‘It’s better to stop than to prolong the suffering’ – Adam Yates on twin Simon’s shock retirement
Adam Yates is currently at the Tour of Oman where he hopes to defend his 2025 title with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and ahead of the race, he opened up about his twin brother’s shock announcement just a week into 2026.
Simon Yates announces surprise and immediate retirement
The 33-year-old had a contract until the end of 2026.
“He spoke to me a couple of times [about retiring]. Obviously I was in Australia [for the Tour Down Under] and he was in Europe so with the time zone it was quite tricky to talk,” Yates told gathered media. “But he was saying [he was] not feeling it, not motivated, and that’s it. If you’re not happy doing something, then it’s better to stop than to prolong the suffering. We’ve been in this sport for a long time, I turned pro in 2014, so it’s 11 or 12 years now, that’s a long time, but actually we’ve been riding our bikes since I was eight or nine. Eventually you get tired of something and you need to change and do normal life … He’s enjoying life actually.”
Yates was then asked if he’s ever toyed with early retirement himself, but he was quick to reassure that he’ll be around at least to the end of his current UAE contract, which runs through 2028.
“Me? No, I enjoy riding the bike and I’m here for the next three years at least. I think if you enjoy it, you keep going for as long as you can. He was not enjoying it, so he decided to stop, and that’s how it is. I think if you’re happy with what you’ve achieved and you’re at peace with what you did in your career then you can stop and enjoy the rest of your life, enjoy normal life.”