Two-Time Grand Tour Champion Simon Yates Retires from Professional Cycling

Posted : 08 January 2026

Two-time Grand Tour winner Simon Yates has announced his retirement from professional cycling with immediate effect, seven months after his dramatic triumph at the 2025 Giro d’Italia.

The 33-year-old Briton, riding for Visma-Lease a Bike, also celebrated a stage win at the 2025 Tour de France in July, adding to an already impressive list of accomplishments. Yates first captured the cycling world’s attention with his victory at the 2019 Vuelta a España, and later joined the Dutch team on a two-year contract before the 2025 season.

“This may come as a surprise to many, but it is not a decision I have made lightly,” Yates said. “I have been thinking about it for a long time, and it now feels like the right moment to step away from the sport.”

Visma’s head of racing, Grischa Niermann, praised Yates’ career, stating: “Winning the Giro d’Italia was one of the major goals of the season, for us as a team and for Simon personally. The fact that he also won a stage in the Tour de France underlines his class. It is a shame that he is stopping now, but he does so at an absolute high point.”

Simon and his identical twin brother, Adam Yates, began their professional careers in 2014 with Orica-GreenEdge (now Jayco-AlUla). Over an 11-year stint with the Australian outfit before joining Jumbo-Visma, Simon amassed 11 Grand Tour stage wins in addition to his two overall titles. He also claimed the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in 2020.

One of the defining moments of his career came on the penultimate stage of the 2025 Giro, where Yates overtook the pink jersey on the Colle delle Finestre, the same climb where he had faltered in 2018, securing his second Grand Tour victory in spectacular fashion.

Yates expressed gratitude to Visma for their support, saying: “You gave me the opportunity to rewrite my history, and through trust and belief, we did it together.”

Representing Great Britain, Yates won the points race at the 2013 Track World Championships before transitioning to a professional road career. He competed in the Tour de France eight times, with a best overall finish of fourth in 2023, the same year his brother Adam finished third.

Niermann added: “Simon was an exceptional climber and general classification rider who always delivered when it mattered most. In the Giro, he peaked at a moment when almost no one expected him to win anymore, which truly characterizes him as a rider.”

Simon Yates departs professional cycling as one of Britain’s most accomplished Grand Tour competitors, leaving a legacy defined by resilience, tactical brilliance, and unforgettable victories.

Two-Time Grand Tour Champion Simon Yates Retires from Professional Cycling

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