Simon Yates 'not surprised' by Giro d'Italia stage victory and fortified pink jersey lead
Brit extends lead with summit finish victory
Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) stands firmly on top of the Giro d'Italia's general classification after winning the Gran Sasso summit finish, but says that he is not surprised with the result.
He arrived at the press room in a fresh pink jersey after Sunday's stage. One Italian journalist asked if he knew about his new nickname – Sanguinaccio Volante – or Flying Black Pudding. Yates laughed comfortably, and said no. He can afford the light-hearted moments give his position.
The 25-year-old moved further into the pink jersey lead that he gained on Mount Etna on Thursday, taking time on his rivals, both by distancing them and by the added time bonus for the stage victory.
>>> Simon Yates wins Giro d'Italia stage nine summit finish to tighten his grip on the pink jersey
"I was not surprised because I saw and I felt on Mount Etna already that I had very good legs," Yates said. "But it was a very difficult stage and very long so I wasn't 100 per cent confident before the final."
Marco Pantani was the last rider to win on the Gran Sasso mountain deep in the Apennine Mountains that run like a spine from north to south in Italy.
Watch: Giro d'Italia stage nine highlights
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Yates, twin brother and team-mate of Adam Yates who is racing in the Tour of California which starts on Sunday evening, coldly watched the lead group dwindle under the pace of his team. One by one, riders slipped away, including 2015 Vuelta a España winner Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) and, with two kilometres to go, four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome (Team Sky).
Yates got himself into position once it was down to only five men, including his team-mate and Mount Etna winner Esteban Chaves, and accelerated for the victory and bonus seconds with 150m to go.
>>> Five talking points from stage nine of the Giro d'Italia
"Today Domenico Pozzovivo was very strong, Thibaut Pinot was very good and Tom Dumoulin is still there. We haven't gained a lot of time on him," Yates added.
"Maybe Froome is suffering from his crashes or maybe he doesn't have the form, I don't know. I was surprised to see Fabio Aru lose time, but the Giro is a long race and they could bounce back."
The three-week race pulls to a stop in Pescara for a rest day. Stage 10 kicks off the second week that includes summit finishes at Osimo and Monte Zoncolan.
>>> 'It was brutal': Chris Froome vows to 'keep fighting' after losing more time at Giro d'Italia
Yates is also aware of the 34.2km time trial that starts the third week of the Giro d'Italia. The discipline is his weak point, so on days like Gran Sasso, he needs to take advantage on Froome, Dumoulin and other time trial-strong cyclists.
"Dumoulin's still incredibly strong and very hard to gain time on," Yates said. "I don't know the exact amount of time, but I'll need minutes before the time trial.
"I only have 38 seconds on him. For me that's not enough, we'll need to be aggressive to gain more time."
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.
-
Is aero important when riding gravel?
While seeking aerodynamic improvement is regarded as conventional wisdom on the road, should the same apply to gravel racing?
By Andy Turner Published
-
Stephen Roche: 'Hopefully I can personally hand Pogačar the keys to the 'Triple Crown of Cycling' club'
The Irishman, who achieved the feat in 1987, praises Slovenian's 'superhuman achievement'
By James Shrubsall 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
-
Simon Yates misses out on Tour de France selection
Team BikeExchange-Jayco opt for sprint focussed line-up focused on Dylan Groenewegen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Simon Yates abandons Giro d'Italia with ongoing knee issue
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider won two stages, but missed out on GC challenge
By Adam Becket Published
-
Simon Yates wins stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia with late attack
The British rider picked up his second stage win of this year's race
By Pete Trifunovic Last updated
-
Simon Yates to target stage wins after ending general classification challenge at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider to hunt stage wins in final two weeks
By Adam Becket Published