With Esteban Chaves no longer riding for GC, Orica-GreenEDGE entered today's stage of the Vuelta a Espana in survival mode. However, Adam Yates felt good and decided to test his legs.

British neo-pro Adam Yates was ORICA-GreenEDGE’s top performer on a brutal stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana today, finishing in 33rd position. 

After putting a halt to the general classification ambitions of Esteban Chaves as the young debutant began to show signs of fatigue over the past couple of days, the goals for the team were conservative on today’s stage that featured no less than four category one climbs.

“Even though our main priority was just to get through, once the race came together again after the first break Adam said he felt good,” sport director Neil Stephens said.

“He wanted to see how he would fare and when he got to the foot of the last climb there was only 25 riders left and he was there.

“The last climb was a good test for him, he was on the limit but he just rode up the last climb at normal pace.”

Yates’ final time was ten minutes 33seconds behind stage winner and race leader Alberto Contador (TCS).

Earlier in the day, 2012 Vuelta a Espana stage and mountains classification winner Simon Clarke made a promising move of 13 riders but as the races main overall contenders got active on the first climb of the day, they were swallowed back in the bunch.

“Simon made a really good break and for whatever reason the race really lit up behind,” Stephens said.

“He did really well to get in there and he was right to go but on the first climb, which was after ten kilometres, the guys behind went for it and he was caught before another break went away with all the major guys in the race.”

After three consecutive mountaintop finishes, tomorrow brings the much awaited second rest day of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana.