Adam Yates: Lucky and privileged to be leading UAE Team Emirates

For the last few years, the UAE Tour has been the springboard for my season. Whether it be in victory or defeat, this event has always found a way of pushing me to the limit and squeezing every last ounce of performance out of myself and the bike.

In years gone by, I’ve had the unenviable task of having to take on Tadej Pogacar on the flats and in the UAE mountains, falling just short on a couple of occasions. I’m very happy and relieved to now be on the same team as Tadej.

I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to be leading our group into the 2023 UAE Tour. I once admired this team from a distance as a competitor, but to now be a part of the squad and see the quality of riders and support staff first-hand, I’m super stoked to get the wheels rolling on Monday, February 20, for Stage 1.

These past few weeks, I’ve been training at altitude in Spain and it’s been going really well. The sensations are good, I’m feeling fit and healthy, so I can’t wait to get started with the guys.

Of course, this year it’ll will be a different challenge not having to compete with Tadej on Jebel Jais and especially on Jebel Hafeet, but I know there will be plenty of other rivals who will arrive in good form and ready to do battle.

British rider Adam Yates is now a part of UAE Team Emirates. EPA

The vast number of high-quality cyclists and teams on the World Tour at the moment means we constantly have to perform to our absolute maximum to secure podiums and race wins. But as professionals, this is what we live for.

Being offered the chance to be a part of UAE Team Emirates was simply an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Right from the start when talking to the management team, I had a really good feeling that this was the right move at this