The dead silence that fell in the Tour de Pologne`s miniscule pressroom as Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) blasted clear ten kilometres from the line on stage 7 said it all as the Briton came far closer than the home media liked to snatching away overall victory from Michal Kwiatkowski. Finally, Kwiatkowski, sixth on the line, held onto the overall victory after losing 12 seconds to Yates, who soloed to the stage win, and the Polish media could breathe a collective sigh of relief. But the last-minute near-upset not only allowed Yates to challenge for GC and propelled him into second overall, it also confirms his steadily rising form for the upcoming Vuelta a Espaņa and beyond that, the UCI Road World Championships.ADVERTISEMENT 17th at Szczyrk, sixth at Bielo-Bielska, and then fourth on stage 6, stage 7 was Yates` first win since the Giro stage to Sappada, and as the Briton said, it almost felt like an extra birthday present - he turned 26 on Tuesday - albeit `a few days too late.` `It was a fantastic victory, I went at the right moment, got a good gap, and rode full gas to finish,` Yates recounted to reporters as the heavens opened and rain thundered down on the media tent at the finish. `I was getting better every day, although these are very short stages, so it`s hard to really judge my form, but I`m happy to be here.`
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