when adam yates was asked trip to the uae Sunday’s pre-race press conference If he remembers the last time he was in a team time trial, you can almost hear him scratching his head trying to remember that event.
“That’s a good question, my friend,” he said, before giving up answering. “I don’t really remember. But I do know that I won one, in Tirreno-Adriatico in 2019.”
But despite Yates’ ambiguity over his TTT participation record — his last entry, upon inspection, was in the 2019 Tour de France — it turns out the UAE Tour contender has a lot of respect for the TTT victory four years ago. The recollection is correct. He also knows exactly what strategy he will employ in Tuesday’s 17.2km key specialist practice.
“Usually the time difference is not that great [in an individual time trial] But in this case, it could be the difference between winning and losing,” Yates told a small group of reporters.
“But it’s not easy for me because I’m 10kg lighter than the next guy. So I’ll try to control the steering wheel of the other guys and hopefully I’ll go to the end with them.”
The TTT feat highlights the challenge of light climbers racing against the clock, he explained, because “if it was an individual time trial, it would be easier for me to put my head down and be as aerodynamic as possible.”
“But in a team time trial, it can be really difficult. So I try to keep my speed up to what the other guys set, and” – he said in typical good humor – “try to get out of the way. .”
home game emirates team On one of their biggest two-stage races of the season – alongside the Tour de France – it sounds like a major challenge in his first race with the new team. But if anyone has a track record of going further in 2023, it’s Adam Yates.
“I’ve done really well here for the last three years, the first year I won, the next two I finished second, arguably the best cyclist in the world” – teammate Tadej Pogačar – “So this Gave me a lot of confidence. Obviously, he’s not here this year, but there are a lot of good cyclists here and it’s not easy. So we’ll do our best.”
Asked to compare his condition to when he met the media at the UAE training camp in Spain last December, Yates said he had a good winter, laughing and saying, “I’m definitely better than I was then.” Much stronger.”
In terms of winter training, “If it works, there’s no need to change, so I’ve just been following the same blueprint. Training and racing are very different, but hopefully I can find my footing.”
At the end of both summits and before the TTT, Yates pointed to the opening stage as a potential GC challenge because the course was so open and exposed, “the most of any flat stage all week”. As a result, crosswinds could have serious effects, particularly on parts of the final 18km loop along the coast.
“Tomorrow for sure [Monday] Probably the most stroke-heavy stage of all the stages. But everyone on our team has a lot of power, so we’re going to do what we can to stick together,” Yates said.
Of course, if Yates can “get out of the way and keep going” in Tuesday’s team time trial, the Emirates will be among the favorites to win the day.
Riders like former Junior World TT Champion Brandon McNulty, recently crowned Australian National TT Champion Jay Vine and three-time U-23 World TT Champion Mikkel Berg are all very talented racers.Although it’s too much Tad PogacharGiven his record on the UAE tour, his absence may not even be noticeable and his team-mates look certain to be available.
“Tadej is the number one in the world, but we have a strong team and the drivers can also strive for victory,” team principal Mauro Gianetti commented to reporters.
“It was important for us to give Tadej the chance to change his plans, that’s why we decided to give him a quiet spring, but now…” he concluded with a smile, as Pogačar had just Won five championships. “But anyway, we’re with Jay Vine, Adam, Marc Soler and Brandon. We have a really good team.”
Given the firepower the team has, Gianetti admits with an evil smile, “It might mean having some interesting conversations on the team bus in the morning. But taking that challenge on the bus every game. It’s a good thing, it’s good chemistry. It’s a good thing for our sport.”
“It’s a great opportunity for Adam in a race that he loves so much, it’s good to give him that opportunity. We’re an ambitious team and I think all these drivers, they like to be ambitious, also Like to be under pressure. It’s a combination of good emotions.”
However, while the Emirates will be the main contenders for a home trifecta, Gianetti warned, “We’re not the only ones who want to win, but it’s a tough race and there are a lot of good drivers here.
“The first stage, the time trial, the crosswinds… this race might look easy on TV – but it’s not. At any moment, something can happen. It’s been an all-encompassing week.”