Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Wednesday, 07 January 2026, 17:05 / Updated on Wednesday, 07 January 2026 17:05
British Simon Yates (33 years old), winner of last year's Giro and in 2018 in the Tour of Spain, announced that he is retiring from the activity with immediate effect.
One of the important cyclists of recent years, Simon Yates surprised by announcing his retirement with immediate effect, a decision he explained at length in a message posted on social media.
The abruptly communicated decision was all the more surprising since the 33-year-old driver had managed to impose himself in Tour of Italythis being the second career victory in a Grand Tour, after the one in Return 2018.
“It may come as a surprise to many, but it's not a decision he took lightly. It's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and now seems like the right time to get out of the sport,” begins Yates' message.
“Cycling has been a part of my life since I can remember. From competing on the track of the Manchester velodrome to doing it and winning on the biggest stages and representing my country at the Olympics, it has polished every chapter of my life”, continues the emotional parting of the British sport.
Simon Yates: “Proud and grateful for the lessons”
“I am extremely proud of what I have been able to achieve and equally grateful for the lessons that have come with it. While the wins will always stand out, the tough days and setbacks are just as important. They taught me resilience and patience and made success even more meaningful“, Simon also noted.
He thanked everyone who supported him along the way, from the staff to his teammates. “When I doubted, you didn't“, he emphasized. He continued with his gratitude to his team, Team Visma-Lease a Bike, where he arrived in 2025, after a decade at Orica-GreenEDGE: “for understanding and supporting the decision to stop now. You gave me the opportunity to rewrite my history. We succeeded together”.
Simon Yates during a stage of the 2025 Tour de France Photo: Imago Images
He did not forget his family, who shared with him the sacrifices of sport. “Absences and missed anniversaries were never easy to digest, yet you understood what the journey meant to me and supported me wholeheartedly. I owe you more than I could ever express in words“, contained the emotional paragraph.
In closing, Yates assured that he is leaving professional cycling with pride and a sense of peace. “This chapter has given me more than I could have ever imagined. Memories and moments that will stay with me long after the races are over. Thanks for the ride,” concluded Simon Yates.
With Simon I won the Tour of Italy last year, an incredible achievement, special for him and the team. It was one of the big goals of the season, and the fact that he also won a stage in the Tour de France shows his class. It's a shame that he's stopping now, but he's doing it while he's at the top. He is an exceptional climber and always delivered when it mattered most – Grischa Niermanndirector of competitions at Visma
Yates has 3 stage wins in the Tour de France, 6 in Il Giro and two in La Vuelta, triumphs in the 2020 Tirreno-Adriatico and the 2021 Tour of the Alps, also being the 2013 world champion in the points race.
In 2016, the UCI dictated a four-month suspension against him after he tested positive for terbutalinea banned substance, which is why he could not compete in Le Tour. His team at the time, Orica, took full responsibility for the positive control after the doctor did not apply for the therapeutic exception for Yates' asthma inhaler.
