Yates clings to lead as Dumoulin and Froome launch attacks

PRATO NEVOSO ( Italy): Giro d’Italia leader Simon Yates buckled then rallied as his rivals took turns to attack him on the final steep climb to a summit finish on stage 18, which was won by Germany’s Max Schachmann after a long breakaway.

As the main contenders came up the final 18km climb, long after the 24-year-old Schachmann had finished, defending champion Tom Dumoulin made the first bid to drop Yates, who initially stuck to his wheel with about 1.5km to go on Thursday.

Then, on a gravelly surface devoid of tarmac, pre-race favourite Chris Froome launched a spectacular assault and was followed by Dumoulin and third placed Domenico Pozzovivo while Yates was unable to answer.

Dumoulin said after the race he’s been determined to test the English leader.

“He stayed with my first attack, then Froome attacked and I tried to follow Pozzovivo and Froome and Yates got dropped. Of course it’s a good day but the coming two days are going to be different and much harder than today,” the Sunweb leader said.

A haggard looking Yates had to dig deep to limit the damage, crossing the finish line 28 seconds adrift of Dumoulin and Froome thereby maintaining half his advantage.

“I’m still ahead, much better to be ahead than behind and I like the look of the next couple of stages,” Yates said after the race.

“I lost a bit of time but it’s not so bad.”