He claims that there is only pressure from himself when it comes to racing the Giro d’Italia but Adam Yates is determined to produce back-to-back performances at Grand Tours when he competes in the first three-week race of the season in May.
Yates, who finished fourth in the Tour de France last year and won the best young classification, heads to the Corsa Rosa alongside his twin brother Simon, and together they will spearhead Orica-Scott’s GC bid. Success at such a prestigious and difficult race is a formidable challenge, especially with a string of more experienced rivals set to line up at the 100th edition of the event.
“As long as I’m in the top ten that’s fine,” Adam told Cyclingnews when asked about his ambitions.
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“I’ve only ridden GC once in a Grand Tour. It’s not like I’ve come fourth in the Tour and now I’m going to challenge for the win at the Giro. I’d love to be up there and challenging for the win but it’s way too early to be making these big calls and say ‘I want to do this, and I want to do that’. If I’m top ten, that’s an achievement.”
Back-to-back performances would certainly strengthen Yates' position in the team and show progression for a rider who is still within the age parameters for the best young rider classifications. In the Tour de France last year he took a measured approach in the mountains but was consistent throughout the race. That mindset will serve him well in May but he is well aware that the Giro d'Italia is a far different beast to tame than the Tour de France.
“On television the Giro looks more demanding. I wouldn’t say that the Tour is less predictable but everyone there works for one goal, whereas at the Giro you have more second tier guys who aren’t afraid to have a go and create carnage. I’ve not raced there before, or in Italy that much, apart from Tirreno-Adriatico, but we’ll go there and see what happens.”
The goal is long-term development
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