Pogačar reveals extent of teammate Adam Yates' struggles
Adam Yates is a key member of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG's support around Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar. But the Briton is struggling through a bout of illness at the worst possible time: just ahead of a trio of key mountain stages that could deliver Pogačar a record-tying fifth Tour win.
Yates was ninth on Sunday's Plateau de Solaison stage but fell ill since and has been struggling. "Adam was sick yesterday, he felt sick in the morning and throughout the day, so he suffered like a dog yesterday," Pogačar said post-race. Yates was dropped early and needed the help of teammate Tim Wellens to come home more than 26 minutes behind stage winner Jasper Philipsen. According to team manager Mauro Gianetti, Yates was vomiting after the Tuesday time trial and couldn't eat properly.
Gianetti dismissed concerns that a virus might be going through the team, which arose when Isaac del Toro was briefly dropped when the fight to establish the breakaway was underway. Del Toro regained the field and finished with the pack, and Gianetti said there is no cause for concern.
