Clan-Members » his form doesnt hint at another last-four spot

BERNE, Switzerland -- Forget thoughts of Adam Yates settling for what he has already achieved in this Tour de France: hes ready to attack Chris Froomes overall lead.Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) has shown throughout the Tours 16 stages that he is more than capable of mixing it with the worlds best, having worked his way into third place overall and holding the white jacket of best young rider.Froome leads the Tour by one minute 47 seconds to Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) with Yates two minutes 45 seconds behind his compatriot. However, the Bury cyclist is ready to attack Froome in the Alps.Nobody is fresh. Nobody is feeling good. But you just have to push past it. And if I do have good legs then I will try something, said Yates, who began the Tour with winning a stage as one of his goals.Asked if he would attack Froome, Yates said: Why not? He is looking pretty strong and he has shown it for the whole race so far. I cant really see him having a bad day, because he is going that well.He seems to be much stronger than everyone else. If he does have a moment of weakness, then why cant you try something ... why wouldnt try something?Yates was then asked what he thought about Froomes earlier remark that, while he really admired Yates performance so far, he did not think his countryman would attack him.Froome said of Yates: He has a really aggressive race so far. Hes coping well. Is he a threat for the overall? I wouldnt look at him in the same light as Quintana. I wouldnt expect him to put me under pressure and attack in a big mountain stage. But he is holding his spot, which is extremely impressive for a rider his age.When asked about Froomes belief that Yates would not attack him, Yates replied: He wouldnt? ... Oh, well see what happens.As for whether being underestimated by Froome could be used to his advantage?Nothing is really going to change, Yates said. Sky is still going to be on the front at a super strong, super-fast tempo. People are still going to attack him. It is just whether Im feeling good and I can try something. But in terms of actual tactics, nothings really changed.However, Yates understood why Froome would consider Quintana before him as a threat. The Colombian has finished second to Froome in the two Tours he has won -- in 2013 and 2015 -- after making a late charge that ultimately came too late into the race. Quintana also became the first Colombian to win the Giro dItalia in 2014.Its my first time riding with the GC [general classification] boys, said Yates, who made his Tour debut last year for the experience. Im the underdog, Quintana has won [a] grand tour ... They should be attacking. [Australian Richie] Porte (BMC) has ridden high. Im just doing my best.The Tour resumes on Wednesday for the first of four days in the mountain range, the 184.5km from Berne to Finhaut-Emosson in Switzerland that has a summit finish.Thursdays 18th stage pits the riders over a 17km mountain time trial from Sallanches to Megève. Then on Friday, stage 19 is 146km from Albertville to Saint Gervais Mont Blanc.The last day in the Alps is Saturdays 146.5km 20th stage from Megève to Morzine. The Tour finishes on Sunday with a flat 113km stage from Chantilly to the Champs élysées in Paris. Hector Moreno Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Jonathan dos Santos Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamstore.com/javier-hernandez-mexico-jersey/ . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Alfredo Talavera Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Diego Reyes Jersey . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in.Andy Murray has a great chance of another Masters final in Rome having been placed in the opposite half of the draw to Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The British No 1, who has dropped to third in the world rankings despite his run to the Madrid final last week, will be seeking a good week to boost his chances of second spot in the seedings for the French Open.So in a tournament where he has never gone beyond the semi-final and with preparations for Roland Garros entering their final stages, we look at who could Murray face as he looks to better last year, where he withdrew before his match with David Goffin in the third round. Second Round beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 6-3 Third Round - Roberto Bautista Agut Roberto Bautista Agut has two singles tournament victories already this year Bautista Agut is one of six players with multiple titles this year and is up to No 17 in the world rankings, not far off his career best of 14 a couple of years ago.However, after winning in Auckland and Sofia in the first months of the year he has yet to find his best form during the Masters season - losing in the last 32 at Indian Wells and the last 16 in Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.Despite his Spanish roots he is more of a hard-court threat than clay specialist and Murray would not expect to have too much trouble having won both of their previous meetings without dropping a set.Quarter-Final - Tomas Berdych Murray could go head-to-head with Tomas Berdych for a second successive week A repeat of last weeks last-eight encounter with the Czech would do very nicely for Murray, who seems to have the world No 8s measure at the moment, winning the last four meetings. Berdych has yet to go beyond the semi-finals of any event this year.Murray was barely troubled last week in Madrid, coming through 6-3 6-2, and we expect more of the same this week provided Beerdych comes through a tough third-rounder against either Jack Sock or David Goffin.ddddddddddddSemi-Final - David Ferrer David Ferrer could provide Murrays semi-final opposition Stan Wawrinka is Murrays seeded semi-final opponent and while we cant rule out the Swiss, his form doesnt hint at another last-four spot.So we will go with ninth seed Ferrer to emerge from the quarter to set up a 20th career meeting with Murray, who has a 13-6 record in the head-to-head.Murray has won the last six, including a four-set quarter-final victory at this years Australian Open - however on clay Ferrer has a 4-1 record with Murrays only win coming at the French Open quarter-final last year.The 34-year-old Spaniard showed flashes of his best in Madrid despite a 7-6 7-5 defeat to Tomas Berdych in the last 16 and we think he could make a surprise run to the last four in a weak quarter of the draw. Masters of their trade Djokovic and Nadals duel at the top of the Masters tree Final - Novak DjokovicYep, its him again. It has to be Novak Djokovic, although the world No 1 is likely to have to get through Nadal in the quarter-finals and Federer in the semi-final.As if Djokovic wasnt already in ominous enough form, he has a record 29 Masters titles and is a four-time Rome winner, including each of the last two years.And as we know Murray was beaten in Madrid by Djokovic, a defeat which means the Serb has won their last four meetings and 12 of their 13 encounters since Murrays Wimbledon triumph in 2013.Another worrying trend which Murray must try to buck is that he has yet to win a clay-court encounter between the pair, the Serb has won all five previous meetings on the red dirt, including their one previous Rome meeting, a three-set win for Djokovic on his way to the title in 2011.You can follow all the action from Rome on Sky Sports throughout this week right up to the final on Sunday. Also See: Masters of their trade Murray v Djokovic - the rivalry Latest scores Video ' ' '