 secs

5. Dylan Sunderland (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, at 1-06

6. Chris Harper (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, at 1-09

7. Alexander Evans (Aus) Mobius BridgeLane, at 1-54

8. Sam Crome (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness, at 1-58

9. Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling Academy, at 2-02

10. Freddy Ovett (Aus) ACA-Ride Sunshine Coast, at 2-04

Esteban Chaves has been forced to end his 2017 season early after fracturing his right shoulder blade as a result of a crash during the Giro dell’Emilia in Italy on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Colombian spent the night in hospital as a precaution after sustaining what his Orica-Scott team called a "heavy hit to the head" when he crashed in the final 10km of the race. Brain scans were clear but X-rays revealed the shoulder blade fracture.

Chaves will now miss Il Lombardia on Saturday, October 7, and will not be able to defend his 2016 win in the prestigious race.

"This is not how I wanted to finish my 2017 season, especially without the opportunity to return to Lombardia after such special memories last year, but this is the way it is and we now focus on the recovery and next season,” said Chaves.

>>> Il Lombardia 2017: Latest news and race info

“It’s just a bone and there are much bigger challenges in life, we are lucky. We will return from this and I’m looking forward to a new year in 2018."

Orica-Scott doctor Matteo Beltemacchi said that Chaves will have to recuperate for over two weeks, but that he will make a full recovery ahead of next season.

"It’s not necessary for an operation on this type of fracture, but he will require approximately 15 days’ rest with his right arm immobilised before some therapy to re-strengthen the region," said Beltemacchi.

“It will finish his 2017 early, but will not have an effect on his 2018 preparations."

Giovanni Visconti (Bahrain-Merida) won the Giro dell’Emilia ahead of team-mate Vincenzo Nibali, with Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) in third.

The cold weather and rain certainly made a difference in the 2017 Vuelta a España's first high-mountain finish to Calar Alto on stage 11.

Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) slipped from second to third place, losing 2-05 minutes, and Irishman Nicolas Roche (BMC Racing) went down from third to 11th, losing 4-17. Chris Froome (Sky) remains on top with the red jersey after 11 stages.

>>> Five talking points from stage 11 of the Vuelta a España

"Those two words exactly, cold and suffering, they characterise my day," Roche said sitting in the team car waiting to descend to his team's hotel.

"I suffer temperature differences. It happened to me already in 2013 in Andorra when it was much more extreme. Today I just felt feeling those very bad with the weather and the difference in temperatures from the last few days and I paid a high price."

His team-mate Tejay van Garderen lost time too. He now sits 12th overall.

"I was well dressed up and the lads are keeping me warm with new arm warmers and rain jacket," Roche added.

"There are riders who suffer in 40 degrees, which I enjoy, but today I suffered more from the cold than just from the rain. The feeling in my legs are just rock hard."

Australian WorldTour team Orica-Scott paced the lead group with Froome. They sent Simon Yates up the road and appeared to be readying a Chaves launch, but he went the other direction instead.

"Yes [Yates was] part of the plan today," Chaves explained when he finished next to the observatory above the Andalusian coast. "We tried to put a plan in place but did not work out today but the important thing is we tried.

"It's really cold for everybody. Like always, the team worked really well. Sometimes you have a plan and the final goes well sometimes it goes bad, but it's important to try. Jack Haig stayed with me and we tried to keep the pace and limit the losses."

Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) moved to second overall at 1-19 minutes. Chaves sits third at 2-33.

"I still keep fighting but obviously it's a big blow for the podium chances but still there's time in the Vuelta," Roche continued.

"I always knew today was going to be one of the hardest days. Today wasn't a catastrophe and there's still a lot to be done so I'm going to fight for it."

Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) is cementing his second place, but tips his hat to an "unbelievable" Chris Froome after trying to overthrow him for the Cumbre del Sol summit finish win on stage six of the Vuelta a España.

Sky's leader shot free solo on stage nine, but looked in danger in the final 200 metres when 27-year-old Chaves – in the same Vuelta team with Adam and Simon Yates – clawed his way back.

>>> Five talking points from stage nine of the Vuelta a España

"I thought the same [that it was my chance] and I waited for the finish and then close to the finish, he looked back and started again," Chaves said.

"He's an unbelievable rider. He's won the Tour de France four times. For me it's a good result because the last time [in 2015], I arrived some 15 or 30 seconds back.

"Today is a different story. I am more mature, more experienced and calmer, and this is more important."

Chaves failed to win the stage or gain time on Froome, who has led the race from stage three through stage nine, but he has cemented his second place spot.

With the bonus seconds and small four-second gap, Chaves fell to 36 seconds back. However, he has more time on his rivals.

Nicolas Roche (BMC Racing) sits third at 1-05, grand tour champion Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) fourth at 1-17 and American Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) fifth at 1-27.

"We are confirming our second place in the GC. For me it's a good result I put some time on others in the GC," Chaves added. "The team works very well like always and I want to say thank you. And after nine days, now it's time to rest."

Chaves placed second overall in the Giro d'Italia and third in the Vuelta a España last year. In 2017, he was due to lead the Tour de France team but a knee problem set back his preparation and forced a change in plans.

He raced the Tour to return to form and the Vuelta for the classification.

"Things are going really well for us," sports director Neil Stephens said back at the Orica team bus.

"There are many hard rivals out there and Froome is excelling day after day. Esteban rode a very good stage today. A couple years ago he got too excited and lost the lead and I think you learn from that.

"Today he rode really well but unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the stage. We came up against a really strong Chris Froome."

The Vuelta takes off again on Tuesday and will begin climbing longer and higher passes. Chaves will look to gain as much as possible with the 40.2-kilometre time trial in the third week that could cost him.

"I don't know [if the longer climbs will suit him] but we're going to have to try to gain time if we can before the time trial," Stephens continued.

"We have to keep that time trial in mind. But at the moment we have no room to attack, we just follow."

Adam and Simon Yates will form two parts of a three-pronged attack for Orica-Scott as they target the general classification at the Vuelta a España.

Adam Yates and Esteban Chaves will be the team's principal overall contenders, with Simon Yates being used as a back-up option after winning the white jersey at the Tour de France in July.

"We have the best general classification riders we can put together, we have all three of them here, and that is going to be a bit of a challenge," said sports director Neil Stephens.

>>> Vuelta a España 2017 start list

"It’s an exciting challenge for us all to focus on, but at the end of the day the team is our leader and all three riders have always fully committed to that.

"We did it at the Vuelta last year with Simon and Esteban and in the final the race is sorted out on the road. Despite finishing with a top 10 himself, Simon was selfless in his support of our podium finish. The aim is a team result in Madrid, who it is, it doesn’t matter."

>>> Vuelta a España route 2017: key climbs and what to expect

This will be the first time since the 2015 Tour de France that both of the Yates brothers have raced in the same Grand Tour.

As well as their overall ambitions, the Australian team will also travel to the start in Nîmes on August 19 with sprint options in the form of Magnus Cort Nielsen, winner of the final stage of the 2016 Vuelta, and Christopher Juul-Jensen.

Orica-Scott team for Vuelta a España

Sam Bewley

Esteban Chaves

Magnus Cort Nielsen

Jack Haig

Christopher Juul-Jensen

Svein Tuft

Carlos Verona

Adam Yates

Simon Yates

Orica-Scott domestique Damien Howson took his first professional victory on Thursday, winning stage one of the 2017 Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia, as Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) and Chris Froome (Team Sky) engaged in a climbing battle of their own.

