21/10/2022

Simon Yates "definitely looking for a change", Tour de France likely in 2023

Simon Yates is a long-time lover of the Giro d'Italia, and over the year it has often been his Grand Tour of preference. After several years of trying to take the win however, the Briton may pursue different goals in 2023.

In an interview with Velonews, the Australian team's manager Matthew White said that “it's been five years of Giro preparation for him. He is definitely looking for a change. He has had heartaches and successes there, but he is a rider who likes to go after other targets,” he continued. Yates has admitted in the past not enjoying the style of racing at the Tour de France as much, typically choosing the Giro and Vuelta as his main goals for the season.

2018 was his prime year, in which he was very close to winning the Giro after dominating the race's summit finishes throughout the opening two weeks - before a spectacular crack at the Colle delle Finestre where Chris Froome turned the race on it's head. The Briton had his revenge later in the season however, taking the overall title at the Vuelta a Espana.

He has in the years since targeted the Giro always. In 2020 and 2022 however he was forced to abandon due to Covid-19 infections. In 2019 he struggled with form and finished eighth in the GC, and in 2021 he climbed towards the podium to finish third. 2023 will unlikely see him return however, as he is looking for a change - not only in terms of Grand Tour, but most specifically his early-season calendar.

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“When you have that focus on the Giro, he takes you out of a lot of races that suit you, like the Tour of the Basque Country and the Volta a Catalunya. The way he prepares for the Giro takes you away from those other races," White said, hinting that those will be possible goals for Yates to target for Team BikeExchange - Jayco. He's hinted new signing Eddie Dunbar could take responsibility at the Giro instead, whilst the regular block will follow Yates to the Tour.

That is yet to be decided however, with the 27th of October - the Tour de France route reveal day - being an important step towards the decision-making. “We still have to look at the Tour route and then sit down with all the stakeholders and decide what is best for Simon and the team. The Tour is an option on the table," he concluded.