British cyclist Adam Yates smashes head-first into the tarmac at UAE Tour… but is allowed to carry on before asking his team what happened over radio – and not remembering it

British cyclist Adam Yates was forced to withdraw from the UAE Tour after suffering a concussion following a nasty accident in which he crashed head-first into the asphalt.

The 31-year-old crashed while filming the final climb of stage three on Wednesday with 47 kilometers to go, when another rider appeared to hit his rear wheel while he was in the peloton.

Yates crashed onto the track at full speed and, although the rest of the peloton managed to avoid him, was visibly shaken when he got to his feet.

Despite the heavy fall, the UAE Team Emirates rider was allowed to get back on the bike and continued until halfway up the climb, before stopping to retire with approximately 10 kilometers remaining.

Speaking after the finish, Yates’ team-mate Jay Vine revealed that the Briton had no memory of crashing.

Yates was assisted by his team on the road and was later diagnosed with a concussion.

“He doesn’t remember hitting the ground, so our thoughts are with him,” said Vine, who placed second Wednesday to take the lead in the race.

“It’s not the way you’d want to see one of your teammates quit the bike race.”

Under the rules of the UCI, world cycling’s governing body, cyclists must be evaluated for concussions after an accident.

The medical protocol, which was implemented in 2020, outlines a series of key steps that teams must follow in the event of a major accident.

Passengers must be screened for any “observable signs of concussion,” such as loss of consciousness or a “blank or blank stare.”

Memory tests, mental exams, and a quick spinal and neck exam are mandatory steps to take during a roadside evaluation.

The protocol also notes that “a delayed withdrawal should be performed after five minutes have elapsed from the end of the immediate withdrawal section.”

On Wednesday, Yates spoke briefly with one of the UAE Team Emirates directors before getting back on the bike following his accident.

The team later said its directors had not seen any footage of the accident when they helped the Briton and later confirmed that Yates had been diagnosed with a concussion.

Yates fell off his bike while riding in the peloton with 47 kilometers to go

The Briton crashed headlong into the asphalt after falling off his bicycle

“Unfortunately, Adam Yates has been diagnosed with a concussion following his accident today at the UAE Tour,” the team announced on social media.

‘He is stable with other superficial injuries. For the sake of Adam’s health and per concussion protocols, he was removed from racing.

“He will need recovery and the medical team will continue neurological monitoring and rehabilitation in the future.”

Yates won the Tour of Oman earlier this month and was a favorite in the UAE Tour, which he won in 2020 and finished second to Tadej Pogacar in 2021 and 2022.