Australian Howson had fought up the long final climb to Falls Creek with Frenchman Kenny Elissonde of Team Sky.

The pair had attacked from the peloton as the remnants of the day's eight-man escape group were mopped up on the climb.

Elissonde faded towards the top of the dragging 29-kilometre ascent, having to settle for third as Jai Hindley (KordaMentha Real Estate Australia) came in for second.

>>> Team Sky’s Danny van Poppel reunited with ring lost in Melbourne harbour

Howson earned the yellow jersey of overall race leader for his efforts and sits 38 seconds ahead of Hindley in the general classification. Elissonde is third at 53 seconds. Prologue winner Danny van Poppel (Team Sky) finished over half an hour down on Howson to give up the race lead.

“This is my first win in these colours and it’s been a long spell without a win," Howson said of his first victory for three and a half years.

“I have been living my successes through others which I am always happy to do, but it’s nice to get a little bit of glory today.”

“It was a bit of a cat and mouse game between myself and Kenny. It was about making sure you still had the legs to finish it off but knowing you had options behind too.”

>>> Chris Froome ready for face-off with Esteban Chaves at Herald Sun Tour

Elissonde admitted that he completely ran out of energy in his battle with Howson, and wasn't happy to settle for third.

"I blew up right at the end," Elissonde said. “I was given a licence to go out and maybe get the win but I was a bit off the pace off the end.

"It’s nice to be there, but I would prefer Chris [Froome] to win today, instead of me being third."

Behind the fight for stage honours another battle was ensuing between Orica-Scott and Team Sky – this time with Grand Tour big hitters Chaves and Froome engaged in a scrap for the minor placings.

Chaves came away with the morale-boosting victory, crossing the line in fifth spot just one second ahead of defending Herald Sun Tour champion Froome in sixth. Taking the prologue time trial result into account, Froome now sits in fifth overall with Chaves in ninth.

British continental team JLT Condor continued their strong showing in Australia, with British duo Ian Bibby and Edmund Bradbury ending the stage in 12th and 13th place respectively. Bibby now sits in 11th place overall with Bradbury in 13th.

The five-day Jayco Herald Sun Tour continues on Friday with stage two, taking the riders from Mount Beauty to Beechworth. After a largely flat day, the stage finishes with the punchy Stanley climb with 15km to go that may well rule out a bunch sprint.

The race finishes on Sunday, February 5.

Results

Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2017, stage one: Wangaratta to Falls Creek, 174.2km

1. Damien Howson (Aus) Orica-Scott, in 4-33-54

2. Jai Hindley (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 32 secs

3. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team Sky, at 47 secs

4. Michael Storer (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 1-03

5. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Scott, at 1-10

6. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 1-11

7. Nathan Earle (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia

8. Lucas Hamilton (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at same time

9. Cameron Meyer (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 1-13

10. Timothy Roe (Aus) IsoWhey Sports-SwissWellness, at 1-15

General classification after stage one

1. Damien Howson (Aus) Orica-Scott, in 4-36-32

2. Jai Hindley (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 38 secs

3. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team Sky, at 53 secs

4. Michael Storer (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 1-10

5. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 1-12

6. Cameron Meyer (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 1-13

7. Lucas Hamilton (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 1-13

8. Nathan Earle (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate-Australia, at 1-15

9. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Scott, at 1-15

10. Timothy Roe (Aus) IsoWhey Sports-SwissWellness, at 1-17

Other

11. Ian Bibby (GBr) JLT Condor, at 1-26

13. Edmund Bradbury (GBr) JLT Condor, at 1-35

Team Sky's Chris Froome says he is ready to take on Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott) this week in Australia for a second Herald Sun Tour title.

The stage race around Geelong kicks off with a prologue on Wednesday. Froome will ride with race number one as defending champion.

"Personally I don't like to look at it like that [a defending champion]," Froome said. "It's a clean slate each time you go in and you've got everything to gain as opposed to going in there with a defensive mindset.

"Every edition's different and I'm here to race to the best of my ability. This year's going to be even more competitive with the likes of Chaves here. It looks like he's in great shape after a good block of racing already."

The 27-year-old Colombian races for Australia’s Orica-Scott team, who will be looking to make their mark on home soil.

Chaves last year placed runner-up to Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) in the Giro d'Italia and third behind winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Froome in the Vuelta a España.

Orica has yet to confirm its Grand Tour plans with the Yates twins and Chaves, but it seems that Chaves may debut in the Tour. He will want as much experience as possible racing against Froome before the July 1 start date in Düsseldorf.

Chaves began his 2017 campaign already in the Tour Down Under. He placed second overall behind a dominate Richie Porte (BMC Racing).

Froome began with an unclassified race in Melbourne and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Sunday. He has the disadvantage of starting one team-mate down since Owain Doull abandoned Sky's Australian group for surgery to remove his appendix.

"I think we've got a strong team out here," Froome continued.

"Unfortunately, we'll only start with six riders due to Owain Doull's illness, but I'm very confident in the remaining five guys I'll have around me."

Froome won the race last year by 29 seconds over team-mate Pete Kennaugh and 1-01 minutes over Damien Howson (Orica-Scott).

The race's roster includes WorldTour teams Sky and Orica-Scott, four professional continental teams including Aqua Blue Sport, and nine continental teams including JLT Condor.

"Last year, I saw that the level of racing here in Australia's really high for the local level and I think that there are more and more guys who wouldn't necessarily be on our radars who we're racing against here," added Froome.

"I've got no doubt they'll be up there this week. It's a good field and a good opportunity for them to test themselves against us and vice versa.

"I'd love to retain my title, but I know it will be very tough. It's very early in my season and there's some really stiff competition."

Froome left Monaco for Australia early. He passed the last two weeks training in Australia to prepare for the season ahead.

"I came out a bit earlier this year and just did a good training block," he said.

"What's driven that is just to soak up the good weather and get the miles in which are hard to do at this time of year if you're over in Europe."

Orica-Scott road captain Simon Gerrans has tipped teammate Esteban Chaves to topple triple Tour de France winner Chris Froome on Australian soil early next year.

Speaking from the Herald Sun Tour launch in Melbourne, Australia, Gerrans speculated that the pint-sized Colombian may have the legs to upset Froome and his conquering Team Sky squad in February.

“I’m not sure of their [Sky’s] complete line-up, who else they are bringing out, but I think Esteban will have probably the upper hand on Chris at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, purely because he’s going to have the Tour Down Under in his legs,” Gerrans said.

>>> Watch: Chris Froome in full attack mode as he wins the Herald Sun Tour (video)

“He’s a guy who comes out in good shape early season anyway after doing a block of training in Colombia. I think we should have the upper-hand on them through options and through more racing than Team Sky.”

Team Sky, between Peter Kennaugh and Froome, led the general classification from stage one onwards at the race in 2016 with no other team able to match its diesel engine that typically dictated terms from the front of the peloton.

“They win many, many races in that way so it’s a formula that works for them, and when you’ve got the strongest guy in the race to finish it off it’s a pretty reliable way of winning,” Gerrans observed.

“If that’s the tactic they employ, we’ve got to try and combat it. It depends how well Chris is going and what sort of emphasis he is putting on his condition in January. But if he’s in really good shape it’s a sure fire way to get a result.”

