Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz moved to the top of the Giro d’Italia general classification in a thrilling 14th stage won by Simon Yates on Saturday.
Carapaz, who won the Giro in 2019 and Olympic gold last year, attacked Superga on the steep climb with 30km to go and had to hold off when Jai Hindley, Vincenzo Nibali and Yates caught up with him on the penultimate climb of Colle Della Maddalena.
Yates attacked on the short final climb to Parco del Nobile and immediately opened a gap on Hindley, Carapaz and Nibali.
The British Yates, from the BikeExchange-Jayco team, arrived 15 seconds before Hindley, Carapaz and Nibali, who crossed the finish line together after almost four hours.
It was Yates’ second win at this Giro, after the individual time trial on stage two, and his sixth overall at the Italian Grand Tour.
Yates was left out of the general classification during the ninth stage that ended at the top of the fearsome Blockhaus climb.
“My original plan was to do the breakout today, but it didn’t work out that way,” Yates said. “In the final move I had the advantage of not running for the GC (general classification) anymore.”
The 147-kilometre route from Santena to Turin included the climbs of Superga and Maddalena on a difficult two-lap circuit in the second half of the stage similar to a one-day classic.
With a temperature of 34 degrees and a frenetic pace from the beginning, the general positions changed completely.
Carapaz, who rides for the mighty Ineos Grenadiers team, leads Hindley by seven seconds with Loao Almeida third by 30 seconds.
“Now we will try to defend the red jersey,” said Carapaz. “I didn’t remember that I took it also in the 14th stage three years ago, but I’m happy to do it again”.
Spaniard Juan Pedro López, who wore the red jersey for 10 days, was left behind when Carapaz attacked in Superga. He was ninth at more than four minutes.
Tom Dumoulin, winner of the Giro in 2017, abandoned in the middle of the stage due to back pain.
On Sunday, the 15th stage is run, 178 kilometers from Rivarolo Canavese to Cogne, with three long lifts, including the finish to the finish.
The Giro ends next week in Verona.
