This year, Adam Yates wants to try to win the Giro d'Italia. He tells us directly, without beating around the bush and without fear of having a huge ambition, which he himself defines as an extremely difficult mission. Yesterday, on the eve of the six-day races between Muscat Classic and Tour Of Oman, the organization provided the opportunity to interview riders in total relaxation, literally by the pool of a gigantic hotel in the middle of nowhere. All around, desert and heat that very much reminds of the Italian summer, a climate very different from the previous shortened edition due to unexpected rain. Adam Yates arrives at the start as the reigning champion and is more determined than ever to defend his title.

The British champion's winter has been about change, first and foremost the birth of his son Noah, which brought him a very particular type of training. "It was all very strange, it's a new challenge, perhaps the biggest I've had in my career, but I'm extremely happy. I can say that for the first time I trained a lot with my arms, I now consider myself an expert at putting him to sleep and especially at changing diapers. He's still very small, five months old, but I can't wait to tell him what I do, who knows maybe he'll start watching me on television, one more fan would really be helpful," Adam says, holding back emotion, and just hearing him speak is enough to understand how fatherhood will play a fundamental role in his life as a rider and certainly provide an extra boost. After the training camp with the team in December, he worked a lot in Andorra, where he has been living for several years, and focused on specific sessions, completely overturning his previous plans. "Usually I aimed to peak early in the season with the UAE Tour, but this time it's completely different, if I want to target the Giro I need to build myself up gradually and especially start the season more relaxed, otherwise it will be impossible to be at the top of my form in May," Adam explains – "I believe I've worked very well during the winter, but then racing is a whole different story and especially I have a great challenge ahead: being at my best for the pink race, but also being in top form for the Tour where I'll work for Pogacar."

Looking towards the Giro in May, the Tour of Oman represents a perfect start to test the legs, but especially to set aside big pressures. "I believe races like the Tour of Oman are an excellent test to understand how we've worked in the previous months, I really like the course, but the wind is a huge unknown. Compared to the UAE Tour, there are shorter and more explosive climbs, exactly the ones I like, and I can't wait to put myself to the test. Last year there was such strange weather that forced organizers to shorten all stages, making it a different race with very short climbs, I think I even set a couple of climbing records, but this time it will be different." Yates continues, who could already aim for the Muscat Classic won last year by his teammate Fisher Black.

There's still a long way to go before the pink race, but it seems Yates doesn't want to leave anything to chance, especially because on paper the course is not very suitable for his characteristics. "I've always looked at the Giro as a dream, I've only raced it once in 2017 and maybe that's precisely why I have such a desire to return. In the meantime, I've changed a lot, I've grown as a rider, I have more experience and know what I can do and how far I can go, I believe this is the best moment in my career to attempt the assault, after all, if I don't try, who can ever say if I have any chance of winning it?" – Adam continues – "certainly it's not a course very suited to my characteristics, even too simple for a rider like me: there are no major climbs and the two completely flat time trials are not ideal for a pure climber like me, but it will be beautiful precisely because of this." Primoz Roglic has also announced wanting to target the pink race, but first and foremost Adam Yates will find his twin brother Simon on his path, who will directly challenge him in a family showdown. "I'm very close to my brother, we practically talk every day, I believe he's an exceptional rider. At the Giro, for the first time, we'll be against each other, it will be strange, perhaps crazy for some, but I'm sure it will be absolutely beautiful". And if these are the premises, we can already say that a truly heated pink race is in store.