>>> Esteban Chaves to kick off 2017 season with Australian races

Gerrans is set to work in tandem with Chaves across season opening races in Australia, including the Tour Down Under that the 36-year-old will enter as defending champion.

“We’ll play off each other’s strengths. Course wise, the Tour Down Under probably suits me a little bit better and the Jayco Herald Sun Tour probably suits Esteban a little bit better. I think we both should be in good condition, and having a couple of options is going to be an advantage to the team.”

Gerrans is on a one-year deal with Orica-Scott for 2017. The veteran admits he is approaching the “tail end” of his career, but despite that has added more races to his schedule.

“I’m keen to race a little bit more in the 2017 season, so there’s a couple of extra stage races I’ve added in,” he said.

“As I’ve got a little bit older I find it more of a challenge stepping into racing off a huge break and being competitive. I thought I’d try and include more racing in my program this year so I can stay in better condition for a large part of the season.

“Following the races in Australia, the next focus will be the classics, the Tour de France, more than likely in a support role, and we’ll see what’s left in the tank after that.”

Esteban Chaves will start his 2017 season with a trio of races in Australia, which he says will 'repay' his Australian fans' support during his successful 2016 campaign.

The Colombian is scheduled to ride in the Tour Down Under (14-22 January 14-22), Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (January 29) and Jayco Herald Sun Tour (February 1-5) in his Orica-BikeExchange team's home nation.

The Great Ocean Road Race has been given extra gravitas in 2017 by joining the Tour Down Under in the UCI's top-flight WorldTour race series, which will bolster its start list.

Chaves will be looking to build on his 2016 season, which included second overall in the Giro d'Italia, third overall in the Vuelta a España and victory in Il Lombardia.

>>> 100 Best Road Riders of 2016

“These [Australian] races are super important for Orica-BikeExchange,” 26-year-old Chaves said. “We can only race in Australia for these three races each year so I am happy to be with them for this.”

“The boys are super motivated to race near their homes and I am a little bit Australian now so I am happy for this too.

“This year we set some big goals and we meet and pass them many times, especially with the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España and Il Lombardia. Sometimes I don't believe all of this happened.

“Next year, we will start a little different in Australia but we will again set some big goals for hope this success again.”

Chaves said that he is hoping for a better experience than the last time he visited Australia in 2013, when he was riding with the Colombia team.

"I don’t have the best memories of last time I was in Australia," revealed Chaves. "I don’t speak English so can’t speak with anyone and also I am suffering a lot in the training. For sure this time will be a lot different.

“When I go to one new place I like to see how the local people live, what the local people eat, what the local people do, the culture and mentality. I am super-excited to look at all these different things, understand Australians even more and learn why Australians are super-nice persons with everyone.”

In 2016, Chaves's Australian team-mate Simon Gerrans won the Tour Down Under for a fourth time. Brit Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) won the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and Chris Froome (Team Sky) took his first victory of the season at the Herald Sun Tour, before going on to win the Tour de France for a third time.

Fresh off winning his first Monument, Esteban Chaves has signed a new three-year contract with the Orica-BikeExchange team, keeping him with the Australian squad through the 2019 season.

The 26-year-old Colombian has enjoyed great success at Orica in recent seasons, recording podium finishes at the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España in 2016 and becoming the first non-European winner of Il Lombardia.

The Colombian was told by doctors that he may never ride again following a crash in 2013, but Orica kept faith in the diminutive rider, a decision which has paid dividends in the past 18 months.

“I had a hard start [following the crash],” he said. “But the good thing is that every year we set some objectives and every year we meet these objectives and do a little bit more.”

“It has been a special three years with this team and if we continue on this line, good things will come. We have a really young team, there are a lot of strong guys under 30, so if we keep growing together over the next few years we will be really strong in all of the races.

“I am super happy here and it is like one family. I never think to stay here for a couple of years and then look somewhere else because I am 100% happy here. I want to stay here with the people who gave me the opportunity when no one else gave me the opportunity or believed in me.”

>>> Esteban Chaves wins 2016 Il Lombardia in breakaway sprint finish

Orica-BikeExchange sports director Matt White said: "For us, Esteban epitomises what this team stands for: guts, humility and leading by example.”

“For someone who has come through a career-threatening crash to come back and deliver on the road and then step up to lead a team in the world’s biggest races, is a testimony to his character.

“Esteban didn't even speak English three years ago and now he continues to grow as a person and a rider as we continue to grow as a team around him. We are very proud and excited to have Esteban extend his journey with us."

In a day when sickness forced Simon Yates to change his plans and Rob Powers missed the start, Orica-BikeExchange's team leader Esteban Chaves showed coolness behind his years to win Il Lombardia. After the selection above Bergamo, he drove through the famous high city and waited patiently to win the three-man sprint.

>>> Five talking points from Il Lombardia 2016

Italian Diego Rosa (Astana) tried early before the final curve at 250 metres, how Dan Martin won two years ago. Chaves and Rigoberto Urán (Cannondale) responded. Chaves held the wheel until the last moment, shooting ahead just as he approached the finish line among the city's shops.

"The final kick I've done many times and I previewed that pavé section a couple of times," Chaves said. "Rigoberto and I created a gap on Diego, but he closed it.

"Then it all came down to a sprint and you can't have it hot head, you have to keep your cool. You have to give your best after the curve and not before it. You have to wait, and that's easier to say than do because there are a lot of emotions with a race like Lombardia."

Chaves became the first Colombian to win Il Lombardia and the first non-European to do so in its 110 years. Urán added to the Colombian celebrations with his third place.

He started the favourite after placing third overall in the Vuelta a España behind Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Chris Froome (Sky), and winning the Giro dell'Emilia last week. Il Lombardia, however, did not start as planned.

Yates previewed the parcours with Chaves and the team Thursday, but fell sick and could not start. At the last moment, the WorldTour team called Australian Rob Powers and told him to board the next flight from Spain.

Powers arrived and signed in this morning in Como, but came off the team bus too late and found the roads crowded already with fans and cars. Chaves was one man down before kilometre zero with thousands of metres of climbing ahead with the famous Ghisallo climb and the undulating roads through Bergamo's valleys.

"This Lombardia was very hard, around 5000 metres of climbing and the first two or three hours you just have to save your legs and I have to thank my team-mates who made sure that happened," he said.

"We made the selection on the Selvino climb and then four of us went away on the descent. [Chaves, Urán, Rosa and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale)] And that's where the difference was made in the end."

>>> Peter Sagan confirmed as 2016 WorldTour champion after Il Lombardia

Around 35km to race in the 241km monument, they moved free for the eventual victory.

The victory capped off a season that included second place in the Giro d'Italia behind Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and third overall in the Vuelta.

"When I turned professional, I settled down here in Bergamo. To win in Italy is truly special, and for sure a Classic like this, a monument," added Chaves, who now spends his time in Spain when in Europe.

"This year the objective was to do a good classification in the Giro and the Vuelta, and then afterwards I want to aim for Lombardia because this race it special for me. I have a special place in my heart for this one."

Chaves's season ended today in Bergamo. He will return to Colombia and not defend his Abu Dhabi Tour title from 2015.

Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) capped off a stellar 2016 with a thrilling victory at Il Lombardia.

The 26-year-old became the first Colombian to win the Italian Classic, and took his first career Monument victory, beating Italian Diego Rosa (Astana) and compatriot Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) in a sprint finish to the line.

