Simon Yates Triumphs at the 2025 Giro d’Italia

Simon Yates crossed the finish line in Sestrière during stage 20 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia with determination, refusing to ease off until the very end. As he approached the final 100 meters, he glanced back and knew he had secured his victory. His closest contenders, Isaac del Toro, the day’s Pink Jersey wearer, and Richard Carapaz, were trailing by over five minutes. Overcome with emotion, Yates placed a hand on his head, and soon after, he would dismount and collapse to the ground, tears streaming down his face.

This victory marked a significant turnaround for Yates, who, seven years prior, had infamously faltered on the Colle delle Finestre, allowing Chris Froome to seize the Giro title. Now, the 32-year-old cyclist has transformed that painful memory into a moment of redemption, preparing to ride into Rome on Sunday adorned in the pink jersey, boasting a lead of nearly four minutes over Del Toro. He is no longer defined by his past failures but celebrated for his hard-earned triumph in 2025.

During his previous Giro d’Italia in 2018, Yates had impressive performances, winning three stages and leading from stage six to 19. His aggressive tactics lit up the Giro until he encountered a setback on the Finestre, ultimately finishing 21st, over an hour behind Froome.

In contrast, this year, Yates approached the race cautiously. He did not secure any stage wins until pulling on the leader’s jersey for the first time during Saturday’s stage. In a decisive move reminiscent of Froome’s tactics in 2018, Yates executed the final phase of the race with remarkable speed, completing his ascent of the Finestre five minutes faster than Froome.

Yates has now joined the ranks of British cyclists who have clinched the Giro d’Italia, becoming the third after Froome and Tao Geoghegan Hart. He is notably a two-time Grand Tour winner, having also secured victory at La Vuelta in 2018.

“From the moment the route was announced, I wondered if I could finally close this chapter,” Yates reflected. “I wasn’t sure I could win the jersey, but I aimed to demonstrate my abilities. I’m grateful to my team for encouraging me throughout the stage, and that’s precisely what I did.”

“With 200 meters to go, I was on the radio asking for the time gap. Honestly, I didn’t believe it until I crossed the finish line. I couldn’t hold back the tears; this has been my goal throughout my career, and after many setbacks, I finally achieved it,” he added.

Carapaz initiated the attacks on the ascent, exhausting his EF Education Easy-Post team early. Initially, only Del Toro matched his pace, but Yates quickly caught up, leaving both riders behind after a series of strategic attacks. By the time he reached the gravel sector at the summit, Yates had created a gap of 1 minute and 10 seconds—just shy of the 1 minute and 21 seconds he needed. Meanwhile, Del Toro and Carapaz were occupied with each other, seemingly unaware of Yates’s rapid progression.

Following excellent team tactics from Visma-Lease a Bike, he encountered teammate Wout van Aert on the valley road, who propelled him onto the final climb. With 5 kilometers remaining, Yates’s lead had extended to five minutes, and as he broke away from Van Aert, the gap continued to grow.

Behind him, Carapaz and Del Toro conversed rather than pushing forward, and Del Toro expressed his frustration. “Carapaz told me he wouldn’t assist me as I hadn’t helped him when we were in a group,” he stated. “After that, I figured if I lost the top spot, I wasn’t going to risk losing second.”

As Simon met the finish line, including his brother Adam in the group, he celebrated a gap of 5 minutes and 12 seconds.

“It’s amazing; we didn’t think we could achieve this morning,” remarked Van Aert. “Simon’s courageous effort to commit so early in the race is commendable. I admire those who aren’t just racing for a place of honor. Kudos to him.”

While Carapaz and Del Toro battled during the final week, Yates maintained his composure, riding strategically and patiently. Speculation arose regarding whether he had enough left in the tank to keep pace with his rivals, but in the end, his strategy paid off, serving as a lesson in patience.

“I felt good throughout the race,” Yates explained. “I just needed the right moment to showcase my strength, and today, I seized that opportunity. I aimed to distance myself from Richard and Isaac because I knew that if I could race at my own rhythm, I’d be formidable.”

Although Yates did not win the stage—credit going to Chris Harper of Jayco–AlUla from an early breakaway—he remains the only British cyclist to win a Grand Tour not affiliated with Team Sky or Ineos Grenadiers. He is now focused on the Tour de France in July, where he will serve as a key domestique for Jonas Vingegaard in his fight against Tadej Pogacar. Yates has finally conquered the Giro, emerging not as the tragic figure from 2018 but as a celebrated champion.