Adam Yates doesn't succumb to pressure leader role (yet): "That ride was a special one and his legs are good"

He still had such strong ambitions for the ongoing Vuelta. Adam Yates rode an intense Tour and, together with Joao Almeida, got to sway the scepter on behalf of UAE Team Emirates. In the scorching heat of Spain, he suffered his first blow on day four and lost considerable time to his closest rivals. Still, the white shirts are not giving up hope of a leading role for the Brit.

Speaking to Cyclingnews, team manager Joxean Matxin stated that he still sees Yates' role as the same. "It's still too early to look at it that way, that we have to switch plans for him. Especially because stage four was exceptional," the Spaniard referred to the heat and the apartness of the final climb to Villuercas. "Adam suffered in that heat, but he's got good legs. I have no doubt about that"

UAE will continue to see who thrives best in conditions: "He has more freedom to move"

Unlike Yates, however, his teammate Almeida is in a thriving position. Isaac del Toro, Pavel Sivakov, and Jay Vine also rode strongly. 'I'm an optimist,' Matxin continued. 'And if there is a bad situation, that can always open the door to a good situation. What does that mean? If a rider loses 90 seconds, he has a little more freedom of movement, so I think we can also look at the positive side of this,' he said of Yates.

Almeida, on the other hand, raced well in the heat. That, according to Matxin, is not a coincidence. He is curious to see if his pupil will hold up, even in other conditions. "Let's see how he does on Sunday's stage in Sierra Nevada when it's hot. Then we will re-evaluate when we reach the mountains in the north, where the Vuelta will be decided."