The three entered the final kilometre after getting away from the main peloton on the penultimate climb of the day, the Selvino as Chaves attacked. Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) also made it into the front group.

Diego Rosa had initially missed the move, but was able to bridge across to the Chaves group from the chasing pack of around 12 riders, with no-one able to follow.

The gap to the front four quickly drifted to around 44 seconds, with Movistar made to work hardest to pull things back with Givanni Visconti and Alejandro Valverde. But with no concerted effort, the front group gradually looked set to contest the win as they stretched the gap to over a minute on the flat section between the Selvino and the final climb into Bergamo.

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After almost 236km of racing the leaders made it on to the short, steep ramps of the final climb with Chaves the most active in trying to lose his rivals. Bardet initially looked able to match the pace as Rosa struggled, but eventually went pop on the final 12% section and the other three got away from him over the summit with 3km to go.

Despite a hard chase on the descent, the Frenchman was unable to regain the ground he lost, and Rosa was the first to attack from the leaders. Uran was not letting anything go though and did much of the work to keep things together as Chaves just sat in the wheels.

That meant they arrived to the final straight together for a sprint, which looked likely to suit Uran more than rosa or Chaves.

The Astana rider went early though and Uran made a huge effort to get back to his wheel. Chaves then launched his sprint within the last 100 metres, coming out of the wheel of Uran and catching Rosa just before the line to beat him by a wheel.

It tops off a remarkable year for Chaves, having taken podium finishes in both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España this season before taking adding a Monument to his palmarès on Saturday.

Nearly 200 riders began the 241km route from Como, but only four, Rudy Molard (Cofidis) and Damiano Caruso (BMC), Stefan Denifl (IAM Cycling) and Mikale Cherel (Ag2r La Mondiale) formed the day's main break.

They got away fairly early on in the day and established a gap of around four minutes before the severity of the day began to take it's toll.

The constant climbs and length of the day meant it was looking extremely difficult for the break to maintain its position out front, and eventually only Molard and Caruso were left out front as the ascended the day's toughest climb, the Valico di Valcava.

That also saw much of the main peloton dropped, with the bunch almost halved heading to wards the final 70km or so of the race.

Caruso went solo ahead of Molard as the gap began to slip and he held out until around 40km to go, when Robert Gesink attacked to split the peloton.

That key move by Gesink saw a 16 man group form of the likely favourites for the race, and was the platform that lead to Chaves making the decisive move to form the final break and take victory at Il Lombardia.

Result

Il Lombardia 2016 (241km)

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange, in 6-26-36

2. Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana, st

3. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac, st

4. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 6s

5. Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac, at 1-19

6. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-24

7. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo

8. Warren Barguil (Fra) Giant-Alpecin

9. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC

10. Pierre Latour (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, all same time

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) sealed victory at the 2016 Vuelta a España after the final stage to Madrid, which saw Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica-BikeExchange) win the sprint finish.

It's Nielsen's second stage win after winning a bunch gallop on stage 18, beating Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff) and Gianni Meersman (Etixx-Quick Step) to the line on stage 21.

Quintana rolled across the final finishing line in the main peloton, securing his 1-23 victory over second placed Chris Froome (Team Sky), with fellow Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) claiming third place narrowly ahead of three-time winner Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).

For all the top three, it represents their second finish on a Grand Tour podium in 2016, with Froome winning the Tour de France as Quintana came third, and Chaves taking second place at the Giro d'Italia.

The final stage to Madrid began in usual Grand Tour tradition; champagne and photos for the race leader and classification winners.

It took until almost halfway through the 104.8km stage, on arrival in Madrid, for the race to really begin, and four men eventually settled on a breakaway with Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky), Quentin Jauregui (Ag2r - La Mondiale) and Loïc Chetout (Cofidis), Koen Bouwman (Lotto NL Jumbo) going up the road.

But they never really established anything more than a minute and the peloton were able to keep them at a comfortable distance as they took the circuits in the Spanish capital.

One by one the breakaway riders were reeled in, with Chetout the last to hang on until just over 5km to go.

It was then down to the sprinters teams to line-up their fast men for the final victory, with Giant-Alpecin doing a lot of work to set up Nikias Arndt.

Etixx also fought hard to put two-time stage winner Meersman in the right position, but it was Bennati who hit out first. Meersman then looked to be coming in strong but Nielsen was able to come between them to score the victory.

But the day will belong to Quintana, who adds the Vuelta win to his 2014 Giro d'Italia victory ahead of his big rival Froome.

Result

Vuelta a España stage 21, Las Rozas - Madrid (104.8km)

1. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-BikeExchange, in 2-48-52

2. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff

3. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Etixx-Quick Step

4. Kristan Sbaragli (Ita) Dimension Data

5. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Giant-Alpecin

6. Lorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJ

7. Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis

8. Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Katusha

9. Rudiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Argon 18

10. Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team Sky, all same time

Final General Classification

1. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar in 83-31-28

2. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 1-23

3. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange at 4-08

4. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff at 4-21

5. Andrew Talasky (USA) Cannondale-Drapac at 7-43

6. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange at 8-33

7. David de la Cruz (Esp) Etixx-QuickStep at 11-18

8. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Movistar at 13-04

9. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac at 13-17

10. George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 14-07

Points classification: Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

KOM classification: Omar Fraile (Esp) Dimension Data

Combination classification: Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar

Team classification: BMC Racing (USA)

Chris Froome (Team Sky) was unable to overturn a 1-21 deficit to Vuelta a España leader Nairo Quintana (Movistar) on the penultimate stage of the race, coming in just behind the Colombian and applauding him as they crossed the line.

Pierre Latour won the hard fought final mountain stage from the breakaway, narrowly beating Darwin Atapuma (BMC) as the pair battled it out in the final kilometres to Alto Aitana.

>>> Spectator causes crash on Vuelta a España stage 20 (video)

193.2km stage from Benidorm represented Froome's last chance to overturn the time gap and take victory in the Vuelta, but Movistar set their stall out early in dominating the front of the peloton over opening climbs of the day.

Froome and his Sky teammates attempted to split the main bunch after the descent from the category two Coll de Rates, but were unable to make inroads. Meanwhile, the breakaway still struggled to establish as riders continually attacked.

Eventually Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and Rudy Molard (Cofidis) found themselves (almost reluctantly) with a minute or so lead with more than 140km remaining, and stretched that out to know more than around 1-40 on the second group.

The second group of around 15 riders formed shortly after, with the likes of Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo), Kenny Elissonde (FDJ), Mathias Frank (IAM) Valerio Conti (Lampre-Merida), as well as Latour and Atapuma present, and Movistar seemed content to let them go with the gap to the peloton stretching out to over 10 minutes.

And that's how it remained until the penultimate climb, when third place Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) attacked with 40km to go to try and overturn the deficit he had to Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) who sat above him in third overall.

Contador, isolated with no teammates, was unable to immediately respond and saw Chaves move up the road to join teammate Damian Howson who had dropped back from the breakaway. The pair quickly put over two minutes into the Spaniard, who's teammate Yuri Trofimov also dropped back from the breakaway to help with the chase.

Upfront things began breaking up and Sanchez found himself riding alone with 12km to go on the 20km climb. The Spaniard held a 30 second gap for some time as Conti attempted to chase, but eventually the remaining riders from the second group caught and passed him with 4.7km to go.

