Adams faces tough title defence in new team’s debut
EXETER CHIEFS NORTHAMPTON
ADAM Yates will begin his Ineos Grenadiers career this week as the defending champion at the UAE Tour.
Twelve months ago the Buryborn rider secured the biggest win of his career when he won a curtailed edition in the colours of Mitchelton-scott.
But the story of his success was somewhat lost as a coronavirus outbreak – the first at a major cycling race – saw the final two stages cancelled and riders forced into quarantine.
It was not how Yates would have chosen to secure his first Worldtour stage-race win, but it carries no less weight.
“I was really happy with it,” the 28-year-old said. “Hopefully I showed I was one of the strongest guys in the race. I hope I showed I was meant to win even with the cancellation and the shortened stage race.
“I’ve had a lot of bad luck in stage races, a lot of second places and close calls, so to finally win one was nice. Everything came together and worked out for me.
“I guess it was a little bit (overshadowed) but at the end of the day your name is still on the results sheet.”
Yates expects to have a hard time defending his title over the coming week, however.
A stacked field including Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar, Joao Almeida, Vincenzo Nibali and a rehabbing Chris Froome is one obstacle, but so is the stage two time trial.
“I just hope I’ve got the legs I had last year,” Yates said. “But last year there were two climbs and no TT. This year is a bit more complicated, especially as the course for the TT is pan flat, it’s a strongman course so obviously it doesn’t suit me, but I’ll do my best.
“For sure I’m going to lose time. After stage two we’ll sit down, see what the damage is, and see what we need to do.”
Yates’ switch from what is now Team Bikeexchange, splitting from twin brother Simon, was one of the marquee moves of the winter, reinforcing Ineos’ British core after Froome’s departure for Israel Startup Nation.
EXETER boss Rob Baxter had no complaints about a dramatic finale at Sandy Park after his Gallagher Premiership champions were beaten 13-12 by Northampton.
Chiefs lock Sam Skinner’s 80thminute try meant that fly-half Joe Simmonds had a chance to snatch victory with the game’s final kick – a touchline conversion attempt into a gusting wind.
But Simmonds did not even put boot to ball as several Northampton players ran towards him in an attempt to charge down the kick, and he was suitably distracted, appearing non-plussed as Saints wing Ollie Sleightholme hacked the ball into touch.
Some Exeter players remonstrated with referee Christophe Ridley, but he had already blown the final whistle and Northampton could celebrate their first victory at Sandy Park since 2014.
“As far as I can tell, I think ‘Simmo’ moved, they charged and that’s what you are allowed to do,” Exeter rugby director Baxter said.
“Until I watch the video I don’t know, but in a lot of ways it is irrelevant to me. It is not the referee’s decision at the end which has decided that game.
“We’ve not taken our opportunities, which is a little bit uncharacteristic of us, and you have to give Northampton massive credit for how they fought on their try-line.
“We weren’t bang on. There are a few things we can look at. It was a tough game of rugby, Northampton played their part in it, and we have come up a shade short.”
Number eight Shaun Adendorff scored an early try for the visitors, which Piers Francis converted, but Exeter could only muster a Jack Yeandle touchdown in reply, converted by Harvey Skinner, until Sam Skinner struck at the death.
Francis’ two second-half penalties ultimately swayed the contest Northampton’s way, leaving Saints rugby director Chris Boyd to reflect on an outstanding victory.
“He (Simmonds) definitely moved,” Boyd said. “If he had kicked that goal, I think we would probably have been unlucky.
“Over the 80 minutes, I think we did enough to probably deserve the victory.”