Adam Yates vows to attack again in search of Vuelta a España stage win after falling short on stage 15
Young Brit caught with four kilometres remaining on stage 15


Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) will be on the attack again in the 2017 Vuelta a España after his bid for victory on the summit finish to Sierra Nevada failed on stage 15.
Yates attacked the group of GC favourites midway in the stage, but when joined by eventual stage winner Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), he could not stick with the pace.
"I did my best," Yates said. "I can't be disappointed with that. It's a rest day tomorrow, so rest up and try again in two days.
"I slowed down a little bit because I knew [Lopez] would pass me. I tried my best, maybe it was a little bit early when I attacked. I gave it a shot, it didn't work out today, but in the future it will."
>>> Five talking points from stage 15 of the Vuelta a España
Yates, 25, who placed ninth overall in May's Giro d'Italia, attacked with Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale), Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) with around 60km remaining. He went solo at 25.1km remaining and facing the 2510-metre summit finish at Sierra Nevada.
Only Lopez, who attacked later with Contador, ruined his plans. Yates held on until nearly four kilometres remaining, when the Colombian flew by for his second stage win in the 2017 Vuelta.
Watch: Vuelta a España stage 15 highlights
"There are only so many stages that suit a breakaway that're good for me," Yates said.
"When these other [breaks] go with 40 guys those aren't really good for me because you have to mess about and sprint about 400 times just to get into it, but on a day like today, it's more forced and it suits me a bit better. So we just have to wait until another day like this and try again."
>>> Alberto Contador: 'It was a risk to attack, but I have no regrets'
Yates and his twin brother Simon Yates must also think about Colombian Esteban Chaves, who finished third overall in 2016 and currently sits fifth behind leader Froome with one week to race.
"If I came back I would always be there in a final but when it's like this there's not much more I can do to help him," he continued.
"It's not really about working but just trying to get results for the team. He's in a great position at the moment and we're going to support him all the way to the finish."
Thank you for reading 5 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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Five talking points from stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia
Our highlights from a stage where the GC contenders rolled in eight minutes behind the day's winner
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2022 standings: Results from the 105th edition after stage 15
The latest standings from the 105th edition of the Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket • Published
-
‘I learned about suffering’ - Egan Bernal and Adam Yates reflect on mixed Vuelta a España for Ineos Grenadiers
The British WorldTour squad left the race without a reason to celebrate, but have taken hope from the final Grand Tour of the season
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Adam Yates and Egan Bernal share their thoughts as Primož Roglič leads Vuelta a España on first rest day
How are the Ineos Grenadiers leaders faring with two weeks left to race?
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Vuelta a España: Adam Yates says he’s struggled with jet lag after the Tokyo Olympics
The Brit tried to hit out on stage three after the disappointment of ‘silly crash’
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Adam Yates hopes targeting the Vuelta a España gives him advantage over rivals
The British rider has had the Spanish Grand Tour as his main season goal for 2021
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Egan Bernal, Adam Yates and Dani Martínez escape serious injury in Vuelta a Burgos crash
The Ineos Grenadiers leaders are using the Vuelta a Burgos as a warm-up race for the Vuelta a España later this month
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Egan Bernal and Adam Yates lead super-strong Ineos Grenadiers team for Clásica San Sebastián 2021
The Giro d'Italia winner returns to racing for the first time since taking pink in spring
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
‘Simon can learn to stand on his own two feet,’ says BikeExchange sports director after departure of Adam Yates
Simon Yates can learn to ‘stand on his own feet’ after the departure of his brother from Team BikeExchange, according to sports director Laurenzo Lapage.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Adam Yates is the 'next British star' says Sir Bradley Wiggins
Sir Bradley Wiggins threw buckets of praise at Ineos Grenadiers after they dominated the recent Volta a Catalunya taking all three spots on the podium with Adam Yates taking the overall title
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published