UAE Team Emirates put on a strong display on the final climb of stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse (Ambrì-Carì, 148,6 km) thanks to a perfect team performance that allowed Adam Yates win the stage and to consolidate his leadership in the GC. Also, João Almeida crossed the finish line behind the team mate to maintain the second position in the GC.
The team directed by the DS duo Fabrizio Guidi and Simone Pedrazzini controlled the main breakaway of the day limiting the advantage, then the UAE Team Emirates riders accelerated the pace on the final climb, 10,2 km at 8%, heavily selecting the head bunch.
When at 6,5 km to go Almeida took the head of the group after the work of Del Toro, only four riders were left with him: the leader Adam Yates, Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Enric Mas (Movistar), Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech).
The high pace of the Portuguese rider was the prelude to two accelerations from Adam Yates at -1,5 km and in the final kilometres that gave him the victory with 5” on Almeida who had worked hard previously.
The 39th victory for UAE Team Emirates allowed Adam Yates and João Almeida to strengthen their leadership in the GC: the British rider is in 1st place with 35” on his teammate and 1’11” on Egan Bernal.
Yates: “It was a very strong performance, João kept a crazy pace in the final part of the climb, after that Ineos had kept a pace very hard in the first two climbs.
In the team we all are in super shape and super motivated. Being two guys from the same team in the first two places of the GC is a good position for us and we had super teammates who could work for us”.
Tomorrow, the riders will face the now shortened Stage 6 of the race. The 42km stage will being with a flat section, allowing the peloton to settle before the real challenge begins. The stage culminates with the brutal climb at Blatten, a 6.9km ascent at an average gradient of 9.3%, promising a gruelling test for the riders. Another summit finish awaits Adam Yates and UAE Team Emirates, who have shown their dominance over the last two stages and will aim to maintain their impressive form, further strengthening their hold on the leader’s jersey.
Stage 5 results
1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 3h54’37”
2. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +5”
3. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) +16”
General classification after stage 5
1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 15h44’35”
2. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +35”
3. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) +1’11”
