Cycling-Yates wins stage two of Giro d'Italia, Van der Poel retains lead (updated)

Bikeexchange

07/05/2022 16:45

(Adds quotes)
    BUDAPEST, May 7 (Reuters) - Simon Yates of Team
BikeExchange-Jayco won the second stage of the Giro d'Italia, a
9.2-kilometre individual time trial around Budapest on Saturday,
as Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Fenix held onto the leader's
pink jersey.
    British rider Yates finished with a time of 11 minutes 50
seconds, three seconds ahead of Van der Poel, who took the
Maglia Rosa on Friday after winning the first stage.
    Team Jumbo-Visma rider Tom Dumoulin came third, finishing
five seconds behind Yates.
    Yates now trails Van der Poel by 11 seconds as the race
heads into its third stage on Sunday, a 201-kilometre ride from
Kaposvar to Balatonfured.
    "For sure this is my best time trial victory. I'm of course
very happy. It's a little bit unexpected," said Yates after the
fifth Giro d'Italia stage victory of his career. 
    "I rode the fastest I could, also on the flat. I was never
confident to win until Mathieu van der Poel crossed the line.
Today was just a 10-minute effort. There are still many more to
come."
    Van der Poel said he was happy with his performance. 
    "I would have signed for this performance before the start.
I did a very good TT (time trial)," said the Dutchman. 
    "The difference to the first place is very close. I got
myself an extra day in the Maglia Rosa, maybe more because it
should be a sprint finish tomorrow, and I'm very happy with
that."
    Cycling biggest names such as last year's Giro winner Egan
Bernal, reigning Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar and
Primoz Roglic are all absent from this year's Italian grand
tour.

 (Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh
Lawson)
 ((Manasi.Pathak@thomsonreuters.com;))