'No one wants to take the yellow jersey like this' says Adam Yates after taking Tour de France lead
Yates becomes the ninth British rider to wear the yellow jersey
Adam Yates was already showered and waiting for his team-mates to finish washing before their transfer to the hotel, when Mitchelton-Scott got the call that their British rider had taken the yellow jersey.
Trailing Julian Alaphilippe by four seconds at the start of the day, he and Yates finished on the same time, but an illegal feed in the closing kilometres saw the Frenchman receive a time penalty, boosting Yates up into first place at the 2020 Tour de France.
"I don't think anyone wants to take the yellow jersey like this," Yates said, slightly shellshocked. "You want to do it by winning or taking time.
"I was on the bus, already showered, waiting for the last few guys to finish showering and then we'd have been going to the hotel but somebody called our director and told me we might have yellow so we had to head to the podium."
>>> Julian Alaphilippe loses Tour de France lead to Adam Yates after being penalised on stage five
Arriving at the podium, Alaphilippe then explained to Yates what had happened.
"I only found out when I asked Julian what was going on and he said he had a time penalty for taking a feed, or something like this, late on in the stage, and I don't know what happened," Yates continued, then saying he will wear the yellow jersey on stage six despite the circumstances of how it found its way onto his shoulders. "I mean probably, I'm pretty sure I'll get fined if I don't so I guess I'll have to."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Alaphilippe has said he was at the Tour for stage wins despite finding himself in yellow, and Yates says that is his plan too, taking the race lead doesn't change that.
"We're here for stages, we're not here for GC. I just want to get involved, be aggressive on the stages and try and win. I mean we'll still try tomorrow, being in yellow and being in the lead doesn't really change anything, we'll just go after it like we would normally," Yates said, adding the only difference is that he may be marked more in the final.
"I came close to wearing yellow before, in 2016 when the motorbike incident happened with Froome. Similar sort of situation, it's happened to me twice now. I'd rather do this and get yellow with my legs than anything so I think we'll take it stage by stage and see how it goes from there."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
'I used to be a bricklayer - I took a pay cut to become a cyclist': Brian Holm on his time in the peloton
The former Danish pro and well known sports director tells Cycling Weekly about his early days in cycling, including when he proved his school teachers wrong
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Arnaud De Lie diagnosed with Lyme disease after pulling out of Spring Classics
Antibodies for disease found in Belgian rider’s blood
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I've not really had any bad races, I've been consistent throughout' - Adam Yates on his best year yet
The unassuming Lancastrian was thrust into the spotlight this year when he took the Tour's first yellow jersey and held it for eight days
By Adam Becket Published
-
Adam Yates says ‘less pressure’ key to Tour de France third
UAE Team Emirates co-leader says he still thinks Tadej Pogačar is the best rider in the world despite defeat by Jonas Vingegaard
By Vern Pitt Published
-
A one-two was always the dream: Simon and Adam Yates' mum on a wild start to the Tour de France
‘There would have been a lot of banter afterwards’ says the mother of the UAE and Jayco-AIUla riders
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Adam Yates: Going one-two with your twin brother at the Tour de France, not many can say that
Adam beats Simon Yates in Bilbao, but says his brother will be a 'pain in the ass' in the coming weeks
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘A perfect week for us’ – Adam Yates wraps up overall title in Romandie
Briton will now turn his focus to preparing for the Tour de France
By Peter Cossins Published
-
Adam Yates insists his Grand Tour dream is not over: 'When I am at my best, I am amongst the best'
The Briton admits that one week racing is his strength but hasn't given up on the Grand Tour dream
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Adam Yates leaves Ineos Grenadiers for UAE Team Emirates
British rider agrees three year deal with new team
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘He came to me and said Jumbo are struggling’ - Tadej Pogačar seeks alliance with Geraint Thomas
With a depleted team the UAE Emirates leader was looking for allies on stage 14, he didn’t find them at Ineos Grenadiers
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published