Adam Yates out of UAE Tour with concussion after horror crash

Pre-race favourite Adam Yates is out of the UAE Tour after being involved in a horror crash on Stage 3 as fellow UAE Team Emirates rider Jay Vine took over as the new overall leader.

Team leader Yates hit the ground hard with around 46 kilometres left and, after attempting to continue, the British rider pulled out of the race before the stage's uphill phase.

“Unfortunately, Adam Yates has been diagnosed with a concussion after his crash today at the UAE Tour. He is stable with other superficial injuries,” said UAE Team Emirates medical director Dr Adrian Rotunno.

“For the sake of Adam’s health, and as per concussion protocols, he was withdrawn from racing. He will need recovery, and the medical team will continue with neurological monitoring and rehab going forward.”

It was a bitter blow for the home team who had started Wednesday's racing with Brandon McNulty ahead in the general classification and ended it with his Australian teammate Jay Vine on top.

Vine finished second on Stage 3, five seconds behind countryman Ben O'Connor, with Belgian rider Lennert Van Eetvelt in third. He now leads O'Connor in the overall standings by 11 seconds with American McNulty third, two seconds behind.

“In the last kilometre it was just giving everything till the finish,” said Vine. “Adam Yates’ crash was a bit of a weird one, not on a pretty stressful part. I didn’t see it happen. But unfortunately he can’t remember hitting the ground.

Wow, Adam Yates crashed really hard.