POLL: How will Adam Yates's GC challenge go at 2024 Tour de France?

Adam Yates finished third on the 2023 Tour de France and this year he returns as a candidate for the podium, or even better, once again. The UAE Team Emirates rider has recently won the Tour de Suisse with great form and looks to be ready for another shot at the Grand Boucle.

Yates is a rider who in the past looked to perform better in the one-week races, but has certainly taken another step after joining UAE in 2023. He won the Tour de Romandie and finished on the podium of the UAE Tour, Criterium du Dauphiné (only behind Jonas Vingegaard), Tour de France (behind Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar), Vuelta a Burgos (behind Primoz Roglic and Aleksandr Vlasov) and won the GP de Montréal. An impressive record, further boosted this year.

In 2024 Yates won the Tour of Oman but crashed out of the UAE Tour with a concussion that hampered him this spring. But he has returned to his best level at the Tour de Suisse, winning the overall classification and two stages; whilst dominating together with teammate João Almeida. The closest rival was Mattias Skjelmose, over three minutes down in an eight-day race. Yates was convincing and consistent in the Swiss mountains which included high-altitude, gradients and distance.

Last year Yates won the first stage of the Tour and then, despite being on a largely supportive role for Tadej Pogacar, rode himself into a strong third place - his best Grand Tour performance to date. There are no signs that he will not be able to show the same legs this summer.

Philippa York was impressed by Yates' evolution in UAE, as said in words to Cyclingnews: "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."

After winning the Tour de Suisse, defending himself in the final time-trial against teammate João Almeida, Yates said the following words: "At the time of the crash (at the UAE Tour, where he suffered a concussion, ed.) I didn’t know how long it would take to come back. Luckily it didn't last too long, I'm very grateful for that. Although winning a race always feels good. And sharing the podium with João makes it even more special."