The future of former Vuelta a Espana winner Simon Yates looks very much undecided at the moment. Having spent his entire professional career to date riding with Team Jayco AlUla in its various guises, Yates is yet to extend terms in his contract year.
According to Team Jayco AlUla's Brent Copeland, Yates has been given a deadline to decide his future plans by the team. "If it’s our choice then it’s between 10 days to two weeks because we have to make decisions as well," the Team Jayco AlUla boss told GCN recently. "He’s very relaxed about these things but we can’t wait too long. We have to be sure of what’s happening. There’s not many GC riders on the market."
In terms of where he would go if leaving Team Jayco AlUla, the premier British-based team, the INEOS Grenadiers are reportedly not looking to progress with talks for the only British Grand Tour winner never to have raced in their colours. According to the latest reports however, there is indeed a team that is interested in the 31-year-old.
Reported by the respected Italian journalist, Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is the Israel - Premier Tech team who are emerging as the leading potential suitors for Yates, who secured himself overall victory at the UAE Tour earlier this year.
In terms of the riders Israel - Premier Tech have for Grand Tours in 2025, Yates would seemingly become their main GC threat. The likes of Chris Froome and George Bennett's days of challenging in the overall at a Grand Tour have passed talented American prospect Matthew Riccitello, it is perhaps still too soon. As such, a move to bring Yates, the 2018 Vuelta a Espana winner and ten-time Grand Tour stage winner, into the Israel - Premier Tech fold is an understandable move.
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