Simon Yates stopt abrupt met fietsen!

Dear all,
I have made the decision to retire from professional cycling.

This may come as a surprise to many, but it is not a decision I have
made lightly. I have been thinking about it for a long time, and it now
feels like the right moment to step away from 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 competing and
winning on the biggest stage and representing my country at the
Olympic Games, it has shaped every chapter of my life.

I am deeply proud of what I have managed to achieve and equally
grateful for the lessons that came with it. 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.

To everyone who has supported me along the way, from the staff to my
teammates, your unwavering belief and loyalty made it possible for me
to realise my own dreams. Whenever I doubted myself, you never did.
Thank you.

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. Thank you.

To my family, you shared the sacrifices that came with this 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. Thank you.

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.

Thank you for the journey.
Simon Yates

 

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Yates sluit zijn carriere af met 36 overwinningen. Zijn Giro zege van afgelopen jaar springt het meest in het oog net als zijn zege in de ronde van Spanje in 2018. Daartussen vele etappe overwinningen in de grote drie rondes en in kleinere koersen. Afgelopen seizoen scoorde de ene helft van de tweeling ook een prachtige overwinning in de Tour in Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy. Dit ging toen ten koste van Thymen Arensman, die later nog op zijn eigen wenken bediend werd.

Naast de Giro en Vuelta won hij ook grotere voorbereidingskoersen als Tirreno-Adriatico, maar ook de Tour of the Alps en de Alula tour.

Velen zullen hem echter ook herinneren aan zijn dominante optreden in het begin van de Giro van 2018, gevolgd door een monumentale inzinking. Juist dat gebruikte hij ook om in 2025 zijn gram te halen. Wellicht was daarom ook de cirkel rond voor de tweelingbroer van Adam Yates. Die laatste blijft overigens gewoon nog fietsen.