Attacks quickly came at that point, with Atapuma, Frank and Latour finding themselves out front and battling it out. Colmbian Atapuma looked the most explosive on the climb, and his constant accelerations saw Frank eventually shelled out the back.

But 22-year-old Frenchman Latour wasn't dropped so easily, making his own attacks, but looked in trouble as Atapuma made a move in the final kilometre.

With 300 metres to go through Latour seemed to muster some strength to make one last dig to make it back to the BMC rider, with Atapuma then having no response as Latour made a sprint for the finish line, taking his first Grand Tour stage victory.

Chaves followed in around 3-17 behind, taking seventh on the stage but holding his gap to the peloton, and then faced an agonising wait to see if Contador could finish within 1-11 of his time to retain a podium spot.

The main bunch further down the mountain were now whittled down to just the main GC contenders, and with Leopold König's final acceleration to set Froome up for an attack, it was just the top two in GC left to battle it out.

There was very little Froome could do though, with Quintana looking comfortable on his wheel as the Tour de France winner made constant attacks. The pair entered the final kilometre side by side, and Froome showed the toll of his efforts as Quintana was able to sprint ahead for the line and grab a couple of seconds to all but confirm his overall victory.

There was misery for Contador though, who finished 1-24 down on Chaves at the line and lost his third place to the young Colombian.

The peloton will face one more stage on the year's final Grand Tour; a flat 104.8km stage to Madrid, which should see a bunch finish and Quintana confirmed as the 2016 winner

Results

Vuelta a España stage 20, Benidorm - Alto Aitana (193.2km)

1. Pierre Latour (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, in

2. Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing, at 2s

3. Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 17s

4. Mathias Frank (Sui) IAM Cyling, at 40s

5. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 1-03

6. Bart de Clerq (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 1-28

7. Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, at 2-02

8. Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie, at 3-01

9. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange, at 3-17

10. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 4-03

Others

11. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 4-05

13. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff, at 4-41

14. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange, at 5-04

Overall classification after stage 20

1. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar in 75-18-52

2. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 1-23

3. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange at 4-08

4. Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff at 4-21

5. Andrew Talasky (USA) Cannondale-Drapac at 7-43

6. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange at 8-33

7. David de la Cruz (Esp) Etixx-QuickStep at 11-18

8. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Movistar at 13-04

9. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac at 13-17

10. George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 14-07

Colombian Esteban Chaves lost the pink jersey and his chance to win the Giro d'Italia on stage 20 in the sun-soaked Alps above Turin, Italy.

In the final mountain stage, he could not follow Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and slipped to second overall, but says, "It's only a bike race."

Orica-GreenEdge's captain, winner of the Corvara stage last week, took the pink jersey lead on stage 19 by 44 seconds.

On stage 20 he struggled to follow Nibali's attacks and lost 1-36 by Sant'Anna di Vinadio. His parents, who arrived from Colombia yesterday, congratulated Nibali and comforted Chaves.

"This is the first time for my parents here in Europe, the first time for me with the pink jersey," 26-year-old Chaves said. "That's the biggest thing for me in life. We only lost a bike race."

Chaves slipped behind on the Colle della Lombarda climb and never recovered. Nibali had first launched with teammate Michele Scarponi and then joined Tanel Kangert, who dropped back from an early escape.

>>> Five talking points from stage 20 of the Giro d’Italia

"We are happy nonetheless, we gave the most we could. Today, Nibali and Scarponi showed they are the best. I didn't have the legs. Life is like that, that's it," Chaves said showing no sign of disappointment in the mix of journalists.

"Yeah [I had to take antibiotics], but that's not an excuse. I'm not a guy who says it was for this or that reason, no, simply that I didn't have the legs. That's it."

The bike that almost took Chaves to overall glory

Chaves made his mark in the grand tours last year when he won two stages and placed fifth overall in the Vuelta a España. The breakthrough marked a comeback after a crash in February 2013 that ripped his axillary nerve apart completely and the suprascapular nerve partially.

"I learned in this Giro that you can reach your dreams," Chaves added. "If you keep going hard, don't give up, you can do it."

He could have become only the second only Colombian to win the Giro d'Italia after Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won in 2014. Quintana this year is aiming for the Tour de France and Chaves is returning home to prepare for a likely run at the Vuelta.

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) put in an attacking display on the mountainous stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia to take the stage win and move up to second overall.

Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) moved into the maglia rosa after finishing 50 seconds behind the Italian and over four minutes ahead of Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) on the summit finish to Risoul, who suffered a miserable day at the Giro d'Italia and slipped to third, 1-05 behind Chaves.

Nibali now sits 44 seconds off Chaves ahead of the final mountain stage and 1-04 ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in fourth after he finish 2-14 down on the stage.

The action really kicked off on the stage on the Cima Coppi climb, the highest point in this year's Giro, on the slopes of the Colle Dell'Agnello.

A 28-man break had finally got away after around 70km of riding, and it was Nibali's teammate Michele Scarponi who took the prize after cresting the summit first.

But Scarponi's presence up front would be a help for his compatriot later on, with Chaves the first to attack towards the summit and only Kruijswijk and Nibali able to follow as Valverde and Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) suffered.

But the gaps weren't huge and the GC contenders were more or less together as they began the descent down the French side of the climb.

Kruijswijk though, may look back and say that was the moment he lost the Giro d'Italia. The race leader was unable to control his bike on a corner on the snowy descent and went flying into the snow drift on the right hand side of the road.

Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) was another GC contender to suffer on the descent, going off the edge of the road and suffering a collarbone injury, abandoning the race.

With damage to his bike and his team car some way back down the climb, there was nothing the Dutchman could do but try and catch Nibali and Chaves without all his gears available and the pair over 30 seconds ahead.

Eventually he was able to get a bike change but looked to have some job on his hands to catch his rivals.

As the Nibali group hit the final climb, Scarponi and the rest of the reaming break were caught and he was able to put some work in to help his team leader get away on the final climb.

Maxime Monfort (Lotto-Soudal) who was the only rider left out front from the break on his own, was then caught and passed by Chaves and Nibali as they got away from Valverde, Majka and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale).

The leaders then quickly went to a minute ahead of that group, with Sky's Mikel Nieve latching on in the hunt for a second stage win. Kruijswijk, who was without and teammates, looked to be suffering on the category one climb to Risoul and began leaking time and his lead to the pair up front.

With 5km to go on the 12km finishing climb, Colombian Chaves began to fade and 2013 Giro winner attacked. That increase in pace saw Valverde move two minutes back and Kruijswijk to almost four minutes.

Chaves was able to hold the gap that Nibali had put into him, and eventually rolled in after Nieve 53 seconds behind the Italian champion who took his first Giro victory since 2013.

With Valverde finishing 2-14 down on the winner, and Kruijswijk fighting to get in at 4-54, it means Chaves now heads into the final mountain stage of the Giro with a 44 second lead ahead of Nibali.

The final GC battle will take place over four categorised climbs to Sant’Anna di Vinadio on stage 20, with a category three summit finish on the 132km route shortly after a the category one Colle Della Lombarda.

