ANALYSIS: Visma's signing that should make UAE very afraid ahead of 2025 Tour de France
CyclingSaturday, 04 January 2025 at 11:21
After Tadej Pogacar's victory at the 2024 Tour de France, Team Visma | Lease a Bike's reaction had to come by 2025. The Slovenian's rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard right now is on the side of the UAE star. And the Dutch team knows it.
For that reason, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has taken this past off-season very seriously. In the cycling transfer market, several moments have been realized. But none as outstanding as the signing of Simon Yates. The Brit has immediately become the favourite to serve as Vingegaard's super domestique at the 2025 Tour de France. Given his track record and talent, UAE Team Emirates - XRG should be very fearful of the duo of Yates and the Dane.
Simon Yates already knows what it's like to win a grand tour. In 2018 he took the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. He also has 6 stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, 2 in the Tour and 2 in the Vuelta itself. He is one of the best cyclists in the world in the Grand Tour over the modern era.
Moreover, he himself is aware that his arrival at Visma is mainly to help Vingegaard. A similar case to that of Mikel Landa when he signed for Soudal Quick-Step. For the Belgian team the move worked out wonderfully, with the Basque 5th overall in the 2024 Tour and key to Remco Evenepoel being able to climb the podium.
The battle of the domestique brothers?
The fight between UAE and Visma for the Tour de France 2025 looks set to be beautiful. Along with what Pogacar and Vingegaard can do to each other in the grand finale, we will also be able to enjoy the battle between the "domestique brothers".
Adam Yates is likely to be part of the UAE lineup to serve Pogacar. With Simon Yates now on the other side, the feeling is that everything has become much more equal between the two teams. And that's not to mention the Joao Almeida, Sepp Kuss and company who could also be key to the fight.
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