"I'm looking forward to racing in Catalunya again" - Simon Yates is ambitious ahead of next week's Volta a Catalunya

Back from a racing break, Simon Yates will return to the bunch at Volta a Catalunya on Monday. The Jayco AlUla leader is looking to finally breakthrough at the Spanish stage race where fourth overall from 2018 remains his best result to the date.

"I had a busy start to the season with the Tour Down Under and then straight to the AlUla Tour. Both races are important for the team, and it was nice to get the win in AlUla. After that I had a bit of illness, but it’s good to be pinning a number on again and lining up with the guys."

"Obviously, there will be a lot of guys racing here with either Paris-Nice or Tirreno in their legs, so we will have to see where I’m at compared to the rest during the week."

"I always enjoy racing Catalunya, especially the circuit on the last stage in Barcelona," he refers to the traditional final he's already won in 2018. "I didn’t finish the race in 2022 and I had a different program last year, so I’m looking forward to going back again and getting stuck in."