Yates has learned from experience that he's better off not putting his body through the continued rigours of a general classification bid, telling an online press conference of the difficulties associated with his illness.
"In the last couple of years I've not had the ideal preparation and then we've gone into the race targeting GC and it's not gone to plan," said Yates. "I think it would be silly to do that again. I've been sick, it was quite a severe illness.
"Targeting GC is a big ask and if you're not 100 per cent you're going to be left behind. There are a lot of stages this year for the breakaway, and I think that there will be a lot of chances."
Yates' performance at the traditional Tour de France lead-up race, the Critérium du Dauphiné, improved as he went, fading away in the high mountains at the start of the race, but being part of the front group on the final, incredibly tough stage that concluded the race.
"I wasn't 100 per cent at the Critérium du Dauphiné but I went in and every day I was getting better and better," said Yates. "I got in the break and I was up there. Then I had a few days rest and it was straight into the recon camp.
"Every day I'm getting better and every day I'm feeling more like myself. It's not been ideal but I'm getting better."
Yates has his attention set further afield as well, with the Vuelta a España the next potential objective, before the Briton joins INEOS Grenadiers for the 2021 season. Yates pushed back against suggestions that his move to INEOS would compromise his performances for the Australian WorldTour squad.
"There's still the Vuelta at the end of the year that might happen but the team knows that it doesn't matter what happens, I'm always going to try my best," said Yates. "That's always been the case since I turned professional in 2014. The whole Tour is going to be an attacking and aggressive race."
The decision to leave for INEOS and split with twin brother Simon Yates, who will remain at Mitchelton-Scott, wasn't an easy one for Adam Yates.
"I started my career here, six or seven years ago," said Yates. "It wasn't an easy decision but I'm happy with what I chose. I made my mind up a couple of weeks ago and it moved pretty quickly from there."
The Mitchelton-Scott Tour de France team doesn't have an Australian present in it for the first time, but promises to be one of the more visible throughout the Tour de France, with an attacking line-up that includes last-year stage winner Daryl Impey, Yates and Esteban Chaves as its protected riders.
The Tour de France begins on August 29, with every stage broadcast on SBS HD and the ŠKODA Tour Tracker.
