Simon Yates
Simon Yates is a British climber who has spent much of the last decade operating at the sharp end of stage racing. He is not a rider defined by constant dominance, but by his ability to return, adjust and remain relevant in an unforgiving discipline. His career is built on strong legs, hard lessons and a growing sense of control.
Early years and shared beginnings
Born in 1992 in Bury, England, Yates entered cycling alongside his twin brother Adam. The two progressed through the British development system, often racing the same programmes and pushing each other forward. Before fully committing to the road, Simon also competed on the track, winning the world title in the points race in 2013.
Turning professional
Yates turned professional with Orica GreenEDGE in 2014. He showed early signs of endurance and composure over three weeks, finishing tenth at the 2015 Vuelta a España. It was not a headline result, but it marked him as a rider with genuine stage race potential rather than a short term climber.
Giro 2018, promise and collapse
The 2018 Giro d’Italia became a defining chapter. For two weeks Yates was the strongest rider in the race, winning three stages and controlling the maglia rosa with authority. In the third week, his race unravelled in dramatic fashion. It was a public failure, but also a moment that reshaped his approach to Grand Tours.
Redemption at the Vuelta
Later that same season, Yates returned at the Vuelta a España with a different mindset. Riding with restraint rather than urgency, he took overall victory in Madrid. The win confirmed that he could manage a three week race and not just animate it.
A constant presence at the top
From 2019 onwards, Yates remained a regular contender in WorldTour stage races. Victories at Tirreno Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie underlined his consistency, while podium finishes and high placements in Grand Tours showed a rider who could still compete at the highest level, even if perfection over three weeks remained elusive.
The final crown
In 2024, Yates moved to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. It quickly felt like a late career reset, and it turned into a final act with real weight.
In May he lined up for the Giro d’Italia and rode his way into the race’s defining moment. On the Colle delle Finestre, the climb that had undone him in 2018, Yates flipped the script. He took the maglia rosa on the very road where his Giro dream once collapsed, dropping Isaac Del Toro and Richard Carapaz when it mattered most.
Later that season he shifted roles at the Tour de France, working in support of Jonas Vingegaard. Even so, he still found a way to leave his mark, winning stage 10 from the breakaway with the kind of timing and restraint that only comes from experience.
That Giro turnaround and the Tour stage win would prove to be his last major statement. In January 2026, Yates surprised the sport by announcing his retirement.
