Tour de France 2024: UAE Emirates' Adam Yates on ‘nasty’ crash

British cyclist Adam Yates is among the top riders to watch in this year's Tour de France, which features a total of 176 riders.

He was victorious in the first stage last year and wore the prestigious yellow jersey, outperforming his twin sibling Simon along the way.

This year, he is back on the UAE-Team Emirates team to support Tadej Pogacar as he aims to accomplish a rare feat by winning both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in one season.

However, Yates, who is 31 years old, might not have been able to participate in the biggest cycling event due to a traumatic accident that resulted in a concussion.

"I can't recall anything that happened from the crash until about an hour later," stated the ex Ineos Grenadiers cyclist.

During the scorching heat of February in the United Arab Emirates, Yates was preparing to start another intense season of road cycling during the UAE Tour. As he was focusing on joining the group of cyclists, his front wheel accidentally touched a competitor's, causing Yates to lose balance and fall violently onto the pavement, hitting his head.

It was hard to see.

"It was definitely one of the worst accidents I've been in," Yates explains. "It was a really bad one. I didn't have many cuts and bruises, but I hit my head really hard."

"When I started to regain consciousness, I could sense that something was off."

Yates took a break from cycling for a few weeks and only felt like he was back in good shape after winning the Tour de Suisse earlier this month.

I was in excellent condition during that period, and the UAE Tour was a significant event for our team, as it was a race held in our home country.

I took a break from riding for three weeks, similar to an off-season. It hasn't been a smooth transition.

Injuries to the head in professional sports are becoming a growing concern, as athletes and retired athletes are experiencing severe health problems linked to previous injuries from competing.

Although there is no indication that Yates' injury will be long-term, the sport of professional cycling especially struggles with head injuries.

When a cyclist falls during a race and needs to quickly get back on their bike to catch up with the rest of the group, they may feel that they have no other option but to keep going.

In 2021, the UCI, the organization that oversees sports, implemented new rules for race doctors and team staff to identify concussions and possibly remove a rider from a race.

This came after a number of significant events in past years, such as when Romain Bardet of France competed in the 2020 Tour de France, only to find out after the race that he had experienced a small brain bleed.

In the sad tale of American Olympic silver medalist cyclist Kelly Catlin, she tragically ended her own life after suffering a series of concussions that some think may have been linked to CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

The issue of concussions and their lasting impact is just as perplexing for doctors as it is for patients.

Yates eventually came to a halt after the crash, but at first he got back on his bike and continued riding.

The team recommended taking a break from cycling for two to three weeks to completely heal. However, I still didn't feel completely well, so we decided to take a little extra time off to fully recover - we didn't want to take any chances.

The crash was just one of several incidents that have heavily impacted the course of the season up to this point.

The most noteworthy incident was a major collision during April's Itzulia Basque Country race, resulting in serious injuries for Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard. Additionally, two of his main rivals for this year's Tour, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel, were also involved in the crash.

Everyone has gotten better now, but Vingegaard had to have surgery for his bruised and punctured lungs. This kept him out of competing until the upcoming big race this weekend, and he may still not be at his best.

There have been a lot of problems on the roads this year, causing Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to write a letter to the UCI about the safety of the sport.

Additionally, the UCI has implemented a new system called the 'yellow card' for any violation that may present a danger.

Additionally, Yates and others are aware that his impressive win in Bilbao during stage one last year occurred after honoring the late Team Bahrain Victorious rider Gino Mader, who tragically passed away in a crash while descending just days prior.

What are Yates' thoughts on the dangers that cyclists must face in order to gain an edge on closed public roads? These roads are lined with trees, rocks, and other obstacles that can be extremely dangerous when traveling at speeds of up to 90kph.

"I have to admit, I ride with a lot of caution," he explains. "Many riders out there are willing to take risks and go beyond their limits, but that's not me. I understand what it takes to win, but I won't go to extreme measures and jeopardize my life."

Sports are constantly becoming faster, and the gear we use keeps advancing as well. This means there are always additional dangers to consider.

Race coordinators have implemented new strategies in response to Mader's tragic passing, as well as in alignment with the UCI's SafeR program.

"I realize how difficult it can be to coordinate a race," Yates acknowledges. "And as riders, we are naturally driven to compete and strive for victory - that's what we're employed to do."

I'm not one to give detailed opinions, but racing on larger, wider roads may give you more room to navigate. It could potentially make a difference, but overall, it's a complex subject.

No matter what the outcome may be, all members in the sport are thrilled to see Yates back on his bike, performing strongly.

I don't have any major aspirations in my career - my main focus is on giving my best performance. It wasn't easy, but I managed to stay alive and keep going on my bike.