Simon Yates will no longer be part of the professional peloton next season. The 33-year-old Brit, who last year secured victory in the Giro d'Italia, has decided to end his career immediately. This was announced by his team Visma | Lease a Bike in a press release.
"I have made the decision to stop racing professionally," Yates says in the statement. "This may come as a surprise to many, but it is not a decision I took lightly. I have been thinking about it for a long time, and now it feels like the right moment to say goodbye to the sport."
"Cycling has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From racing on the track at the Manchester Velodrome to battling and winning on the biggest stages and representing my country at the Olympic Games – it has shaped every chapter of my life. I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved and equally grateful for the lessons that came with it. While the victories will always stand out, the tough days and setbacks were just as important. They taught me resilience and patience and made the successes all the more valuable."
Giro and Vuelta
Yates turned professional in 2014 with Orica GreenEDGE, the predecessor of the current Jayco AlUla. The climber spent eleven seasons with the Australian squad and during that time won numerous major races, including six stages in the Giro d'Italia, two in the Tour de France, and two in the Vuelta a España. He also took the overall victory in the latter Grand Tour in 2018. That same year, he appeared to be on course for the Giro d'Italia overall win but completely collapsed on the stage over the Colle delle Finestre.
In 2025, his first and now evidently only season with Visma | Lease a Bike, he took revenge for that collapse. On the penultimate day of the Giro, aided by an impressive Wout van Aert, he claimed the pink jersey in a remarkable mountain stage over that same Colle delle Finestre. He then went on to win the Giro the following day. Representing Visma | Lease a Bike, he also won his third stage in the Tour de France later that year.
Gratitude
Yates thanks everyone who supported him along the way. "From the staff to my teammates: your unconditional trust and loyalty made it possible for me to pursue my own dreams. When I doubted myself, you never did. Thank you. To my team, Visma | Lease a Bike: thank you for your understanding and support of my decision to stop now. You gave me the chance to rewrite my history, and through trust and belief, we did that together. Thank you."
"To my family: you shared in the sacrifices this sport demanded. The absences and missed birthdays were never easy, but you understood what this journey meant to me and supported me fully. I owe you more than I could ever properly express. Thank you."
Yates says goodbye to professional cycling "with deep pride and a sense of peace." "This chapter has given me more than I ever dared to dream. Memories and moments that will stay with me long after my career has ended and in everything that comes next. Thank you for the journey."
