Richard Carapaz's hopes of clinching the Giro d'Italia title faded during stage 20, leading to his emotional silence at the finish line in Sestrière. Previously seen as a strong contender, Carapaz lost crucial positioning in a tactical standoff with pink jersey holder Isaac del Toro. Their refusal to collaborate allowed Simon Yates to break free and clinch victory, highlighting how strategy can overshadow pure strength in cycling. Carapaz reflected on the race, stating that intelligence rather than sheer strength determined the outcome.
Carapaz kept his head down, and eventually, the scrum grew quiet too, an eerie pocket of silence amidst the chaos of a stage finish.
Neither wanted to work with the other, the pace dropped, and Yates was able to pull out the gap he needed to seize the pink jersey away from both of them.
Today we could have been the strongest, but it was the most intelligent who won.
...a tactical conundrum undid the riders who might have been the favourites to win.
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