“The breakaway tried to bully me, but they don’t pay my salary” – Adam Yates responds to criticism after stage 13 of the 2024 Tour de France

Speaking to ITV Sport ahead of stage 14, Yates reflected on the controversy he inadvertently caused. “Yeah, I actually caused the breakaway a bit by accident yesterday, just to cover guys and make sure it wasn’t a super big move,” the Briton, who finished on the podium at the 2023 Tour de France, begins his summary.

“Some of the guys in the breakaway tried to bully me a little bit and get me to go back, but the guys in the break, they don’t pay my salary,” Yates continued. “I listened to my team, they said I should stay there, and the break wasn’t too happy about that!”

Asked if such a situation proves there is any truth to the rumours of hostility towards UAE Team Emirates given their dominance of late, Yates is uncertain. “Yeah, maybe,” he replies. “We just have to do our job, you know, do what we’re told. In sport, you don’t get anything for free. I’ve never been given anything, I’ve never had any gifts in my career. So why give gifts? We do our own pace and of course we try to win!”

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