Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Simon Yates (cyclist)

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 31, 2025

Discover the career path of Simon Yates (cyclist), from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Simon Yates is a British professional cyclist currently riding for Visma–Lease a Bike. Known for his Grand Tour stage wins and general classification victory at the 2018 Vuelta a España, he also won gold in the points race at the 2013 Track Cycling World Championships. Following a doping ban in 2016, he has secured over thirty professional victories, including multiple stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España. He won the young rider classification in the 2017 Tour de France. His twin brother, Adam Yates, is also a professional cyclist, and Simon has resided in Andorra since 2015.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2010: Selection for Commonwealth Games

In 2010, at the age of 18, Yates was selected for the England team for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where his room-mate was Chris Froome.

2013: Gold Medal at Track Cycling World Championships

In 2013, Simon Yates won the gold medal in the points race at the Track Cycling World Championships.

2013: Breakthrough on the Road and Tour de l'Avenir

In 2013, Yates made his breakthrough on the road, riding for the British national team and winning two stages at the Tour de l'Avenir, finishing tenth overall.

2014: Joins Orica–GreenEDGE and Tour de France Debut

In 2014, Yates joined Orica–GreenEDGE, finished 12th overall in the Tour of the Basque Country, suffered a broken collarbone in the Tour of Turkey, and made his Tour de France debut.

April 2015: Fifth Overall in Tour of the Basque Country

In April 2015, Yates finished fifth overall in the Tour of the Basque Country.

2017: Young Rider Classification in Tour de France

In 2017, Simon Yates won the young rider classification in the Tour de France.

2017: Stage Wins and Young Rider Classification in Tour de France

In 2017, Yates secured stage wins at Paris–Nice and the Tour de Romandie. He also finished 7th overall at the Tour de France and won the young rider classification.

2018: Victory in Vuelta a España

In 2018, Simon Yates won the Vuelta a España, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2018: General Classification in Vuelta a España

In 2018, Simon Yates won the general classification in the Vuelta a España.

2019: Giro d'Italia Disappointment

In 2019, Simon Yates aimed for the general classification at the Giro d'Italia, publicly stating that he considered himself as "the number one favourite" for the race. He finished 8th overall, which he described as "heartbreaking".

2020: Season Suspension and Tour Down Under

In 2020, Yates started his season in Australia and took top-ten finishes at the Tour Down Under. The racing was later suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Contract Extension and COVID-19 at Giro d'Italia

In 2022, Yates extended his contract with Mitchelton–Scott and won Tirreno–Adriatico. He abandoned the Giro d'Italia after testing positive for COVID-19.

2024: Contract Extension and Spanish Racing Block

In July 2024, Yates extended his contract with Team BikeExchange–Jayco. He then started a Spanish block of racing with a victory in the Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia one-day race, and also won the Vuelta a Castilla y León stage race.