Imagine being at the pinnacle of your sport, reigning as a champion, only to abruptly step away from it all. That’s exactly what Simon Yates did, leaving the cycling world in shock. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: his twin brother, Adam Yates, reveals that Simon is now embracing a life he never had the chance to live as a professional bike rider. What does this mean for the Yates brothers, and what’s next for Simon? Let’s dive in.
Since his unexpected retirement as the Giro d'Italia champion, Simon Yates has been exploring a world beyond the relentless pressure of elite cycling. According to Adam Yates, a top pro himself with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Simon is finally enjoying the freedom to pursue interests he had to put on hold during his racing career. It’s a refreshing change of pace for someone who spent 13 years dominating the WorldTour, with victories in the Giro, Vuelta a España, and multiple Tour de France stages—including one as recently as 2025.
Adam has been the go-to person for answers since Simon’s retirement announcement in January, which came on the heels of a stellar run with Visma-Lease a Bike. Over a month later, Simon is still training, but with a newfound sense of purpose and flexibility. And this is the part most people miss: retirement doesn’t mean he’s stopped moving forward—it just means he’s moving in a different direction.
Now, let’s shift gears to the upcoming race season. With Isaac Del Toro on the start line, UAE Team Emirates is poised to defend Tadej Pogačar’s crown from last season. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Del Toro is the clear leader for the team, Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe looms as a significant threat after his explosive start to the season. Adam Yates, a former GC winner himself in the UAE Tour (2020) and a four-time podium finisher, didn’t hold back in declaring Del Toro the team’s top contender.
‘I’m not here for GC,’ Adam stated plainly. ‘On paper, this race suits me, but there’s a flat time trial, and Remco is here—he’s exceptional at those. Isaac’s no slouch in TTs either. When you have a card like that to play, you back him.’ He added, ‘This isn’t a race with multiple mountain stages where we can use numbers to our advantage, like in Europe. Here, it’s flat with a climb at the end—a different dynamic. You back the best horse, and our horse is Isaac.’
Adam played a key role in supporting Del Toro at last season’s Giro, where the 22-year-old Mexican nearly clinched the maglia rosa, finishing second to Simon Yates after the final mountain stage. Despite falling short, Del Toro’s talent and maturity at such a young age have left a lasting impression on Adam. ‘I think he surprised himself last year,’ Adam noted. ‘Even at the start of the season, he wasn’t at his peak, but he’s made adjustments to his training and taken a big step forward. He’s super smart—he listens to his body, takes advice, and puts it all together. As long as he stays grounded and keeps working hard, the sky’s the limit.’
But here’s a thought-provoking question: With Del Toro’s rapid rise and Simon’s sudden retirement, are we witnessing a changing of the guard in cycling? And what does this mean for the future of the sport? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a discussion!