Results

2016 Giro d'Italia stage 19, Pinerolo - Risoul (162km)

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, in 4-19-54

2. Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, at 51s

3. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, at 53s

4. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida, at 1-02

5. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff, at 2-14

6. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-14

7. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale, at 2-14

8. Georg Preidler (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, at 2-43

9. Nicholas Roche (Ire) Team Sky, at 2-51

10. Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2-51

Others

14. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-Quick Step, at 3-45

16. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 4-54

Overall classification after stage 19

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, in 78-14-20

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 44 secs

3. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 1-05

4. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-48

5. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff, at 3-59

6. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-Quick Step, at 7-53

7. Andrey Amador (CRC) Movistar, at 9-34

8. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale, at 12-18

9. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data, at 13-19

10. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 14-11

Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) thought he could never race again after crashing into a sign post in 2013. Doctors in Colombia and Italy told him his career was finished. On Saturday, in the sun-soaked Dolomites, however, he won one of the Giro d'Italia's toughest stages and moved to third overall.

The Colombian attacked with Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) to drop Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) with around 25 kilometres to race on the Passo Valparola. Chaves took the stage win and maximum bonus seconds in Corvara; Kruijswijk the pink jersey.

"Can I win the Giro d'Italia? Why not," Chaves said with his usual grin. "Mat Hayman won Paris-Roubaix, and five weeks before he had broken his arm. When I crashed, the doctors said that with my arm I could not race anymore. Now, I won a stage here, so everything is possible."

Chaves gained worldwide attention last year when he won two stags of the Vuelta a España and finished fifth overall in the Vuelta a España. It marked a huge step in his recovery, as his career looked finished in February 2013.

In the Trofeo Laigueglia, he crashed in a corner and slid to a stop wrapped around a sign post. He had trauma to the head, blood in his lungs, a fractured jaw, broken ribs, collarbone, inner ear... but the worst was that his axillary nerve ripped apart completely and the suprascapular nerve partially.

Orica-GreenEdge secrets of the toolbox

Doctors in his home town of Bogotá and back in Italy shook their heads when he spoke of continuing his career, but he found the right ones that went to work. In a nine-hour surgery, they removed nerves from his foot to repair frayed nerves in his arm.

Australian WorldTour team Orica-GreenEdge signed him even before he was completely recovered in 2013. When he rode to fourth place in the Tour de Langkawi's queen stage in 2014, he cried with joy at his return.

That year, he went on to win the queen stages in the Tour of California and the Tour de Suisse. After 2015, Orica became convinced that he could win a Grand Tour.

In Corvara on stage 14, he moved one step closer. Even though he still cannot freely move his right arm still, he raised it in celebration.

"I cannot describe the joy I am experiencing right now," Chaves added. "I want to thank the team for everything they've done for me, not just the guys here, but everyone on the team. We are like a family. To win a stage like today is a dream come true."

It was heartbreak for Darwin Atapuma (BMC) and elation for Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo), who moved into pink on a decisive queen stage at the Giro d'Italia as Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) won the stage.

Kruijswijk attacked with Chaves on the climb of Passo Valparola, distancing Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) before contesting the finish with Georg Preidler (Giant-Alpecin).

With Nibali finishing 36 seconds down, Kruijswijk moves into the maglia rosa, with its holder on the stage - Andrey Amador (Movistar) - unable to hold the pace on a brutal day in the Dolomites.

Breakaway rider Atapuma was caught with three kilometres to go to the finish line and Chaves came round Preidler in the final metres to take the stage win.

The 37-man breakaway did not last much past the halfway mark, with the group splintering and Orica-GreenEdge's Ruben Plaza going out on his own.

The Spaniard, who won stages at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, was chased down and eventually overtaken by Kanstantin Siutsou (Dimension Data) and Atapuma, but it was the Colombian who was to go out on his own.

Behind, the general classification battle was in full swing, with Nibali launching an attack on the Passo Valparola, immediately distancing pink jersey holder Andrey Amador - who had also been dropped on the Passo Giau - and his Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde, who had no answer to the attacks up front.

It was then Nibali's turn to be dropped as Chaves and Kruijswijk upped the pace. The duo eased away from the Italian and worked into the lead of the riders up the road.

The game was up for Valverde and Amador, though, who saw their time gap to the leaders keep extending in the final 30km, with the Movistar leader dropping three minutes to Chaves.

At the business end of the race, though, it looked as if Atapuma would ride away with the solo win, but the chasing riders of Kruijswijk, Chaves and Preidler reeled him in and left him behind.

Preidler then looked to ease to the finish line, but Chaves held enough in reserve to sprint past the Austrian, who made his move too early.

Kruijswijk now leads from Nibali by 41 seconds, with Chaves moving up to third. The gap to Valverde now sits at over three minutes.

Giro d'Italia stage 14, Alpago - Corvara (210km)

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, 6-06-16

2. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st

3. Georg Preidler (Aut) Giant-Alpecin, st

4. Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC, at 6s

5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 37s

6. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data, st

7. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha, at 2-29

8. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff, st

9. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale, at 2-50

10. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3-00

Overall standings after stage 14

1. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, 60-12-43

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 41s

3. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, at 1-32

4. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 3-06

5. Andrey Amador (Crc) Movistar, at 3-15

6. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff, at 3-29

7. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha, at 3-53

8. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale, at 5-01

9. Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data, at 5-38

10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, at 5-38

After a breakthrough performance at the 2015 Vuelta a España, Orica-GreenEdge's Esteban Chaves hopes to build on his fifth-place finish and target victory at this year's Giro d'Italia.

The diminutive Colombian won a lot of fans at the Vuelta as he won stages two and six and smiled his way through the entire race.

But at the Giro this year the 26-year-old Chaves hopes to prove he's not just the nice guy in the peloton, but a rider who can win Grand Tours.

"I'm really looking forward to doing the Giro d'Italia this year and it's a really important objective for me and the team," he said. "I hope to be able to race at a really good level and we are targeting a result in the GC."

"I really love racing in Italy and the Giro is always something very special. We're all looking forward to continue Orica-GreenEdge's great experiences at this amazing race."

Secrets of the Toolbox: Orica-GreenEdge

Chaves completed the Giro last year, finishing 55th overall, with the team wearing the pink jersey from stage one to five.

With a 9.8km individual time trial to open the 2016 edition, it's unlikely that Orica will wear the leader's jersey after the first stage, meaning the team may have more resources at hand to support Chaves in his battles in the second and third weeks.

“Esteban is rapidly growing into a real GC contender and for every big race he does, he adds a lot of experience," sports director Matthew White said. "We saw him do a fantastic Vuelta last year and this year he’ll be our protected leader in the Giro."

"He still has a lot of development potential in the Grand Tours, but he’s definitely ready to take another big step towards the GC.

"The Giro is a race that means a lot to us as a team and with Esteban in top shape, we’ll have a strong card to play over the course of three hard weeks."

Elia Viviani (Team Sky) outsprinted Tinkoff-Saxo's world champion Peter Sagan to take the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour - his second of the week.

Astana's Andrea Guardini trailed in third place as Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) sealed the overall win after his Queen stage victory on Saturday.

With riders completing 20 laps of the virtually deserted Yas Marina Formula 1 track - each lap being 5.5km - it was Chaves's race to lose and the Colombian finished in touch with rival Fabio Aru to claim the title.

Three riders, Eduard Vorganov (Katusha), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) and Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-Quick Step) went out in the day's breakaway, but with few obstacles separating them from the chase group their move was doomed from the start.

Orica-GreenEdge worked hard on the front for most of the stage to keep Chaves in contention, but Astana were also present - looking to set Andrea Guardini up for his second win of the week.

