For the second stage in a row,
Adam Yates left all his general classification rivals in the dust on the mountains of the 2024
Tour de Suisse. Although he was denied a stage win on stage 4, this time around there, was no stopping the Brit.
"We knew we wanted to set a hard pace and the whole team worked really hard all day," Yates praised in his post-stage interview. "At the beginning, INEOS Grenadiers tried to flick us a little bit and put our guys out the back so we had to reorganise. Then yeah, the guys were super strong controlling the break and setting a pace in the final."
Of all the
UAE Team Emirates riders to impress, arguably did more than Joao Almeida. The Portuguese pulled a monster turn on the front up the final climb, destroying the GC. Once Yates attacked, Almeida was initially dropped but the former Giro d'Italia podium finisher proved his strength once again to regroup and pick his way past the likes of Enric Mas and Egan Bernal to finish the stage 2nd behind Yates. "With Joao at the end there, he was going super fast," Yates recalls, puffing out his cheeks at the memory. "We knew he was also in great shape. We came here as co-leaders and yeah, it's just been a great day for the team."
With Yates and Almeida one-two in the general classification, there seems to be no stopping UAE Team Emirates at the 2024 Tour de Suisse. "We now have options with two guys up there and we have a nice little cushion," Yates assesses. "Tomorrow is a short stage and if Mas and Bernal can be here in the final, they obviously have good shape as well. But we'll see. The team is looking strong, we're motivated and hopefully we can have more wins like this."
He could have given the stage win to Almeida for the work. He lost a chance
I think the race is between these two. Almeida should have the upper hand in the closing TT.
Now that UAE is comfortably 1-2 I could see Yates giving Almeida the stage if the same situation arises on 6 or 7. I am sure Yates wants a comfortable lead going into the final TT. As others have said that uphill TT has Almeida's name written on it.
All in all it looks like at least 25% of Pogi's TdF team is in tip-top shape
Soler is where he needs to be. Ditto Wellens/Politt. Only question marks are Pavel and Juan.
True that! I am hopeful Ayuso will be good. If either of the names you mention are not healthy they have options like McNulty, Majka, Bjerg, etc.
Watch out for Joao in that final TT!