Yates feeling Giro pressure
SIMON Yates saw his lead in the Giro d’Italia halved by defending champion Tom Dumoulin as Max Schachmann won stage 18 in yesterday’s breakaway.
Yates cracked on the climb to the summit finish at Prato Nevoso as Dumoulin followed an attack from Team Sky’s Chris Froome inside the final two kilometres of the 196km stage from Abbiategrasso.
Team Sunweb’s Dumoulin took 28 seconds out of Mitchelton-Scott’s Yates, halving the 25-year-old Briton’s advantage in the leader’s pink jersey.
Up ahead, Quick-Step Floors’ Schachmann beat veteran Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy) and Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) to the line, with the trio emerging from a 12-man breakaway which hit the final climb with an advantage of 16 minutes over the peloton.
This was the first time Yates has appeared to be in any trouble since taking the pink jersey on stage six.
The sight of him being distanced on this long climb to the finish will give his rivals hope ahead of two mountainous days to come today and tomorrow. ONLY Alastair Cook spared England’s blushes as they began their Test summer with a limp batting performance which handed the initiative to Pakistan at Lord’s.
Cook returned to form in his world record-equalling 153rd consecutive Test with a battling 70, but received precious little lasting support as Mohammad Abbas (four for 23) and Hasan Ali (four for 51) hustled the hosts out for 184.
After Joe Root chose to bat at the start of this two-match NatWest Series, England collectively failed to handle awkward conditions and lost their last five wickets for 16 runs in under five overs.
There was still time under largely unshifting cloud cover and eventually floodlights for Pakistan to reply with 50 for one at stumps.
Cook acknowledged that Pakistan are on top, but said: “We’re behind a little bit, I think Pakistan have had the better day.
“But with a five-day Test match, you’ve got the chance to come back and it starts tomorrow.
“Suddenly 50 for one can very quickly become 80 for four and the game’s back on.”