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)

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg was ruled out for the second half of a 118-109 loss to Denver on Wednesday night after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half Wednesday night.

Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson, and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6:01 left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2:35 before the break.

The 19-year-old didn't come of the locker room for the second half before the announcement that he was out for the game. Flagg injured the same ankle two nights earlier, leaving briefly to get it taped before returning and leading Dallas with 27 points in a 113-105 victory over Brooklyn.

“He stepped on someone’s foot,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Last game, he twisted his ankle, too. We decided to hold him (out) for the second half.”

Kidd said he didn't know if Flagg, who wasn't available to reporters after the game, or center Daniel Gafford would play the second game of a back-to-back against Utah on Thursday night. Gafford was ruled out during the second half against Denver with a right ankle sprain that has bothered him most of the season.

Flagg was playing his 40th game, three more than his only season as a Duke standout when he led the Blue Devils to the Final Four as The Associated Press men's player of the year.

Flagg missed just one game in the first 41 of the Mavericks, due to an illness in November. The Rookie of the Year contender is averaging 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Before Gafford exited, the Mavericks were already without their top two frontcourt players in 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and young center Dereck Lively II. Davis is expected to be sidelined about six weeks with ligament damage in his left hand, and Lively is out for the season following foot surgery.

“This is a hard time for us,” Kidd said. “We have had a lot of injuries. … We have been hurt since day one of training camp. This is the norm. The character has been displayed in tough times of being down. But we keep fighting.”

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

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg walks on the court after briefly leaving to the locker room during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots a basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg leaves the court and heads to the locker room during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, goes up for a basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)