Will Clarke (Drapac) and Francisco Manchebo Perez (Skydive Dubai) tried their luck out the front in the penultimate lap but the marauding peloton, led by Team Wiggins, wouldn't let them get away easily, catching them shortly after the bell for the final lap.

Team Sky took up the work as the peloton entered the final kilometre, but with a wide road and sweeping corners it was tough to keep an advantage.

With a teammate remaining in the final 500m, Sagan looked favourite to take the win, but the world champion chose to take Viviani's wheel in the sprint and could not overcome the Italian.

It's the second time in three stages that Viviani has out-sprinted the Slovak, with the same result coming on Friday's stage two.

Abu Dhabi Tour stage four: Yas Marina Circuit (110km)

1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, 2-22-43

2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, st

3. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana, st

4. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC, st

5. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare, st

6. Luka Mezgec (Cze) Giant-Alpecin, st

7. Andrea Palini (Ita) Skydive Dubai, st

8. Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, st

9. Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Etixx-Quick Step

10. JJ Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st

Abu Dhabi Tour general classification

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge,

2. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 16s

3. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, at 27s

4. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), at 41s

5. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida, at 41s

6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-Quick Step, at 1-23

7. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-29

8. Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, at 1-29

9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 1-29

10. Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Argon 18, at 1-40

Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) took the overall lead in the Abu Dhabi Tour after riding to victory on the summit finish of stage two, riding past a stricken Wout Poels (Sky) who had crashed on the final bend.

The Colombian made a solo move on the finishing climb of Jebel Hafeet with around 4km to go to the summit of the 8.6km climb from a group of elite climbers.

The race had severely broken up as it hit the climb on another hot day in the Middle East, and only Fabio Aru (Astana) and Poels were able to make a chase in earnest to chase down the diminutive Chaves after he had dropped Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).

The Italian Vuelta a España winner Aru eventually began to fade, but Dutchman Poels was able to bridge the gap to Chaves with just over 1km to go.

The two then rode together for a short while, but Poels looked to be the stronger as he made a move in the final few hundred metres with the gradient shallowing.

Poels lead into the final tight left-hander to the line, and although victory wasn't guaranteed, his chances completely disappeared as he slid out and crashed.

Chaves was able navigate his way round the incident and rolls across the line, as the grounded Poels attempted to get up and make second.

Problems with his bike meant he couldn't pedal though, and Aru eventually caught up and went round him to take second, with Poels limping home to third.

Chaves now looks to have the overall classification sewn up going into Sunday's flat stage on the Yas Marina circuit, with a 16 second gap over Aru and 27 second gap over third placed Poels.

Result

Abu Dhabi Tour 2015, stage three: Al Ain to Jabel Hafeet, 140km

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, in 3-38-04

2. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 12 secs

3. Wouter Poels (Ned) Sky, at 21 secs

4. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida, at 31 secs

5. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) United Health Care, st

6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick Step, at 1-19

7. Aljeandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar

8. Leopold Konig (Cze) Sky

9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, all same time

10. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar, at 1-30

Overall classification after stage three

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge, in 10-51-12

2. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 16 secs

3. Wouter Poels (Ned) Sky, at 27 secs

4. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) United Health Care, at 41 secs

5. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida, st

6. Leopold Konig (Cze) Sky, at 1-29

7. Aljeandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar

8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, all same time

9. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick Step, all same time

10. Patrick Konrad (Aus) Bora Argon 18, at 1-40

Orica-GreenEdge have covered all bases when it comes to securing Giro di Lombardia success on Sunday, but their main hopes rest on the shoulders of three youngsters.

Simon and Adam Yates (both 23) join Vuelta a España star Esteban Chaves (25) will lead the team in the final monument of the year, which has been dominated by climbers in recent years.

But should the race take another turn, veterans Michael Albasini and Simon Gerrans are on hand to take up the challenge.

"There is a lot of pressure put on some pretty young shoulders with the two Yates boys and Chaves. We will be looking to those guys because we believe it's going to be a really hard final," said the Australian team's directeur sportif Neil Stephens.

"The riders we are going up against are good climbers and they are fast as well. Our three guys are good climbers, but they are young and a lot of things can happen at this time of the year.

"The strength that we have is that we could potentially have three of them there in the final so communication between those guys is the key to our race."

How much do the Yates brothers know about each other?

Adam Yates has already proved his credentials in one-day races this season, having beaten a strong field at the Clasica San Sebastian and coming second at the GP Montreal.

Chaves, meanwhile, showed he can compete with the peloton's best climbers at the Vuelta, taking two stages in the first week and wearing red for six stages on his way to fifth overall.

In Gerrans, Orica already have a Monument winner - the Australian won Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 2014, but his season has been blighted by crashes and injuries. Albasini, meanwhile, finished sixth last year in Lombardy, just a second behind winner Dan Martin.

Orica-GreenEdge team for Giro di Lombardia

Adam Yates, Simon Yates, Esteban Chaves, Simon Gerrans, Michael Albasini, Jens Keukeleire, Christian Meier, Damien Howson.

Esteban Chaves has committed himself to a further three-years with Orica-GreenEdge, with the Australian team announcing a new contract with the Colombian to 2018 on the second Vuelta a España rest day on Monday.

The 25-year-old turned pro in 2014, joining Orica at the start of that season. In his first year he took victories on stages in the Tour of California and the Tour de Suisse, but Chaves made his real breakthrough in the latter part of this season with two stage wins and six days in the overall lead at the Vuelta before the third week of racing.

Chaves suffered severe injuries at the Trofeo Laigueglia race in 2013 which could have ended his career, but recovered and has developed into a potential Grand Tour contender alongside Orica's other young climbing specialists in Adam and Simon Yates.

Watch: How much do the Yates brothers really know about each other?

While the team had been pleased with Chaves's development before his storming Vuelta performance, sport director Neil Stephens said his ride in the Spanish tour is really just 'confirmation' of the his climbing talent.

“We are really pleased with how Esteban has developed,” said Stephens. “It’s really just confirmation of everything we thought Esteban would be.”

“We gave him confidence after his injury and worked with him with patience and he has responded to that and transformed into a fantastic bike rider.

“I guess it is all happening a little faster than we imagined. Every goal we set, he achieved that and a bit more. And now, even here at the Vuelta, he has done everything we asked of him and a bit more."

Chaves sits in sixth place, 2-38 behind current Vuelta leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) as the race hits its second rest day. With a long time trial on Wednesday's stage 17, not a discipline Chaves specialises in, there's likely to be another shake-up in GC with more difficult mountain stages to come before the race concludes in Madrid on Sunday.

But despite his impressive ride at the Vuelta, it's another race that Chaves has his eye on in the long-term.

“I’ll stay for three more years with ORICA-GreenEdge and actually I am really happy for that,” Chaves said.

“I feel really good in this team. Like I’ve said before, it’s like one big family.

“The team has confidence in me and this is important. The team is relaxed and is filled with passion. Three years is a time I can work to something bigger. I have done a lot this Vuelta, but I have said all my life I want to win the Tour de France one day.”

Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) regained the overall lead at the 2015 Vuelta a España as he soloed to victory on stage six; his second stage win of the race after the summit finish on stage two.

The Colombian continues a remarkable Vuelta for Australian team Orica, who now count three-stage wins after Caleb Ewan's victory on Wednesday and two stints in the leader's jersey, as Chaves finished five seconds ahead of Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin), who began Thursday's stage as race leader by one second.

