Who Is? 09.07.2016/XNUMX/XNUMX: Adam Yates from the Australian team Orica-BikeExchange came to the 7st stage of the Tour de France arrived late at the finish area. The air arc with the flamme rouge threw him to the ground. Nevertheless, he will complete today's 8th stage in the white jersey tackle. High time to take a look at Adam Yates' career so far and venture a glimpse into his bright future.
Adam Yates struck down by the air arc and the flamme rouge
It's scenes like this that shouldn't be missing from any cycling year's review. Be it a flock of sheep that brings the entire peloton to a standstill, a level crossing that stops drivers, a team bus that stops in the middle of the finish line or an aerial arch that falls directly on Adam Yates. As with the mishap with the team bus a few years ago, the Orica-BikeExchange team is affected, but this time they really can't help it. Adam Yates was just six seconds behind in the standings going into the stage Julian Alaphilippe and thus the white jersey of the best young driver. In the last few kilometers of the short but demanding descent from the Col d'Aspin, he therefore attacked. Nobody was chasing him and so he raced towards the white jersey - until one kilometer from the finish, because then the air arc fell on him. The tragedy of this entertaining scene only became apparent to the viewers a few minutes later. That was when Adam Yates crept across the finish line in resignation with blood on his face and was being comforted by his teammate Rubén Plaza.
Three-kilometer timekeeping brings Adam Yates the maillot blanc
A few moments after this scene, the award ceremony began and Julian Alaphilippe got the white jersey again. However, due to the air arc incident, the timing was later set back by three kilometers. This is the usual rule, if no accidents have occurred through no fault of your own at a mountain finish. With three kilometers to go, Adam Yates had already pulled out of the group of favorites and had a lead of seven seconds - exactly one second more than his gap in the youngsters' classification. The daily result and overall standings have been updated and as a result Adam Yates will be able to contest Stage 8 in the white jersey tomorrow. Blessings in disguise for the talented youngster, who will now do everything in his power to defend this white jersey all the way to Paris. The fact that this wish is not so far-fetched can be seen from his very young career to date.
Name | Adam Yates | |
Birthday | August 7, 1992 | |
Place of Birth | Bury | |
Nationality | Great Britain | |
Size | 173 cm | |
Weight | 58 kg | |
Current team | Orica Bike Exchange | |
Active as an amateur | since 2013 | |
Active as a professional | since 2014 | |
Greatest successes | Winner Clasica de San Sebastián 2015 Winner Tour of Turkey 2014 |
The Yates surname is well known in cycling
Sean Yates is certainly still known to older cycling fans. In 1988 he won, among other things, a stage in the Tour de France and in the Vuelta a España. He now works for the Tinkoff team in the management area. Now there are two pro cyclists named Yates again. While not related to Sean Yates, Simon Yates and Adam Yates are twin brothers. During their time as an amateur they were coached by their father. After the latter was injured in a training accident, he sent the two to train at the Manchester Velodrome. There they found a close connection to track cycling, which is why their roots lie on the track. Adam Yates also competed on the road in several races for the British national team and French amateur team CC Etupes. At the Tour de l'Avenir in 2013 he finished second overall behind Ruben Fernandez. As a result, the Australian professional team Orica-GreenEdge (today: Orica-BikeExchange) became aware of him and his brother and signed both of them for 2014.
Adam Yates' first professional win at the end of 2015 at the Clásica de San Sebastián
Already in his first professional season Adam Yates knew how to convince. He won the Presidential Tour of Turkey stage race and the GP Industria & Artigianato Larciano one-day race. He also finished two stages of the Critérium du Dauphiné in third place. In 2015 he contested his first Tour de France. However, he only achieved respectable results at the end of the year, when he finished second in both the Tour of Alberta and the GP de Montréal. His first small breakthrough came with the Classica de San Sebastian, where he celebrated his first real professional victory and was able to leave well-known drivers like Philippe Gilbert and Alejandro Valverde behind. This year he made on the 5th stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné drew attention and indicated his form for the Tour de France as he finished third on a hilltop finish, only beaten by Chris Froome and Richie Porte.
Can Adam Yates win the white jersey?
Now Adam Yates has shown the good shape he indicated three weeks ago and took over the white jersey at the Tour de France. The chances of winning the junior classification at the end of the three-week tour are not bad at all. His probably greatest opponent, Warren Barguil from the German team Giant-Alpecin, already showed signs of weakness on yesterday's stage. The other serious opponents are Julian Alaphilippe, Wilco Kelderman and Louis Meintjes. A young group of talented tour riders who are in no way inferior to Adam Yates. The next two stages will already show whether the young Brit has what it takes to wear the white jersey all the way to Paris. In any case, it would be good for him – especially after the devil's rag fell on him yesterday.
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