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Giro d'Italia: Simon Yates doubles up to tighten grip on pinkSimon Yates after winning Stage 11 of 2018 Giro d'Italia (picture credit LaPresse).jpg

Giro d'Italia: Simon Yates doubles up to tighten grip on pink

Defending champion Tom Dumoulin finishes second in Osimo, Chris Froome dropped again
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, May 16, 2018 16:40
6

Simon Yates has won his second stage of the 2018 Giro d’Italia today to tighten his grip on the Maglia Rosa as the race passes its halfway point.

The Mitchelton-Scott rider attacked with 1.5 kilometres of today’s Stage 11 from Assisi to Osino and on a tough final climb passed lone leader Tim Wellens of Lotto-Fix All.

Defending champion Tom Dumoulin of Team Sunweb tried to close Yates down, but finished 2 seconds behind the Lancashire rider and is currently 47 seconds behind him in in second place in the overall standings.

While there are still 10 stages remaining, Yates and Dumoulin are widely seen as the men most likely to battle it out for the final victory in Rome a week on Monday.

The Dutch rider, who is reigning world time trial champion, will have an opportunity to take time from Yates on next Tuesday’s 32.4 kilometre test against the clock on next Tuesday’s Stage 16.

The Lancashire man is likely to need at least double his current advantage to offset any potential losses on that day.

Five mountain stages starting with a summit finish on the Zoncolan on Saturday give him plenty of opportunity to do that , should his form hold, although going into the second half of a Grand Tour as leader is of course uncharted territory for the 25-year-old.

Chris Froome’s hopes of winning the Giro d’Italia to add to his Tour de France and Vuelta titles took a further blow today, with the Team Sky rider distanced on the last climb and losing a further 50 seconds to Yates once the stage winner’s bonus seconds are taken into account.

The Team Sky rider now slips to 12th overall, three minutes and 20 seconds off the race lead.

Following his victory, Yates said: “We decided before the stage that we wouldn't chase because normally on such a finale there are faster guys like Tim Wellens.

“Other teams did that for the stage win. The plan was that if it came back I would, of course, try.

“I'm glad to be getting more time on Tom Dumoulin. He was chasing me and he looked better than other days on steep finishes. He's getting better as the race goes on.”

Giro d'Italia 2018
Simon Yates
Tom Dumoulin
Chris Froome
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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curdins | 6 years ago
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"... Stage 11 from Assisi to Osino ..."

I dunno where you guys were, but I was standing near the finish at a place called Osimo. Funnily enough you mentioned it, but then seem to have traveled somewhere else.

I'm perfectly happy to provide proofreading services from here in Italy - near Osimo, funnily enough - so do get in touch if you'd like some help. Competitive rates, no job too big or too small, etcetera. I speak French and Italian, having lived and raced in the former, and currently resident in the latter.

Back to the racing: one of the best finishes I've seen to a bike race since Giuseppe Saronni at Goodwood in 82 or Marco Pantani at Les Deux Alpes in 98. Mightily impressive ride by Yates, fantastic stage from the organisers - big shout out to Andrea Tonti - of this Giro stage. The centro storico was packed!

 

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Deeferdonk | 6 years ago
4 likes

Good to see from the podium photo that a young lady came second.

Can you remember in the misoginistic old days when the only ladies you'd see on the podium were models for eye candy purposes.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
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Wonder why Yates is being given a free ride re his performances when the reality is he's come from nowhere on the back of not doing much this year or even last year.

Vuelta he was 48th in the mountain GC with a best of 5th in the TTT, 55th in mountains in the TdF, in fact he hadn't won a stage/race from 29th April 2017 (S.4 Tour of Romandie) until 10th March this year at Paris Nice and now he's wiping the floor with everyone and with some ease.

Very suspect if you ask me ... must be on the juice

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Simmo72 replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Wonder why Yates is being given a free ride re his performances when the reality is he's come from nowhere on the back of not doing much this year or even last year.

Vuelta he was 48th in the mountain GC with a best of 5th in the TTT, 55th in mountains in the TdF, in fact he hadn't won a stage/race from 29th April 2017 (S.4 Tour of Romandie) until 10th March this year at Paris Nice and now he's wiping the floor with everyone and with some ease.

Very suspect if you ask me ... must be on the juice

 

Huh? 

Yates has been nurtured well by a single team, each year he has improved.  7th TDF 2017, 6th Vuetla 2016, plus good results in smaller stage races.  He has several seasons in his legs, and he's reaching his mid twenties where phsyical maturity really becomes prominent on the bike.  Not very suspect if you ask me, could not be any more non suspect, it is a steady rise to the top.  

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
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At Dumoulin isn't the victim of dirty tactics so far. Interesting Giro so far but didn't expect Chavez to drop so much in one stage and Froome to be so mediocre. Open season for the TDF on this form.

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RobD | 6 years ago
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it seems like a really good fight between those two, I'd like to see Yates win, but I wouldn't be disappointed if Dumoulin retained his title, both seem like properly nice guys. All depends how closely TD can stick with Yates in the mountains, he does seem to be able to just did in and suffer if needed so it could be hard to break away from him.

Whatever the final result this year Yates has really made a mark, what are the odds of him riding the Vuelta as well?

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