UAE Team Emirates rider Adam Yates wins opening stage of Tour de France

UAE Team Emirates rider Adam Yates held off the challenge of his twin brother, Simon, to win the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France on Saturday.

Adam, 30, pulled away from Jayco AlUla rider Simon in the final stages of the uphill finish to win his first ever Tour stage. Adam's teammate and Two-time winner Tadej Pogacar claimed third in a mini-group sprint.

The brothers went clear at the top of the Cote de Pike towards the end of the lumpy opening 182km stage and opened up a gap on the descent back into town.

Having opened up a gap of 20 seconds on a chasing group, the brothers knew the fight was between themselves on the uphill sprint to the finish line and it was Adam who had the power to ride away at the very end to take yellow for the second time in his career.

“Honestly, I don’t even know what to say,” Adam Yates said. “We tried to set the climb up for Tadej, he attacked but then it was a headwind on the descent. My brother came across to me and we started to work together.

“At first I didn’t know if I should work with him, I asked on the radio and they said, ‘Go for it’. I’m speechless. I knew he was going good, I speak to him every day. My brother and I are close and to share this experience with him is really nice.

“I wish he would pull a bit easier because he almost dropped me at one moment but I’m just super happy.

“I had yellow a few years ago, the Covid year in 2020 which was also a special moment but really I just want to keep my feet on the ground.

"We’re here for Tadej, he’s the boss, he’s shown before he’s the best in the world and over the next few weeks I’m sure he’s going to show that again.

'I'm sure people doubted having two guys as leaders. I might be a leader,but more in support. When I can do