26/10/2023

"I’ve definitely gone up a level" - Adam Yates delighted by successful first year at UAE Team Emirates

As the 2023 season comes to a close, one of the riders who can look back on a successful campaign is UAE Team Emirates' Adam Yates. The Brit had a number of highlights, and has reflected on his year in conversation with 'The National'.

“I maybe struggled the last couple of years to find that level of consistency, and I managed to be really consistent throughout the year; I’ve definitely gone up a level,” the 31-year-old reflects. Nowhere was this improvement more evident than at the 2023 Tour de France where Yates won the opening stage ahead of his brother, wore the Maillot Jaune and ended up on the podium alongside teammate Tadej Pogacar.

"Just seeing the profiles makes me smile" - Tadej Pogacar delighted by route of 2024 Tour de France

“I was just glad we could do something like that on the world stage,” Yates reminisces of the fairytale opening of the Tour in Bilbao. “It’s not often you can win a stage of the Tour de France, less often you can win Stage 1 of the Tour de France, and even less often you can do it with your twin brother in second place, so it was fantastic.”

“At the Tour, we had a really nice group; everyone knew their role. I know Mauro Gianetti said I was co-leader, but I knew my job and that was to be the last man in the mountains for Tadej," he continues. "Then when the opportunities arose, like that first stage, I could take it, so it worked out well. There was only one person better than us, even with Tadej’s injury. Hopefully next year, no bad luck and we can go one step further.”

“If we all four go there it’ll be huge" - Jonas Vingegaard 'looking forward' to potential Tour de France battle with Pogacar, Roglic and Evenepoel

Given his brilliant form this year and the fact he's seemingly just getting better with age, there are plenty of reasons for Yates to enter 2024 full of confidence. “It was only a couple of years ago when your peak was expected between 27 and 32 years old, especially with Grand Tours," he concludes.

“I’ve got my life figured out, I’m happy, working hard and trying to be my best self. It worked this year, you never know what might happen next year. I just want to improve again I think I’ve reached the best level of my career so far and with a little refinement, hopefully I can take another step.”