"It’s quite remarkable the progression that Adam has made since he moved from INEOS" - Philippa York blown away by Adam Yates' UAE Team Emirates level

After his podium finish at the 2023 Tour de France, a similar result does not seem out of the question for Adam Yates in 2024, especially after his recent overall win at the Tour de Suisse. Emerging as one of the best climbers in the entire peloton, Tadej Pogacar's right hand man has improved vastly since joining UAE Team Emirates.

"Every day from stage 4 onwards was a UAE Team Emirates demonstration," recalls Philippa York of the 2024 Tour de Suisse, in her column for Cycling News. "It’s quite rare to see such a display of collective strength where two riders from the same team swop victories over consecutive days, but that’s what happened, with Adam Yates taking stage 5 and seven, and João Almeida winning stages 6 and 8. If it wasn’t for Torstein Traeen holding on from the early escape atop the Gotthard Pass, then it would have been another victory for Adam Yates."

Although Yates was long regarded as a rider with potential Grand Tour winning capabilities, time spent at Mitchelton-Scott (now Team Jayco AlUla) alongside his brother Simon Yates and a move to the INEOS Grenadiers failed to truly realise the Brit's potential. Since the now 31-year-old joined UAE Team Emirates at the start of the 2023 season however, something has clicked.

"It’s quite remarkable the progression that Adam has made since he moved from Ineos, where he was unable to establish himself amongst their plethora of talent," analyses York, a three time Tour de France stage winner and 1984 Tour King of the Mountains winner in her own right. "He did win Catalunya and the Deutschland Tour, but four victories in two seasons pales in significance compared to his achievement since joining UAE. I think it’s fair to say he had become the lesser of the Yates twins, with brother Simon outshining him but that’s been totally reversed since last year."

"Adam’s climbing ability has stepped up a level and his concentration, too, as there’s no more loitering at the back of the peloton like he used to do when with Michelton-Scott," York continues, very impressed by Yates' progression over the last season and a half.

"He’s developed into a bit of a weapon for the team, whether that’s as one of the main supports for Tadej Pogacar or, as we witnessed in Switzerland, as the man who finishes off the work done by his teammates when a mountaintop finish is on the cards." York concludes. "Yates’ GC victory was largely due to his newfound motivation to attack his rivals rather than waiting for someone else to make the race."