Bernal resists Yates's bold final assault

Brit comes good in final week but Colombian proves too strong

- Vern Pitt

The time gaps and overall result belied the drama of the final week of this year’s Giro d’Italia. While Egan Bernal’s victory margin was a healthy one, by recent standards, of just under one and a half minutes, the Colombian came under intense pressure in the final week but held up impressively.

The day after a rest day is often a tricky one for the GC men and that was when Simon Yates, then 4.20 behind Bernal, struck first. He distanced the Colombian on Sega di Ala taking back 53 seconds, as Bernal, grimacing and barely able to hold the wheel of his Ineos Grenadiers teammate Dani Martinez, showed the first signs of real weakness.

That made the following stages pregnant with possibility, and Yates did his best to fulfill it. Attacking again on the penultimate road stage he once again left Bernal behind to claim back another 30 seconds and the stage win on Alpe di Mera.