SIMON and Adam Yates have been given a free rein by Orica GreenEdge team director Matt White to go for a stage win in the final four days of the Tour de France.

White says the Bury twins had been “cut off the leash” before yeaterday's first stage in the Alps, which saw Adam join a successful breakaway before eventually finishing 10th.

The 22-year-old cyclists, who are regarded as two of the best young climbers on the tour, now have three more stages in the Alps remaining to try to claim their debut race victory.

"Cut them off the leash, they’re off GC (General Classification) so they can go for it," White said of what approach the team will take with them in the final mountain stages.

"Simon’s obviously back from illness but we’ll see what happens, see what the Alps brings to him.

"Adam is in good shape as we saw in the past but it’s just getting into the right break.

“With those guys, we are going into uncharted territories with the fatigue of the third week.

"Adam did the Vuelta last year and he felt it. It’s another level up here at the Tour.

“They are in good shape at the moment but things can change in that last week fatigue wise, particularly with the young ones."

Simon has dropped back in the overall classification since finishing in the top 40 of the opening individual time trial and eighth in the third stage.

A crash on the way to Huy the next day and a virus have dented his progress but he showed he could pose a threat in Saturday's14th stage, when the former Bury Clarion rider was dropped in the final three kilometres of a breakaway before finishing 10th.

Adam, meanwhile, moved up to ????? in the overall classification after his third top-10 finish of the race.