On Wednesday, there was some seemingly shocking news in pro cycling.
The 2025 Giro d’Italia winner Simon Yates quietly called time on his career. Although it was a surprise to fans that the Brit had chosen to retire, it was a decision that did not come overnight and one that reflects the unforgiving nature of life at the elite level, according to his former directeur sportif.
A decision a longtime coming
Speaking to Feltet.dk, Yates’ Danish DS Jesper Mørkøv explained that the choice ultimately came from the rider himself. “First and foremost, it’s a real shame that he’s stopping,” Mørkøv said, before stressing that the motivation had faded. As he understands it, Yates “simply lost the desire” to continue at the highest level, and that was decisive.
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Yates has also been clear that the call was his own, made after a long period of reflection. According to the Visma-Lease a Bike staffer, the retirement fits into a wider discussion within the sport. The demands of modern pro cycling have intensified, and staying among the very best requires an enormous personal cost.
Mørkøv, who is the younger brother of former pro Michael, said that it has been debated for years just how much is required to remain on cycling’s top shelf, adding that after many seasons in the peloton, Yates had simply “run out of steam.”
An impressive career with some big wins
Few can argue that Yates squeezed everything out of his career before stepping away. In his final season, he claimed a Tour de France stage and delivered a memorable overall victory at the Giro d’Italia, sealed with a bold long-range attack on stage 20 — a day when Mørkøv himself sat in the team car. It was one of the most exciting days of racing in recent years, with a well-earned win for the 33-year old. His twin brother Adam, btw, will continue to race for at least two more years on Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Emirates squad.
Beyond the results, Mørkøv remembers a rider of rare intelligence. He described Yates as not only strong in terms of raw power, but also tactically sharp, often positioning himself in ways that puzzled observers but made perfect sense within the race context .
With a Vuelta a España title from 2018, the Giro win and stage wins in all three Grand Tours, Yates leaves the sport on his own terms and at the top of his game.