'He suffered like a dog yesterday' - Pogacar reveals extent of Yates' illness
Adam Yates lost contact with the yellow jersey on stage 17 as UAE Team Emirates-XRG provided an update on his condition.
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Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) stated Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) “suffered like a dog yesterday” while team manager Matxin Joxean Fernández confirmed the Briton had been battling illness.
Yates endured a difficult stage 17, losing contact with the peloton before teammate Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) helped pace him to the finish. The UAE duo finished 161st and 162nd on the stage out of 164 riders, 26:36 behind stage winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
The 33-year-old’s visible struggles during the run-in prompted fears he could be forced to abandon the race ahead of the decisive Alpine stages.
Speaking after the stage, race leader Pogačar explained that Yates had already been struggling the previous day and was paying the price for his illness.
“Adam was sick yesterday, he felt sick in the morning and throughout the day, so he suffered like a dog yesterday,” Pogačar said post-race.
“Today, in the morning he looked much better, he was eating good and all, but when you have a bad day yesterday like him, then you pay for it the day later. I hope he didn’t go too deep into the hole and that he will be better tomorrow."
Matxin later provided further details on Yates' condition, although he said the team had not yet established exactly what was causing the illness.
"I don't know if Adam Yates has gastroenteritis or something else... Yesterday he vomited and felt cold. But he slept eight hours and felt good at the start, though he gradually faded."
Concerns briefly grew that illness could be spreading through the UAE squad when Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was briefly dropped earlier in the stage before the pace eased and the Mexican rejoined the yellow jersey group.
However, Matxin was quick to dismiss suggestions the young Mexican was also unwell, with Del Toro eventually finishing safely in the GC group at the finish in Voiron.
"Isaac isn't sick; he finished at the front,” said Matxin.
Despite Yates' struggles, Pogačar and UAE remain firmly in control of the yellow jersey, with the world champion 4:32 ahead of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Del Toro in third at 6:51.
Stage 18 features a summit finish to Orcières-Merlette before a double header of Alpe d’Huez on stages 19 and 20.
Result: Tour de France stage 17
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