• Simon Yates claims the 2025 Giro d'Italia title, securing his second Grand Tour victory.
• Yates reclaimed the pink jersey in a dramatic penultimate stage attack.
• Teammate Olav Kooij won the final stage in Rome after a day blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
• Yates is the first rider since Alberto Contador in 2015 to win the Giro without winning any stages.

Britain's Simon Yates of Visma-Lease a Bike won the 2025 Giro d'Italia on Sunday, marking his second Grand Tour title following his success in the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. Yates effectively secured the victory a day earlier when he snatched the pink jersey from Mexico's Isaac del Toro during a dramatic attack on the penultimate stage, a moment that brought him deep emotional release after multiple attempts at the Giro ended in disappointment, according to Channel News Asia and BBC.

During the final stage in Rome, witnessed by the blessings of Pope Leo XIV, Yates celebrated with his teammates in a processional ride as they navigated eight laps around the city's iconic landmarks. Team-mate Olav Kooij claimed victory in the stage sprint, ensuring Yates' team concluded the event with style and success, according to BBC and Reuters.

Yates finished the race with an impressive lead of three minutes and 56 seconds over Del Toro, with Ecuador's Richard Carapaz in third place, 47 seconds behind. Remarkably, Yates became the first rider since Alberto Contador in 2015 to clinch the Giro title without winning any stages during the race, a feat that adds an interesting twist to his victory narrative, as reported by Channel News Asia and BBC.

Yates' journey to this moment has been fraught with challenges; he famously lost his chance for the title in 2018 on the same climb where he regained his glory this year, the Colle delle Finestre. His performance in 2023 further exemplifies the resilience he displayed throughout his career, culminating in this triumph that many see as a long-awaited closure, according to BBC and BBC.

Reflecting on his accomplishment, Yates expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his team and acknowledged the journey that brought him to this victory. “It’s a defining moment of my career, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a sweet success,” he said, encapsulating the sentiment of many who witnessed his emotional response upon finishing, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.