Yates on big climb to glory

SIMON YATES will take the first of his three steps to heaven in the mountains today on the final countdown to a Giro d’Italia triumph.

In teeming rain, Yates came home safely in the main bunch with his overnight 56-second lead unscathed after a damp, 96-mile stage 17 from Riva da Garda to Iseo.

Now Bury’s leader in the pink jersey faces three days of climbing before Sunday’s finale in Rome, where he is on course to become the first British rider to win the Giro.

But, for the first time, as he ticked off another day without mishap, Yates let the mask slip.

He admitted fatigue – a feared adversary in the third week of Grand Tours – was beginning to creep in.

After keeping nearest challenger Tom Dumoulin at arm’s length, he said: “This was another hard one and it could have some impact on the coming mountain stages.

“I hope everyone else is tired, because I am.”

While Yates’ fellow Brit, Chris Froome, remains fourth overall, Elia Viviani became the first Italian to win four stages at the Giro since Ivan Basso in 2006.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON Cook and Border have both enjoyed amazing unbroken runs in Test cricket.. and Cookie isn’t done yet BATTLE STATIONS Root wants to wrestle the series away from Sarfraz’s men

BIG HEARTED Yates will need all his determination