Simon Yates: 'Everyone's waiting for me to have a bad day'
Yates expects to lose time in the time trial, but says he'll continue to try and take time in the mountains in the Giro's final week
Simon Yates knows that everyone is waiting for him to crack in order to see the Giro d'Italia turn on its head.
The 25-year-old Brit of Mitchelton-Scott has dominated mountain stages so far, and counts three summit finish wins in the pink jersey and a 2-11-minute lead over his top rival Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).
"Everyone is waiting for me to have a bad day," Yates said during the final rest day.
>>> Tom Dumoulin: ‘Something remarkable has to happen for me to win the Giro d’Italia’
"The third week is extremely difficult regardless if you're in gruppetto, working or racing for the win. This is the hardest week of the sport regardless of the Grand Tour."
Yates is the first to win three stages in the pink jersey since Gilberto Simoni in 2003. He and his team dominated the summit finishes, with Esteban Chaves winning on Mount Etna before falling sick.
He has never raced so close to the top, previously placing sixth in the 2016 Vuelta a España and the 2017 Tour de France, but he remains pragmatic.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I am relaxed, feel good, if I blow up and explode in final week, or lose five minutes tomorrow, we're fine with what I've done at the moment. If I cannot win, that's OK, I would not lose sleep."
On Tuesday, the Giro riders face the race's long time trial. Tom Dumoulin will look to overthrow Yates in the 32.4-kilometre time trial from Trento to Rovereto.
"I will do the best I can. I am expecting to lose a lot and that's why I have been so aggressive to try to take time in the mountains," Yates added.
"Tom is my biggest rival because he is the one who take the most out of me – other guys Thibaut Pinot, also Domenico Pozzovivo is no slouch in the time trial.
"I am one of the weaker time trial riders here among the GC guys, I am expecting to lose time, I knew that even before we started the race."
The race continues over terrain better suited to Yates over the next week. The race finishes uphill to Pratonevoso, Bardonecchia and Cervinia. The climbs could allow Yates to take back any time trial losses, but also potentially crack him and open the door to his rivals.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Tom Pidcock 'deselected' from Ineos Grenadiers squad for Il Lombardia
British rider says 'I guess off season starts early' in Instagram post
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Our relationship survived 800 km on 10 minutes of sleep — less hardy pairings would have quit
Hallucinations, crashes, and no sleep: Ultraracing couple share the secrets that keep them racing together
By Rob Kemp Published
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jayco AlUla set out to win 'every single stage and the GC' at the Tour Down Under
With Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp all on one team, the team's big goal for their home race might be in reach
By Adam Becket Published
-
A one-two was always the dream: Simon and Adam Yates' mum on a wild start to the Tour de France
‘There would have been a lot of banter afterwards’ says the mother of the UAE and Jayco-AIUla riders
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Adam Yates: Going one-two with your twin brother at the Tour de France, not many can say that
Adam beats Simon Yates in Bilbao, but says his brother will be a 'pain in the ass' in the coming weeks
By Adam Becket Published
-
BikeExchange safe from WorldTour relegation, no more 'scrapping over points to the death'
"The points system is clearly broken" says Matt White, team's head directeur sportif
By Adam Becket Published
-
Kristen Faulkner takes a stunning solo win at the Giro Donne
Van Vleuten loses time but easily maintains a commanding lead going into Sunday’s final stage
By Owen Rogers Published
-
Fresh start for Dylan Groenewegen after comeback victory at Tour de France
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider is at his first Tour de France since serving his nine-month suspension for causing crash
By Adam Becket Published
-
Kristen Faulkner cools down after making a splash at the Giro Donne
The American headed straight for the sea to after winning the stage and taking the Giro Donne overall lead
By Owen Rogers Published