"I've stepped up my own level. When you develop like that, it makes sense to be given a shot" - Adam Yates steps out of Pogacar's shadow with GC ambitions at the Giro d'Italia

Adam Yates has formed a very important role for himself within the UAE Team Emirates - XRG train over the last few years, embracing his duties as Tadej Pogacar last man standing in the high mountains of the Tour de France. At the 2025 Giro d'Italia however, the Brit gets the chance to step out of Pogacar's shadow and aim for a potential Grand Tour win of his own.

“I joined this team in 2023 to help Pogacar win the Tour de France, but I've also stepped up my own level and become more consistent. When you develop like that, it makes sense to be given a shot at the biggest races yourself," Yates explains in conversation with Wieler Revue, clearly very happy with where he finds himself in his career. "I want to see what I’m capable of.”

Although this will be Yates' 15th Grand Tour of his career, it's only the second time the Brit has embarked on a trip to the Giro d'Italia. His only previous appearance at the Italian Grand Tour came back in 2017, where he finished 9th overall and 2nd in the Best Young Rider classification. “What I remember most about that Giro is that it didn’t rain - funny, since people always talk about the cold and bad weather,” Yates laughs. 

As it turned out, Yates also inadvertently played a key role in deciding the winner of the Maglia Rosa that year. As he fought to save his own standing in the GC on the penultimate stage, Yates ended up towing the Maglia Rosa of Tom Dumoulin, limiting the Dutchman's losses against his nearest rivals - Nairo Quintana, Vincenzo Nibali, and Thibaut Pinot. "I didn’t help Dumoulin win,” Yates quickly clarifies. “He just happened to be in my group, along with Bob Jungels and Bauke Mollema. But it always helps to be a decent guy in moments like that. I was happy for him - he deserved that Giro win.”

“I wore the white jersey for best young rider for a few days but I’d been sick two weeks before the race and lost three kilos due to food poisoning," continues the recollection of the now 32-year-old Brit. "Not exactly ideal preparation for a Grand Tour.”

This time around though, preparation for the Giro d'Italia has been solid. As such, Yates returns to Italy with big ambitions. “Winning a stage in the Giro would mean I’ve taken a stage win in all three Grand Tours, but that’s not my main motivation," he concludes determinedly. "Of course, it would be nice - but my first goal is the general classification. If that doesn’t work out, I can always go for a stage win later in the race.”