Redemption for Yates on epic mountain climb as he closes in on Giro d'Italia title

SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) — Simon Yates produced one of the greatest rides of his career on one of cycling’s most grueling climbs to all but win the Giro d’Italia on Saturday.

Yates started the penultimate stage in third, one minute, 21 seconds behind previous leader Isaac Del Toro, but the British cyclist launched a solo attack on the beyond-category climb to Colle delle Finestre — the same mountain that spelled heartbreak for him seven years ago — to ride clear of his overall rivals.

Yates was openly sobbing after he crossed the line more than five minutes ahead of Del Toro.

“When the route was released I always had in the back of my mind to try and do something here and close the chapter, let’s say,” an emotional Yates said, as he was trying to hold back tears.

“I maybe look relaxed but I also had doubts this morning, if I could really do something, but the guys they encouraged me and believed in me, so yeah, thanks to them.”

With just the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome left on Sunday, Yates moved into the lead of the three-week race and is all but certain to lift the Trofeo Senza Fine (Trophy With No End) for the first time.

Yates, who won the 2018 Spanish Vuelta, is 3 minutes, 56 seconds ahead of Mexico's Del Toro and 4:43 ahead of Ecuador's Richard Carapaz.

“I was close, and this is a thing, but at the end I didn’t win," said Del Toro, who was nevertheless smiling as he saluted at the finish. "I will just keep working and I will come back for sure.

"You need to be a great winner, you need to be a great loser, and I think I am a good loser, and chapeau for them. Congrats.”

Yates’ attack had echoes of Chris Froome’s audacious move on the Finestre in 2018 that earned him the trophy.

It was also redemption for Yates, who had been leading the Giro at that point in 2018 having worn the pink jersey for 13 days, before cracking on that climb. It is the first time he has donned the maglia rosa since then.

This time around, Yates made his move on the early slopes of the Finestre and had about 45 seconds on Del Toro and Carapaz when he hit the white gravel roads. The duo didn't collaborate behind him.

“We could have been the strongest but we were not the cleverest,” said Carapaz, the 2019 champion. “In the end he (Del Toro) lost the Giro, he didn’t know how to race well and the most clever rider won.”

Yates crested the climb with a lead of 1:41 on the pair and caught up to Visma–Lease a Bike teammate Wout van Aert, who helped him pull farther away on the descent.

Australian cyclist Chris Harper claimed his first individual victory in a Grand Tour on Saturday's 20th stage, a 205-kilometer (127-mile) leg from Verres to Sestriere. Yates was third, behind Alessandro Verre.

“It’s the peak of my career, I don’t think anything will top this,” Yates said. “I’m not getting any younger as well and to win these, especially the Giro, something that I’ve really targeted for many, many years … I think it’s the best it will be.”

It brought an end to a spell of bad luck at the Giro for Yates, who also had to withdraw from the Italian Grand Tour in 2020 and 2022 — because of coronavirus and a knee injury.

“I really have invested a lot of my career, my life, targeting this race,” he said. “And yeah, a lot of setbacks. It’s been hard to deal with.”

Del Toro is at the other end of his career and the 21-year-old Mexican rider — who has sparked cycling fever in his home country — has a glittering future after bursting onto the scene at the Giro, far surpassing expectations of him when the race started in Albania.

“I cannot be more happy, because in the beginning, before in Albania, for sure a lot of people cannot believe that I can be here,” Del Toro said. "The team always is having confidence in me in this type of things. The problem is me, trying to believe it.

“I lose and I feel super disappointment but I don’t want to cry in camera ... is like this, cycling. I have no regrets and for sure I will come back really, really strong from this."

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Mexico's Isaac del Toro reacts as he crosses the finish line during stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Simon Yates of Team Visma | Lease A Bike pink jersey on the podium during the stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Christopher Harper of Team Jayco Alula winner of the stage on the finish line during stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Simon Yates of Team Visma | Lease A Bike on the finish line during the stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Britain's Simon Yates pedals along the Colle delle Finestre climb during the stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

The pack rides during the 20th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Latteo), Italy, Saturday May 31, 2025. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Fans gather along the Colle delle Finestre climb to see riders passing by, during the stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Ecuador's Richard Carapaz, right, and Mexico's Isaac del Toro during the 20th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Latteo), Italy, Saturday May 31, 2025. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Britain's Simon Yates pedals during the stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia from Verres to Sestriere (Via Lattea), Italy, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)