The Dutchman could do nothing to counter Chaves' well-time attack 2.4km out on the steep slopes leading to the finish at Sierra Cazorla, quickly finding himself 15 seconds behind the 25-year-old on the category three climb.

Dumoulin attempted to bridge the gap on one of the flatter sections of the climb as he distanced the group of GC contenders behind. But he was unable to match the pace of the man out in front, and was eventually overtaken by the late attack of Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin), who took second place on the day with Dumoulin in third.

With the time bonuses he took as he sailed across the line to victory, Chaves now sits 10 seconds ahead of Dumoulin overall with another mountain stage tomorrow which will make the red jersey difficult to defend.

The 200.3km stage from Cordoba saw a six-man break finally get away after a fast start to proceedings in the 35 degree heat of southern Spain, with peloton averaging almost 50kmph in the first hour or racing.

Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick Step), Kristijan Durasek (Lampre-Merida), Peter Velits (BMC), Steve Cummings (MTN-Qhubeka) and Miguel Angel Rubiano (Colombia) were the men to set a gap out front, establishing over four minutes to the bunch behind before things began to tumble.

The cohesion between the six fell away as they approached the foot of the climb with 10k to go, and Britain's Cummings saw his opportunity to attack and attempt a solo effort to the finish.

The MTN man held off of the chasing group behind, which had now seen a huge number of riders dropped, for some time, but was eventually caught by Chaves on one of the steepest ramps with around 2km remaining and almost came to a stand still after his efforts during the day.

Chaves then went on to take his victory, as the GC hopefuls like Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) all finish together behind at 11 seconds back.

Friday's stage seven will likely see those rider reach out to establish time-gaps in earnest for the first time in the Vuelta, with a tought category one summit finish to La Alpujarra after a 191.1km route.

Vuelta a España stage six: Córdoba Sierra de Cazorla (200.3km)

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Green-Edge, in 4-46-16

2. Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin, at 5 secs

3. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, st

4. Ruben Plaza (Esp) Lampre-Merida, at 11 seconds

5. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar

6. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha

7. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky

8. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo

9. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar

10. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky, all same time

Overall classification after stage six

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Green-Edge, in 21-55-13

2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, at 10s

3. Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin, at 33s

4. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky, at 36s

5. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 49s

6. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Katusha, at 51s

7. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 55s

8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha, at 56s

9. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 57s

10. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 1-08

Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) took the win on stage two of the 2015 Vuelta a España after the peloton splintered on the final climb to Caminito del Rey. The victory moves him into the leader's red jersey ahead of stage three.

As the road ramped up, the lead group was reduced to just four riders, with Chaves accompanied by Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin), Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

With 1.3km to go Quintana was distanced, and soon after Roche attacked but was passed by Chaves and Dumoulin. As the race drew to a conclusion, the Colombian got the better of the Dutch time triallist and pulled away to take the victory.

How the race unfolded

An early break consisting of six riders was allowed away, but never looked like it would build a big enough advantage to win the day. The group consisted of Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida), Bert-Jan Luindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Jose Goncalves (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Walter Pedraza (Colombia) and Davide Villella (Cannondale-Garmin), whilst the peloton appeared happy to let them go as a relaxed calm descended over the main group.

The early part of the stage was mired by crashes, with many riders completing the final 100km with visible signs of having hit the tarmac.

>>> Vuelta a España 2015 route

Away from the racing, there was the threat of drama when a number of team buses formed a traffic jam near the final corner of the finishing circuit, as a reported result of a wrong turn on their way to the finish area.

Later in the race, with around 30km to the finish, about half the peloton were involved in or delayed by a large crash. Some big names, including Vincenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan, were left waiting quite some time for spare bikes, all the while Movistar and Team Sky continued to drive the pace at the front of the peloton.

With the breakaway disintegrating and all but Goncalves caught, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez jumped off the front of the peloton to take the remaining bonus seconds of two and one respectively at the intermediate sprint. Katusha then got in on the act of setting a searing pace towards the foot of the final climb to help position Rodriguez for the finale.

After burning out several teammates and pushing hard, Nibali made contact with the back of the peloton and slotted back in with the other main contenders. Goncalves was caught, meaning it was all back together for the final 10km. The attacks began and the racing on the final summit got underway.

The essential guide to the 2015 race

Vuelta a España stage two: Alhaurín de la Torre to Caminito del Rey (158.7km)

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Green-Edge in 3:57:25

2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin at 1s

3. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky at 9s

4. Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin at 14s

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha at 26s

6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar st

7. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 30s

8. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar at 31s

9. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Katusha st

10. Fabio Aru (Ita) 37s

Overall classification after stage two

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Green-Edge in 3:57:15

2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin at 5s

3. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky at 15s

4. Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin at 24s

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha at 36s

6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar st

7. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 40s

8. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar at 41s

9. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Katusha st

10. Fabio Aru (Ita) 47s

Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) won the eighth stage of the 2014 Tour de Suisse, while Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) limited his losses to retain the overall lead.

Chaves made his well-timed move with just less than four kilometres to go, moments after the race had come back together with the survivors of earlier attacks being caught. Davide Formolo (Cannondale) followed his move initially, but couldn’t handle the pace and was dropped with two kilometres, leaving Chaves to seal an impressive solo win.

It is the Colombian’s second high-profile win, following his stage win on a similar mountain-top finish at the Tour of California last month.

Despite all (apart from Giant-Shimano’s Tom Dumoulin) needing to gain over a minute on Tony Martin, there were no attacks until the final few kilometres up the final climb of the Verbier. Matthias Frank (BMC) was the first to try his luck, but failed to open a gap.

Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo) then moved to the front and set a pace quick enough to drop most (including one of the pre-stage favourites, Thibaut Pinot), but Martin remained. Eventually Kreuziger managed to escape the group with Bauke Mollema (Belkin), but the pair were only able to gain 14 seconds over Martin’s group, which also included Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and Frank.

Tom Dumoulin did enough to retain second overall by finishing in a group close behind Martin’s and Rui Costa retains third overall, while Mollema and Kreuziger move up to fifth and seventh respectively following big time losses by Jon Izagirre (Movistar), Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Lawson Craddock (Giant-Shimano).

The break of the day featured Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar), Christian Knees (Team Sky), Sébastien Minard (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Danilo Wyss (BMC), Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing), Nathan Brown (Garmin-Sharp) and Laurens De Vreese (Wanty-Groupe Gobert). They were never given much of a chance to stay away, with Wyss the last to be caught having attacked the rest on the lower slopes of the Verbier.

Sky’s Peter Kennaugh was forced to abandon after a head cold he has been suffering from developed into a chest problem.

Results
Tour de Suisse 2014, stage eight: Delemont-Verbier, 219km

1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge 5-11-16

2. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo 0-03

3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin at s.t

4. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Movistar at 0-16

5. Javier Acevedo (Col) Garmin Sharp at 0-17

6. Philip Deignan (Irl) Sky

7. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

8. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale

9. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida

10. Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling all same time

Overall classification after stage eight
1. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Shimano at 0-51

3. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at 1-05

4. Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling at 1-14

5. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin at 1-41

6. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale at 1-47

7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo at 1-50

8. Javier Acevedo (Col) Garmin Sharp at 2-07

9. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Movistar at 2-29

10. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC at 2-30