"It wasn't the finale that suited me best" - Simon Yates just outside podium at Il Lombardia

Simon Yates did not show the best signs at Gran Piemonte, but had his best legs back at Il Lombardia. A fifth place was the result of a strong performance in the mountains on the final monument of the season.

“It was a good day. I was in the second group behind Tadej Pogacar, fighting for a place on the podium, so I think I can be happy," the Briton said in a post-race interview. Team Jayco AlUla put on a strong collective ride, having numerical advantage at one point in the Passo di Ganda with Chris Harper leading the group for Yates - as Pogacar and Roglic raced tactically in a chasing group.

Yates ultimately did not have the legs to make the difference in the uphill but could stay in touch with the group. He then rolled through over the final kilometers and relied on a sprint to try to make it onto the podium. He finished fifth, just in front of his brother Adam, behind Andrea Bagioli, Primoz Roglic and Aleksandr Vlasov.

"By doing a better sprint, maybe I could have finished 4th, but that's how it is, it wasn't the finale that suited me best either," he tells. It ended up being a strong end to a strong season however where he showed he still has his best level and can compete with the new generation. After a fourth place at the Tour de France and a few other quality results, he now prepares for a resting period. "Now it's the end of the season!"