Bennett into Giro top 10 despite riding ‘like an idiot’
nothing left in the legs when new race leader Yates made a late attack to join team-mate Chaves, who had survived after spending the entire day in the breakaway.
‘‘I’m quite disappointed in myself. It was just me and [Domenico] Pozzovivo attacking and we were stronger than them. Well, maybe they were just smarter. Yatesy and Chavez deserved to win.’’
Yates overtook Chaves in the final metres but sat up on the approach to the finish line and told his team-mate to cross first.
Thibaut Pinot was third on the 164km route from Caltanissetta. The Groupama-FDJ rider led Bennett, Froome and most of the other favourites over the line, 26sec 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
‘‘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. Now we go to the mainland, we’re super excited, and we will keep on dreaming.’’
It is a second stage win in the Giro for Chaves (after his success in 2016) – a remarkable achievement for the 28-year-old who was told he might never cycle again after a serious crash in 2013. Chaves couldn’t move his right arm for six months and had a number of operations on injuries which included fractures to his skull, collarbone, cheekbone and ribs and a punctured lung.
The race ends in Rome on May 27.
– AP/Stuff