Yates climbs to stage victory as Healy surges in polka dot race

Simon Yates launched a late solo attack to win the mountain stage as Ben Healy moved up in the polka dot jersey standings. Healy’s strong pull on Col de la Croix Saint-Robert saw Simmons fade, while Arensman emerged as closest chaser.

HYDERABAD: Trailing Pogacar by 3’55” going into the stage, Healy formed a select leading group with Australians O’Connor and Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), the US champion Simmons, Dutch debutant Arensman, and the double Grand Tour champion Yates ahead of the penultimate climb. The in-form Simmons enjoyed a brief foray off the front but was pegged back as the break’s lead grew to six minutes.

As if in response to the accelerations behind in the GC group, Healy put in a sustained pull on the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert. Simmons was the first to fade with 15km to go before Healy pocketed the points that would put him in second place behind Martinez in the polka dot jersey standings.

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On the final climb, the short but challenging Puy de Sancy, Yates, who had kept a low profile till this point, while enjoying the support of his Belgian team-mate Victor Campenaerts, rode clear. O’Connor briefly kept up but soon dropped back, with Arensman the only rider within striking distance.