Silence. This is Richard Carapaz 's reaction after crossing the finish line in Sestrière. No tears, no anger, just a silence full of disappointment.

Leaning over his handlebars at the side of the road, the EF Education-EasyPost rider remained silent, protected by his press officer who tried to keep him safe from the media siege. A surreal moment of calm in the chaos of the stage finale.

Just 24 hours earlier, Carapaz was considered the favorite to win the Giro. But after a tactical duel with pink jersey holder Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), both saw the race slip from their grasp and end up in the hands of Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike).

'Today we could have been the strongest, but the most intelligent one won' Carapaz commented laconically, then adding a dig at Del Toro:

'In the end he lost the Giro. He didn't know how to ride well and the smartest one won.'

EF Sporting Director Juanma Gárate analysed the situation:

'To win you have to play like this. The risk is that you can also lose. They both had legs, it was a question of tactics. We couldn't run just to help UAE and finish second.'

Despite the disappointment, the team has no regrets:

'We rode to win until the end of the Giro,' concluded Gárate.

Sprint Cycling Photo