{"id":400285,"date":"2026-01-08T18:48:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/400285\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T18:48:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:48:12","slug":"simon-yates-retiring-at-the-top-is-the-perfect-send-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/400285\/","title":{"rendered":"Simon Yates retiring at the top is the perfect send off"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was a statement few saw coming. At the turn of a new year, as pictures of riders in their shiny new kits began to drop and eyes started to turn to the Tour Down Under, Simon Yates dropped a bombshell. The defending Giro d\u2019Italia winner would be retiring immediately<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It makes perfect sense. This is a rider deciding to end his professional career on his own terms. Few have the luxury. He is now in the fortunate position thanks to his maglia rosa success that he can probably take some time off with his family before thinking about his next career move.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

For Yates to retire now is to avoid the fate that has bestowed fellow Brit Chris Froome. A career marked by the highest of highs, only for the lowest of the lows to come calling through horrific injuries leading to a career that is petering out into radio silence.<\/p>\n

Yates ends his career on a definitive high note. A moment of greatness. You won\u2019t see a better mic drop moment than the redemption Yates found in 2025. The Colle delle Finestre was the site of his race-losing implosion in 2018, but fast forward seven years it was the climb where he dared to dream and won the Giro \u2013 his second Grand Tour.<\/p>\n

\"\"Tim de Waele\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The moment sums him up perfectly<\/a>. He stayed quiet throughout the race, waiting in the wings as Isaac del Toro commanded the spotlight; a silent assassin, ready to strike when his moment came, and a perfectly executed plan to get the job done.<\/p>\n

He went out in the same way. There was no guard of honour, no waving goodbye, no special jerseys, just the announcement. While we don\u2019t know when he made the decision and when he informed his team \u2013\u00a0especially given he was modelling Visma-Lease a Bike\u2019s new kit as one of the team\u2019s captains within the last couple of weeks \u2013 it feels fitting for the man we\u2019ve come to know.<\/p>\n

Yates now has time to plan out his post-cycling career. He is, after all, just 33 years of age. Whatever he decides, he has cemented his legacy as one of the all-time great British cyclists and finished it off with one of the greatest Grand Tour heists in history.<\/p>\n

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