“I will not say anything more about that” – Tensions high amid confusion between Simon Yates and Visma
Cycling
Behind the solo victory of Nicolas Prodhomme on stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, the general
classification picture grew more complicated, and possibly more painful, for
Simon Yates. The Briton struggled to match the late accelerations of Isaac Del
Toro and Richard Carapaz, and after the stage, he made his frustration clear.
“The plan was completely different from what we did today,
so I will talk about that with the team,” Yates said bluntly to Eurosport. “I
will not say anything more about that.” It was a strikingly tense moment,
suggesting a breakdown in execution or communication within the Team Visma |
Lease a Bike camp.
Yates had started the day hopeful of clawing back time on
Del Toro and Carapaz, but instead lost further ground. He now sits 1:21 behind
the Mexican race leader, and may be forced to defend his podium position from
the surging Derek Gee rather than fight for the Maglia Rosa. Gee sits just over
a minute behind Yates in fourth overall, and with one major mountain stage
left, nothing is guaranteed.
Team director Marc Reef appeared surprised by Yates’
reaction and insisted the strategy had been followed. “It went exactly as we
agreed,” Reef said. “We wanted to make the race hard where possible and I think
the guys did a great job.” He added that the final gaps were down to physical
limits rather than tactical failings: “In the end it came down to who had the
best legs and Isaac Del Toro and Richard Carapaz were just a bit stronger.”
Reef admitted there had been no final plan to respond to
late moves: “That was not discussed at the end. It was mainly about [Yates]
being able to keep up. If those other guys are more explosive at the end, you
just have to think about hanging on.”
Read also
Tomorrow, Yates faces a symbolic and psychological
challenge: a return to Colle delle Finestre, the brutal climb where his Giro
dream famously imploded in 2018. When asked whether the gravel sections of the
ascent suits him, Yates was cautious: “I don't know if tomorrow's climb suits
me. I'm not a big fan of the gravel section on the climb. But the legs were
good today, let's hope that's the case tomorrow as well.”
Reef remained optimistic despite the setback, “We’ll see
what’s possible there, but we’re confident that we can achieve even more than
what we have now.”
With only one decisive day remaining in the mountains,
Yates’ Giro ambitions hang in the balance, and it’s no longer just about
chasing pink, but clinging to the podium.
🇮🇹 #GirodItalia
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) May 30, 2025
Two to go. 👊 pic.twitter.com/VP7fWa7nTK
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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