Greig Leach

The small cracks that opened in Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) in stage 18 became large fissures on the first truly big climb of the day. Yates slipped off the back of the peloton on the lower slopes of the Colle del Finestre with another 78 kilometers to the end of the stage. As all of the other GC contenders road away, he knew his Maglia Rosa was gone and his hopes for a top ten finish along with it. He was being escorted by his loyal teammates, but right now he couldn't even hold their wheels. Behind him, Jan Hirt (Astana) was willing to sit on the Brit's wheel and let his teammates up the road know if Yates re-found his legs.