Harry proves too streetwise
A MONTH ago they were celebrating glory as team-mates but last night Harry AikinesAryeetey did enough to edge out Richard Kilty in a superb 100m at the Great CityGames in Manchester.
As street athletics returned to the city, Aikines-Aryeetey won in 10.35secs from Kilty in 10.37.
“It’s a long season and we’re here to put on a show and have some fun,” said Aikines-Aryeetey.
A smiling Kilty said: “I’ll get him next time.”
The pair head into the summer with gold in the bag after Kilty handed the baton to Aikines-Aryeetey to storm away for 4x100m relay success for England at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
It could be the same combination in British colours in August at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin.
Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast treated the Manchester crowd to a brilliant victory when she beat American star Allyson Felix on the straight 150m track.
Ta Lou was out the quicker and Felix just could not catch her. “I had to have a good SIMON YATES heads back into the mountains today to face the next big test of his credentials to win the Giro d’Italia.
The British MitcheltonScott rider held onto his 47-second lead over defending champion Tom Dumoulin in the General Classification after yesterday’s flat 13th stage won by Elia Viviani.
But after two stages for the sprinters – albeit with Thursday’s stage to Imola proving a test for all in the rain – the serious business begins again for riders fighting for the Maglia Rosa.
Yates has shown he can more than hold his own in the mountains – he would not be wearing pink if he could not – but the 186km slog from San Vito al Tagliamento to the mighty Monte Zoncolan, arguably Italy’s toughest climb, could well prove a step too far as he chases what would be an incredible maiden Grand Tour title.
With an average gradient of nearly 12 per cent and a maximum of 22 per cent it has the potential to provide the defining test of the tour.
Yates said: “We’ve already done some high mountains in this Giro but tomorrow, it’s gonna be difficult.
“I don’t know the Zoncolan, I’ve only seen it on TV. I hope to have good legs and, if so, I’ll try something. It’s been a hard race every day, except today – everyone is tired and everyone is talking about the Zoncolan. But if someone goes too deep tomorrow, they might pay the price the day after.
“I feel the responsibility of the Maglia Rosa but I came to win the Giro and I feel comfortable leading the race.”
Italian Viviani emerged victorious from a bunch sprint at the end of the 180km run from Ferrara to Nervesa della Battaglia yesterday for his third stage triumph of this year’s race.
Sam Bennett, who won on Thursday to become the first Irishman to claim multiple stages in the same Grand Tour since 1988, was second, with Dutch rider Danny van Poppel in third.
Viviani is now 40 points clear of second-placed Bennett in the Points Classification. He said: “After a few difficult days that is what I need and what the team needs because they worked hard today and they deserve it.”