Simon Yates will start his 2020 season in Australia, for the first time since joining Mitchelton-Scott, before rebuilding for a return to the Giro d’Italia.
Yates will complete a full Australian campaign, kick starting in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under, before heading to Victoria for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and a mountainous Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
After spending 13 days in the Maglia Rosa in 2018 and failing to meet his own expectations, finishing eighth overall, in 2019, the 2018 Vuelta a España champion will return for the third consecutive season to the Giro d’Italia, on his way to another key season target, the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I have always wanted to do the Aussie summer. Of course riding for an Australian team there is more pressure, but I really enjoy getting stuck into racing and giving it a good go. With these being our home races, the boys are super motivated to give everything.”
“I would love to hit the ground running, so when any opportunities to take my own chances come, I hope to grab them with both hands.
“After competing in both the Giro and the Tour last season, I was extremely tired and so we decided as a team to stop earlier than normal to give myself the best possible preparation for 2020.
“Winter has been going great so far and I have just finished a very important block of training in Gran Canaria, but I will fly out early to Australia to be able to adapt to the heat.”
