While his brother Simon has been busy riding his first Tour de France, Adam Yates has been taking part in his first ever high-altitude training camp. Apparently, his efforts have been fruitful as he won today's hard Italian one-day race GP Larciano.

British neo-pro Adam Yates has recorded his third victory of the season, taking out the GP Industria & Artigianato in Italy this afternoon.

Yates, who also won this year’s Tour of Turkey, comfortably outsprinted Davide Formolo (ITA) for the victory.

“Coming from the track background I am still pretty quick in these little finishes, especially went it is just climbers,” Yates said.

“I raced Formolo quite a lot last year because he was an under 23 as well so obviously I knew him from that.

“Obviously there is always a doubt but in the back of my mind I knew I had a good advantage over him and it obviously came off.”

Yates came into the race fresh off his first ever altitude camp, the 21-year-old and the team unsure of how he would respond.

“It has had a positive effect already,” Yates said.

“It was the first time I have been to altitude, so to win so early is always a good sign and hopefully it continues.

“I wasn’t really sure (how I would race). The last couple of days of training camp I was feeling quite good and quite strong but you never know, training is a lot different than racing.

“I have got a couple of big weeks coming up soon and it would be great if it continues.”

As the race moved through the first and flatter circuit of the 199.2km course, ORICA-GreenEDGE played a game of patience as a number of moves attempted to get away.

Once on the final punchier circuit, the team played a more active role on the front of the peloton.  With an escape group ahead, Yates bridged the gap and went away with Formolo and Francesco Bongiorno (BAR). The latter was dropped on the final descent to the finish.

“When we came onto the final hilly circuit, our guys got on the front,” sport director David McPartland said.

“(Sam) Bewley and (Brett) Lancaster did most of the work, not necessarily to bring the break back, but to have a presence, get involved in the race and set it up position wise for our climbers.”

Heavy rain added a difficult dynamic to the descents, and with 40km left to ride a group of 27 riders, including Yates and Damien Howson, survived at the front.

“We were on the back foot a little bit because we only had two guys and other teams had three or four,” McPartland said.

“On the second last lap Howson set it up for Adam coming into the climb.

“Everyone was saying how quick Fornolo was, but we were confident Adam was fast as well and he won quite easily in the end.”

This weekend’s Italian double-header continues tomorrow with the Giro della Toscana. McPartland is confident of another strong day for the ORICA-GreenEDGE squad.

“Tomorrow we have some more cards to play,” McPartland said.

“We have eight good guys here and they are all ready to put it on the line for who ever we decide to lead.”