Adam Yates makes it to Tour de France despite last-minute Covid infection: "I really had a fever and chills. It's not ideal"

Adam Yates comes to the Tour de France as one of the co-leaders of INEOS Grenadiers. However, after abandoning the Tour de Suisse and seeing teammate Geraint Thomas win the race, his chances of being a protected rider took a important hit.

“When I talk to other guys who have recently had corona, some only have a tickle in the throat, but I really had a fever and chills. It's not ideal," Yates said ahead of the Tour. "I also really missed crucial stages in Switzerland. I was waiting for the weekend for a real test, so it's not ideal". Alongside Geraint Thomas and Daniel Martínez he will be a protected rider inside INEOS, has the team looks to cause damage in the mountains and rival the likes of Jumbo-Visma and Tadej Pogacar.

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Yates will be hoping to survive the treacherous opening days and be a factor in the mountains. He has for the last two years rivalled Pogacar at the UAE Tour, however the Tour is a completely different affair. “That was a long time ago, or at least that's how it feels," he said regarding that.

"Me and Pogo had some good duels, but this is different. I just hope I can be my best. I haven't had any luck with corona, I missed some important training sessions, but it is what it is. I just hope it doesn't bother me too much," he concluded. To his luck, Yates is likely to find the heat that he does too at the UAE, which can be a favourable variable to the Briton.