Simon Yates 'would love to defend' Giro d'Italia title as 'discussions' continue over Visma-Lease a Bike Jonas Vingegaard involvement
Updated 01/12/2025 at 21:03 GMT
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Simon Yates has said he "would love to defend" his Giro d’Italia title as details of next year's stages were unveiled at the race launch in Rome on Monday. However, the 32-year-old admitted it is "not fully my decision", while confirming that discussions are ongoing concerning Jonas Vingegaard's involvement. The 2026 edition of the race will start in Bulgaria before travelling north through Italy.
'What a moment!' - Yates reflects on 'unbelievable' and 'emotional' Giro d'Italia victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) has said he "would love to defend" his Giro d’Italia title as details of next year's race were unveiled in Rome on Monday.
The British rider sealed his first Giro title in the Italian capital at the start of June, finishing almost four minutes ahead of Mexico's Isaac del Toro in second.
The 33-year-old is keen to defend his title in the 109th edition of the Giro, which will start in Bulgaria, but has said the decision is not only up to him.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 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.
"I have to say there's a lot of decision-making behind the scenes, a lot of discussions. I would love to be here, but it's not fully my decision."
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Highlights: Simon Yates completes masterful Giro triumph as Kooij sprints to Stage 21 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
The victory saw Yates 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 the third British rider to taste glory in the Giro, after Froome in 2018 and Tao Geoghegan Hart two years later.
Reflecting on the win on Monday, he said: "Even now, when I see the images, I still become emotional. What a moment for me, really still unbelievable, actually."
Fellow Visma-Lease a Bike rider and two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard has hinted at the possibility of racing in next year’s Giro.
The Dane has spoken of his desire to complete the set of Grand Tours with victory on what would be his debut in the race.
Asked about Vingegaard’s potential involvement and what this would do to his position, Yates said: "This is all part of the discussions in what would happen and also what that would do for my year, with the Tour de France too.
"So, a lot of discussions happening all last week with the team, a lot of meetings every day, quite exhausting.
"But we're getting to the finer details now, so hopefully you guys can have some real information soon."
It has been confirmed that next year’s Giro will start in Bulgaria, on the edge of the Black Sea, on Friday, 8 May.
The race will then move into southern Italy and head north through Naples, Tuscany and Milan, before the crucial mountain stages.
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It will once again conclude in Rome, with the final stage taking place on Sunday, May 31.
The 21 stages will cover 3,459km and will include 49,150m of altitude gain.
There will be just one individual time trial on the Tuscan coast, while there are set to be eight flat stages, seven medium-mountain stages and five mountain stages.
Asked about next year's course, Yates said: "Nothing really jumped out; it looked like a really hard race as always, maybe stage 19 looked really, really hard, somewhere you can make a big difference."
Stage 19 is the final mountain stage, involving two climbs up to Piancavello and covering 199km.
Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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