Simon Yates, one of Britain’s most accomplished cyclists and the reigning Giro d’Italia champion, has announced his immediate retirement from professional cycling at the age of 33. The news, which broke on January 7, 2026, comes as a shock to many in the cycling world, especially given Yates’ recent string of high-profile victories and his central role within Team Visma | Lease a Bike. For fans and teammates alike, it marks the end of a storied career defined by resilience, late-career resurgence, and some unforgettable moments on two wheels.
Yates delivered the news in a heartfelt personal message published on his Instagram account and the team’s website. "This may come as a surprise to many, but it is not a decision I have made lightly," Yates wrote. "I have been thinking about it for a long time, and it now feels like the right moment to step away from the sport." He went on to reflect on the arc of his career, tracing his journey from the Manchester Velodrome to the grand stages of the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. "From racing on the track at the Manchester Velodrome, to competing and winning on the biggest stage and representing my country at the Olympic Games, it has shaped every chapter of my life."
Yates’ retirement comes on the heels of a season few riders could dream of. After taking a pay cut to join Visma-Lease a Bike in 2025, Yates was expected to play a supporting role. Instead, he delivered a career-defining performance at the Giro d’Italia, rising from a secondary team leader to seize the overall victory. His attack on the Colle delle Finestre during stage 20, a climb that had haunted him since his 2018 collapse, became the stuff of legend. Yates bided his time, bridged to the leaders, and, after a series of accelerations, broke free to summit in the virtual race lead. By the finish, he’d secured the maglia rosa by nearly four minutes, completing one of the sport’s most extraordinary redemption arcs.
Just six weeks later, Yates added another feather to his cap, claiming a mountain stage win in the first week of the Tour de France. That victory, his eleventh in a Grand Tour stage, would prove to be the last of his professional career. Head of Racing Grischa Niermann of Team Visma | Lease a Bike summed up the sentiment within the squad: "It is a shame that he is stopping now, but he does so at an absolute high point. 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 be able to win anymore, which truly characterises him as a rider."
Yates’ palmarès is as impressive as it is varied. He first made waves on the track, becoming points race World Champion in 2013 before shifting his focus to the road. Alongside his twin brother Adam, Simon joined Orica GreenEdge in 2014, making his Tour de France debut that same year. His early years were marked by promise and a steady climb through the ranks. In 2016, however, Yates faced a significant setback: a four-month suspension following a positive test for terbutaline, attributed to a therapeutic use exemption administrative error. The incident forced him to miss the Tour de France, but he rebounded later that year with a stage win and sixth-place overall at the Vuelta a España.
The following season, Yates captured the white jersey for best young rider at the Tour de France, and in 2018, he experienced both heartbreak and triumph. After dominating the first half of the Giro d’Italia and winning three stages, Yates lost his lead dramatically on the Colle delle Finestre. Yet he rebounded later that season to win the Vuelta a España, riding a measured, strategic race and claiming his first Grand Tour overall title. "While the victories will always stand out, the harder days and setbacks were just as important. They taught me resilience and patience, and made the successes mean even more," Yates wrote in his retirement message.
The years that followed were a mix of highs and lows. Between 2020 and 2022, crashes and illness limited Yates to just one Grand Tour finish out of five starts. Still, he managed a podium at the 2022 Giro and a career-best fourth overall at the 2023 Tour de France, where he and Adam finished first and second on the opening stage in Bilbao. Despite the challenges, Yates’ ability to deliver when expectations were at their lowest became a hallmark of his career.
Yates’ final chapter with Visma-Lease a Bike was marked by selflessness and team spirit, often supporting the ambitions of Jonas Vingegaard and others. Yet, when the moment called, Yates seized his chance at the 2025 Giro and wrote a new ending for himself. "To my team, Team Visma–Lease a Bike, thank you for your understanding and support of my decision to stop now. You gave me the opportunity to rewrite my history, and through trust and belief, we did it together," he wrote. He also expressed gratitude to his family for enduring the sacrifices demanded by elite sport: "The absences and missed birthdays were never easy, yet you understood what this journey meant to me and supported it wholeheartedly. I owe you more than I can ever properly express."
The announcement of Yates’ retirement leaves a notable gap in both the Visma-Lease a Bike climbing roster and British cycling at large, following the recent retirements of Geraint Thomas and Lizzie Deignan. While Yates’ popularity may never have matched some of his contemporaries, his legacy is secure—defined by resilience, tactical brilliance, and the ability to rise when the odds seemed longest.
Yates did not outline specific plans for his post-cycling life, instead choosing to frame his retirement as a decision made with clarity and peace. "I step away from professional cycling with deep pride and a sense of peace. This chapter has given me more than I ever imagined. Memories and moments that will stay with me long after the racing ends and for whatever comes next." For now, the sport bids farewell to a rider who made a habit of rewriting his own story—right up to the very end.
