Between tears of joy and constant interruptions for congratulations from teammates, Simon Yates struggled to complete post-race interviews as the new leader of the Giro d'Italia after stage 20.

The emotion overwhelmed the British runner as soon as he crossed the finish line and did not abandon him even during the press conference, where his eyes were still shining.

Yates is already a Grand Tour winner, having won the Vuelta a España in 2018. But the Giro has always been the race he has most counted on, the one that has reserved the most bitter disappointments for him. This is why the final victory, after so many failed attempts, tastes even sweeter.

"I'm very emotional," Yates said through tears. "This is something I've worked for many, many years. I've come close to it a few times, but today is finally my day."

Fate wanted his revenge to come right on the Colle delle Finestre, the climb that in 2018 had seen his dramatic collapse, when he lost 40 minutes and the pink jersey. 'When the route was announced, I thought it was the opportunity to close that chapter,' he revealed. 'I always had in mind to try something on this climb that marked my career.'

The Briton wanted to thank his new team Visma-Lease a Bike for having placed their trust in him: 'Even this morning I had doubts about whether to attack, but the team has always believed in me from the beginning.'

'It's hard to say right now, but I think it's the pinnacle of my career. I don't think anything will top this win,' concluded an emotional Yates. 'The Giro is something I've chased for so many years without being able to conquer it. This is the best moment there can be.'

Sprint Cycling Photo