Simon Yates on the Basque crowd on the Pike climb: "There were too many people, I couldn't position myself well, it was impossible"

Simon Yates came close to victory in the first stage of the Tour de France. The British cyclist from Team Jayco AlUla escaped along with his brother Adam Yates from him on the descent to Pike and both were planted in the streets of Bilbao.

However, he could not with the UAE Team Emirates in the fratricidal duel. "On the final climb, it was difficult to get among the best, also because there was little space and teams like Jumbo have the best positions, we did a good job, but I was a little behind when UAE made the first attack," he recaps. "I couldn't react because there were too many people so I was able to get in a good position at the top and then on the way down I was able to go with Adam."

Read also

Adam Yates takes opening stage victory as 2023 Tour de France opens with a bang

When asked if he spoke to his brother when they left alone, he explains that when he left with Adam he didn't talk to him because he was talking on the radio about whether or not he could commit and leave Pogacar behind.

"He was in a difficult situation, talking to the radio about what he could or could not do, but I started to shoot, I knew it was going to be difficult but it was a situation in which I wasn't going to have to face Pogacar or Vingegaard in a sprint, unfortunately I couldn't do it despite trying my best."

Read also

PREVIEW | Tour de France 2023 stage 2 - San Sebastián hosts hilly finale where sprinters, climbers and classics specialists will all eye victory

VIDEO: Adam Yates proves too strong for brother Simon in Yates one-two on opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France