Yates grabs overall lead as teammate Chaves wins stage six

Simon Yates took the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after the British rider finished second on stage six, just behind Mitchelton-Scott teammate Esteban Chaves on the summit of Mount Etna.

Yates overtook Chaves in the final metres but sat up on the approach to the finish line and told his teammate to cross first after the Colombian had spent the whole day in the breakaway.

Thibaut Pinot was third on the 164km route from Caltanissetta.

The Groupama-FDJ rider led Chris Froome and most of the other favourites over the line, 26 seconds behind the leading duo.

“It was a crazy day with a lot of attacks going at the beginning. As Esteban was at the front with a pretty big group, it made me sit back.

“I could save some energy. It worked out perfectly,” Yates said.

“I felt good so I took my chance to ride across. Esteban had been out all day so he deserved the win.

“I said to him as soon as I caught him that he could take the stage because if I had enough time then I would take the jersey.”

Chaves had been out front as part of a 28-man breakaway for most of the day and attacked on the final climb with 5km remaining, and swiftly built a significant advantage.

Yates made his move with 1.5km remaining and surged into the lead before indicating to Chaves he should take the win.

The duo hugged each other in celebration immediately after crossing the line.

“It’s unbelievable,” Chaves said. “This is the best start for the Giro d’Italia. I knew we had to be up front, we had a very hard stage to Etna.

“I made the break with Jack (Haig) and I want to say thank you to Jack, he pulled a lot in the breakaway.

“In the finale I rode with Yates, I was first and he claimed the ‘maglia rosa’ (pink jersey).

“How unbelievable is that? I’m also in the king of the mountains jersey, it’s like a dream.”