Never seen ! Adam Yates won this Saturday, in Bilbao, the first stage of the Tour de France 2023. And therefore the yellow jersey, like his British compatriots Chris Froome (59 times), Geraint Thomas (15), Bradley Wiggins (14) or even Chris Boardman (6). The said Adam Yates is experiencing this happiness for the fifth time. As for the duel with his twin brother, it is however a great first.
Certainly, we had already seen two Britons in the first two places of a stage of the Tour de France, with Bradley Wiggins ahead of Chris Froome in 2012. But it was on a time trial. This time it was an online stage. Above all, it was not just any Brits who took the first two places in Bilbao, but two brothers, Adam and Simon Yates.
So far, the Schleck brothers had been the last to do so in 2011, when Andy won ahead of his eldest Fränk on the 18th stage of the Tour. Before them, there had been the brothers Henri and Francis Pélissier four times between 1919 and 1923. Except that there, Adam and Simon are not just brothers, but twins. And this is unheard of in the history of the Tour de France. Note that they had already done the double, with Simon ahead of Adam. It was about ten years ago at the Tour de l’avenir.