Sibling Rivalry and Ambition: Simon Yates Sets His Eyes on Giro d'Italia

British cyclist Simon Yates embarks on a compelling quest for victory at the Giro d'Italia as a key member of the newly restructured Visma-Lease a Bike team. Having transitioned from his long-time home at Jayco-AlUla, Yates is eager to return to the top of the podium, expressing his desire to embrace this fresh chapter in his career.

"These are very exciting times. I want to be back on the top step. It's always scary to make a change but it was one I needed to make."

Yates, 32, has an impressive history with the Giro, having narrowly missed out on winning Italy's prestigious race in 2018 when he lost ground to Chris Froome in the later stages. Nevertheless, he has claimed six individual stage victories in recent years, showcasing his resilience and talent.

As the Giro approaches, Yates reflects on his relationship with the race. "It's a race I have a lot of history with, bad and good. I will go back to the Giro [in May] - I feel really inspired to go there again."

This year, Simon is expected to face stiff competition, particularly from top rivals including Primoz Roglic of Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe and Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost. However, the excitement doesn't end there—his twin brother Adam Yates could also emerge as a challenging contender, racing for UAE Team Emirates while supporting his teammate Juan Ayuso.

The prospect of competing directly against Adam adds another layer of intensity to the Giro. "Me and my brother are always very competitive in races," Simon acknowledges, hinting at the possibility of their sibling rivalry continuing through the Tour de France later in the season.

Joining Simon in this endeavor is two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard, whom Simon will assist as they both aim for cycling glory. Vingegaard is looking to reclaim his prestigious yellow jersey, after a challenging previous season.

The upcoming season positions Simon Yates not only as a contender for the Giro d'Italia, but also paints an exciting narrative of competition and camaraderie within the cycling community as brothers prepare to race against each other at the highest level. This thrilling dynamic makes it a season not to be missed!

As Simon gears up for the challenges ahead, he expresses confidence in both his abilities and the support of his team: "This is a very professional team - I'm really looking for all the smallest details possible. Fine details is where I can make some gains."

Expect to see Simon start his season at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race across Italy in March, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating journey for both him and his brother!