Simon Yates strengthens Giro lead with third stage win

Simon Yates won his third stage of the tour, consolidating his lead on defending champion Tom Dumoulin

The final standings of the day and Yates won by 41 seconds. That really sets him up for Tuesday’s time trial with a rest day tomorrow.

He attacked with 18km to go on the stage to Sappada, to blast away his rivals in the battle for the Magila Rosa.

On a day when Chris Froome lost more time, reigning champion Tom Dumoulin also struggled, but fought back.

Yates now has a lead of two minutes 11 seconds ahead of Tom Dumoulin.

Yates is the first man to win three stages since Gilberto Simoni in 2003 - with Simoni going on to claim overall victory that year.

"I didn't know that," Yates said "I do like the stats, I like the numbers. It's really fantastic. I don't know why but I'm a bit emotional after today. I really gave it everything."

It was arguably his most impressive yet, his sparkling form matched by the timing of his attack on his rivals with 18 kms to go, he just rode away.

Dumoulin is second overall after struggling to finish third, 41 seconds behind Mitchelton-Scott rider Yates and picked four bonus seconds for his placing compared to Yates' 10 seconds for winning.

Monday is a rest day before Tuesday's individual time trial, where Yates could lose time to his rivals.

"It's a good gap but (Dumoulin) could take two minutes out of me in a time trial. I've been fighting since Israel to have a good gap. I'm happy with that gap but it could disappear in 35km. We'll have to see."

Froome, who had looked like his old self on the Monte Zoncolan on Saturday, lost 90 seconds and is now almost five minutes behind also dropping to seventh overall.

On a tough day of second category climbs the racing was relentless, a huge break of 26 riders going up the road early on. It was reduced down to Italy's Guilio Ciccone and German Nico Denz with 30kms to go.

Team Sunweb set the pace coming into the final hour of racing.

With 18kms to go, Miguel Angel Lopez attacked on the penultimate climb, causing splits in the group and Froome was dropped.

Yates counter attacked, jumping away to an 18-second advantage over a five-man group of Dumoulin, Lopez, Richard Carapaz, Domenico Pozzovivo and Thibaut Pinot, with Froome quickly over a minute behind.

Poor Froome, his Giro treble gone to pieces.

VIDEO: 2018 Giro d'Italia Stage Highlights

2018 Giro d'Italia Stage 15 Top 10

1. Simon Yates (GBR/Mitchelton) 4hr 37min 55secs
2. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/AST) at 41secs
3. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) 41secs
4. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/BAH) 41secs
5. Richard Carapaz (ECU/MOV) 41secs
6. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 41secs
7. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/ALM) 1min 20secs
8. Davide Formolo (ITA/BOR) 1min 20secs
9. Pello Bilbao (ESP/AST) 1min 20secs
10. Sam Oomen (NED/SUN) 1min 20secs

2018 Giro d'Italia GC after Stage 15 

1. Simon Yates (GBR/Mitchelton) 65hrs 57mins 37secs
2. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) +2min 11secs
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/BAH) +2min 28secs
4. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) +2min 37secs
5. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/AST) +4mins 27secs
6. Richard Carapaz (ECU/MOV) +4mins 47secs
7. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) +4mins 52secs
8. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) +5mins 34secs
9. Pello Bilbao (ESP/AST) +5mins 59secs
10. Patrick Konrad (AUT/BOR) +6mins 13sec