“It gets harder every year, but I still enjoy it” – Adam Yates has no plans to follow twin brother Simon Yates into early retirement

For the first time in more than a decade, Adam Yates is racing through the peloton without his twin brother alongside him. Simon’s sudden decision to step away from professional cycling at the start of 2026 sent shockwaves through the sport, not least because it came just months after one of the defining seasons of his career.

Yet speaking from the UAE Tour, Adam made clear that, for him, the decision did not come out of nowhere and that it has not triggered any immediate self-reflection about his own future.

Simon Yates’ abrupt retirement in early January landed like a thunderclap across the peloton. A Grand Tour winner walking away while still operating at the highest level is a rarity in modern cycling, and the timing left teams, rivals and fans scrambling to process the implications.

For Adam, however, the conversation had already happened privately. He explained that the brothers had spoken about Simon’s intentions well before the announcement, even if doing so across continents was far from straightforward.

“I wasn’t surprised, because we’d already talked about it together,” Adam says in quotes collected by Sporza. “That was a bit tricky, because I was in Australia at the time and Simon was in Europe. Because of the time difference, it wasn’t easy to talk things through properly.”

That context helps explain why Adam appears at ease with a situation that has unsettled much of the cycling world. From his perspective, Simon made a clear, considered choice rather than a sudden emotional decision.

“He knew what he wanted and made a decision. I’m really happy for him and for everything he’s achieved in his career,” Adam added.

While Simon is now enjoying life away from racing, Adam is continuing his own path with UAE Team Emirates, insisting that the demands of the modern peloton have not dulled his motivation.

“It doesn’t feel strange, because we’d already been riding for several years on different teams,” he said, addressing the reality of racing without his twin for the first time in 12 years.

He also pushed back against the idea that Simon’s decision might spark a parallel move of his own. Asked whether twins often thinking alike could extend to retirement plans, Adam was unequivocal. “Not yet,” he laughed. “I still have at least a contract running until the end of 2027 with UAE.”

That answer speaks directly to the wider debate triggered by Simon’s exit. His retirement has fuelled discussion about burnout, the rising level of competition and whether the sport is demanding too much, too early, from its leading riders. Adam does not deny that the challenge is increasing, but his enjoyment remains intact.

“The level in the peloton keeps rising, and it gets harder every year,” he said. “But I still enjoy the bike, the racing and the training.”

Simon Yates’ decision has left a noticeable gap within the elite ranks and prompted questions about how teams adapt when a proven Grand Tour rider walks away without warning. It has also sharpened the contrast between two brothers who have shared much of their careers yet now occupy very different places in the sport.

For Adam, the message is simple. His twin’s retirement was understood, respected and even anticipated, but it is not a blueprint he feels compelled to follow. At least for now, the grind of professional cycling still holds its appeal, even as it grows more demanding with every passing season.