Simon all set for title climb
SIMON YATES is on the brink of clinching a British cycling triple crown after moving to within one mountain test of La Vuelta glory.
If Yates protects his 1min 38sec advantage over his closest rival in Spain, Alejandro Valverde, on a 60.5-mile stage 20 littered with six climbs today, he will complete a British clean sweep on Grand Tours in 2018.
After Chris Froome’s Giro d’Italia triumph and Geraint Thomas (above) winning the Tour de France, Yates confronted the demons of his stage 19 blow-out in Italy four months ago to ride superbly yesterday.
Yates, 26, finished second behind France’s Thibaut Pinot, and admitted: “The time gap is a comfort, but as I know only too well, everything can change.” If he wins the La Vuelta title it would be a fifth consecutive Grand Tour for the Brits.