2025 Giro d'Italia winner Simon Yates announces retirement from cycling - 'Been thinking about it for a long time'
Updated 07/01/2026 at 15:43 GMT
React to this story
Last year's Giro d'Italia winner Simon Yates has announced his retirement from cycling with immediate effect. Yates said the decision may be a surprise to some, but admitted he had been thinking about it for "a long time", and he feels "now is the right moment to step away". The 33-year-old's victory at the Giro saw him become the second British men's cyclist to win multiple Grand Tours.
'What a moment!' - Yates reflects on 'unbelievable' and 'emotional' Giro d'Italia victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
The 2025 Giro D'Italia winner Simon Yates has announced his retirement from cycling with immediate effect.
The 33-year-old confirmed his decision on Wednesday, saying "it now feels like the right moment to step away".
Yates' victory in the Giro last June saw him become only the second British men's cyclist to win multiple Grand Tours after Chris Froome, having won the Vuelta a Espana in 2018.
He was just the third British rider to taste glory in the Giro, after Froome in 2018 and Tao Geoghegan Hart two years later.
In a message posted on Visma's website, Yates said: "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."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/06/01/image-ada6ce82-02fd-4d4e-bc45-f5afaf64f3fc-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Highlights: Simon Yates completes masterful Giro triumph as Kooij sprints to Stage 21 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
He added: "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."
Yates thanked the teammates and staff members that he worked with during his career, as well as his family and Visma, saying the team gave him "the opportunity to rewrite [his] history".
He reflected on his early days "racing on the track at the Manchester Velodrome", and later on in his career, competing in the Olympics, having represented Team GB at Tokyo 2020.
After winning last year's Giro, Yates claimed victory on stage 10 of the Tour de France in July.
It was a fitting final season for a rider whose career also included an overall victory in the Tirreno-Adriatico in 2020.
"I am deeply proud of what I have managed to achieve and equally grateful for the lessons that came with it," Yates said in his retirement statement.
"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."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/07/14/image-6e1c5e14-5886-4bfc-8ef4-6bdc1bb8739c-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Highlights: Healy snatches yellow from Pogacar as Yates seals first stage win for Visma
Video credit: TNT Sports
Visma's head of racing, Grischa Niermann, said: "With Simon, we won the Giro d’Italia last year, an incredibly special achievement for both him and the team.
"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 lifts lid on Giro triumph – and reveals he woke up thinking it was all lost
- Pogacar to win fifth Tour and third world title? Vingegaard to challenge? Predictions for 2026
- How can Pogacar finally win Milano-Sanremo? And 12 other big questions ahead of 2026
Yates had been considering whether he would compete in this year's Giro, saying in December he "would love to defend it".
Speaking at the launch of the race, Yates said: "How many people are really able to come back and have the No. 1 on their back of a Grand Tour? It's quite a unique thing to have.
"There are still some decisions to be made behind the scenes by the team on whether I'll be here or not, but I would love to defend it."
Yates gave no indication of what plans he has for retirement, but signed off his message saying "thank you for the journey".
Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season - including the Tour de France - live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement