In a move that has sent shockwaves through professional cycling, British rider Simon Yates has announced his immediate retirement from the sport at the age of 33. The decision comes less than a year after his crowning achievement: a spectacular victory in the 2025 Giro d'Italia.
A Career Defined by Grand Tour Glory
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider made the announcement on Wednesday, stating he was stepping away with "deep pride and a sense of peace" after a 13-year professional career. His palmarès is formidable, boasting two grand tour victories, 10 elite stage wins, and 36 professional race triumphs.
Yates confirmed the news via social media, writing: "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."
The Sweet Taste of Rome: A Final, Defining Victory
His retirement is framed by the memory of his magnificent performance in Italy last June. Yates sealed his 2025 Giro d'Italia win with a daring attack on the race's final mountain stage over the Colle delle Finestre, a victory that echoed his breakthrough 2018 Vuelta a España title.
Reflecting on that moment in Rome, Yates called it "a huge moment in my career, a defining moment maybe." He added: "I’ve spent a lot of my life targeting this race. There’s been a lot of setbacks, and it has been hard to deal with. I’m in disbelief that I have finally managed to pull it off."
With this win, the Lancastrian joined an elite club of British riders, becoming only the third after Chris Froome and Tao Geoghegan Hart to claim the maglia rosa. Cycling analyst William Fotheringham hailed Yates's "display of courage and cunning" as one of the sport's great heists.
From Bury to the World Stage
Yates's final victory as a pro came in the form of a mountain stage win during the first week of last year's Tour de France in the Auvergne, adding to two stage wins he took in 2019. His journey began alongside his twin brother, Adam, racing in their hometown of Bury before rising through the ranks of British Cycling.
His prodigious talent was confirmed early when he became the points race world champion in 2013. In his retirement statement, Yates paid tribute to the sport that shaped him: "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... it has shaped every chapter of my life."
He expressed profound gratitude for the support system around him, stating: "To everyone who has supported me along the way... your unwavering belief and loyalty made it possible for me to realise my own dreams. Whenever I doubted myself, you never did."
Simon Yates leaves the sport not just as a champion, but as one of Britain's most accomplished and respected riders of his generation, choosing to depart at the pinnacle of his success.
