Adam Yates edges out twin brother Simon to win stage one of Tour de France

Adam Yates edges out twin brother to win stage one of Tour de France

Adam Yates has recorded a famous win in stage one of the 2023 Tour de France, edging out his twin brother into second on a route which started and ended in Bilbao.

The 30-year-old, a former fourth-placed finisher in the 2016 edition, got the better of identical sibling Simon Yates during the closing stages to secure his first-ever stage triumph in this race.

British rider Yates, who is representing UAE Team Emirates, was able to finish four seconds in front, while the fast-finishing Tadej Pogacar was third.

A batch of 12 players, which included last year's champion Jonas Vingegaard, also finished 12 seconds adrift of the victor on a day where Great Britain's Fred Wright initially broke away from the peloton to lead during the early stages before finishing down the field.

Speaking after the race, Adam Yates said: "It's just amazing. I am super happy.

"My brother came across to me and then we started working together. At first I didn't know if I should work with him - I asked on the radio and they said 'yeah go for it'.

"I knew Simon was going good, I speak to him every day, we are really close and yeah just sharing this experience with him is really nice. I just wish he would have pulled up a bit easier because he almost dropped me at one moment."

Sunday's second stage also takes place in Spain, beginning in Vitoria-Gasteiz and finishing in San Sebastian after a 209km stage which is the longest of this year's race.

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