Adam Yates to prepare for Giro d’Italia at altitude after O Gran Camino victory

Adam Yates has set his sights on the Giro d’Italia following a strong start to his 2026 season, marked by his recent victory at the O Gran Camino stage race in northern Spain. The British rider, representing UAE Team Emirates-XRG, secured the overall win by claiming a decisive stage victory on the challenging Alto de Cabeza de Meda climb. This triumph not only demonstrated Yates’s climbing prowess but also positioned him as a key contender for leadership within his team ahead of the Italian grand tour. In preparation for the Giro, Yates and his UAE Team Emirates squad will undertake altitude training in Sierra Nevada, southern Spain, a move designed to sharpen their form in the weeks leading up to the race. Alongside Yates, teammates such as João Almeida, Jay Vine, and Marc Soler are expected to join the training camp, signalling a collective approach to the Giro with multiple leadership options. Almeida, in particular, is seen as a strong co-leader, having already shown impressive form this season with podium finishes at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana and Volta Algarve. Despite his recent success, Yates remains committed to a team-oriented strategy, acknowledging the strength of the competition and the importance of having several riders capable of delivering results. He emphasised the need to focus on fitness and form first, stating that the outcome will follow if the team is in good condition. His cautious approach was evident in the final stage of O Gran Camino, where he opted to maintain a steady pace under challenging windy conditions to protect his overall lead rather than risk an aggressive attack. Yates’s victory at O Gran Camino marks a significant milestone early in the season and could signal a shift in his role within UAE Team Emirates, where he has often been a lieutenant to Tadej Pogačar in recent years. The upcoming altitude training and the team’s strategic planning for the Giro suggest that Yates is preparing to assert himself more prominently in the grand tour scene. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how this preparation translates into performance during one of cycling’s most prestigious races.