From reserve rider to multiple pro contract offers - Leo Hayter's extraordinary U23 Giro victory

Leo Hayter
Leo Hayter wins the epic mountain stage at the U23 Giro by nearly five minutes (Image credit: Giro d'Italia Giovani)

The extraordinary thing about Leo Hayter's recent victory at the U23 Giro d'Italia, beyond the crushing dominance of it, was the fact that no one saw it coming. Not even Hayter himself. 

His name was not on the list of top pre-race favourites, but nor was it even on the entry list until 10 days before the start in Gradara. Hayter was, it turns out, a reserve rider for Axeon Hagens Berman and only got his call-up thanks to a late drop-out. 

Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.