Winner of two stages in the Tour l’Avenier recently, Simon Yates, is now second after all after a truly second epic stage in the Tour of Britain.
![]() |
The leading under 23 rider in the country, Simon Yates, is also the leading Under 23 rider in the Tour of Britain after fourth on stage 2 in the Lake District. The young rider, who is hoping for a top 10 overall in the race, and to hopefully spark some interest from pro teams, is quite surprised by his place on GC in a race with many a star rider.
Simon (right) crosses the line in 4th on Stage 2 and is now second on GC.
“I am pretty happy with being second on GC really. I was feeling a bit stiff and cold before we hit the final climb and wasn’t sure how I’d go but I went full gas and managed to get a good result. I couldn’t ask for much more reallyâ€
The race he said was quite controlled despite the tough terrain and conditions they were racing over. “There were a few little digs by a few guys like Lovkvist went off at the end and gave it a real good go and finished third. I think everyone was happy though for the race to be controlled in those conditions.â€
Simon, like me who was on a motorbike and travelled the whole course, agreed that many of the little climbs in between the KoM’s were harder and that on the big climbs no-one was really going full gas to split the race wide open. “Not really. Dan Martin and Quintana had a go but no-one else really wanted to follow and I think Sky kinda blocked the road and tried to put people off going.â€
“I think people were happy enough to roll up as it was hard enough just doing that.†Talking about the finish climb, “that was a bit unexpected†says Simon. “I heard there was going to be a bit of a kick up but I didn’t expect that. I normally go well on those type of finishes so I thought ‘I’ll give this a good shot even though I was quite far back.â€
“I did make up quite a lot of ground but Ciolek had already gone and Sam Bennett so I just went full gas and nobody went with him and I just hoped I could hold on.â€
Simon says he had 39×27 on his bike for the stage today and he used all of that on the steep climb (Honister). He added that the roads in Britain are always pretty grippy and hills steep. Simon then said how Jon Dibben helped the team getting in the early break and how Jon, a first year senior, is going really well. “I’m impressed! He’s still a first year senior and he was looking good on the first day as well getting up there in the sprint.â€
Not everything went to plan for Simon’s GB team though as his brother Adam, second overall in the Tour l’ Avenier, crashed on stage 2 of the Tour of Britain. “He fell on the steep descent of Honister when he hit a bit of a pot hole and his stem snapped. He was lucky in the fall though in not being too badly injured but he was on his own for the last 60k.â€
The next stage for Simon is the Time Trial. “I have done a few in stage races but nothing major. I’m expecting something outside the top ten with all the riders in the pro teams being stronger than me. I am though going to give it 100 per cent and hope I am still up there on the GC.â€
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Wolsey RC 10m TT
- TT Result: Seamons CC 25m TT
- STARTLIST: National Youth Circuit Series (Wyke)
- Result: Spring in the Park #8
- Result: National Masters Circuit Championships
- Result: Matlock CC Darley Moor Circuit Race #4
- Result: North East Youth League (NEYL) 5
- Result: West Thames League Rnd 14
- Result: On Yer Bike Crit Series #6
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Update
- Result: Bath CC Odd Down Mid Summer Series Round 1
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday Round 14
- Result: PNE Mountbatten Circuit Series #7
- Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 13
- Result: Sheffield Grand Prix Support Races
- RESULT: Sheffield Grand Prix
- Result: Forge Valley Crits #3 P/B YBC
- Result: Hove Park Crits #2
- TT Result: VTTA (London & Home Counties) 10
- Result: CCA Summer in the City Crits #11
- Result: AIRC Course de Deux #1
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 9
- Result: Cream First Criterium Series 10
- Result: Chorley CC UCLAN Series 3
- Result: Cowley Road Condors Road Race (women)
- TT Result: AeroCoach Midland Championships
- TT Result: North Devon Velo 10
- TT Result: Jubilee Rumble Strip 10
- TT Result: Muckle CC TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Wheelers CC 18
- TT Result: Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club 10
- Result: White Rose Youth League R7
- Result: Surrey League/London Dynamo RR
- TT Result: RTTC National 100 Mile Championship
- TT Result: Zak Carr Memorial 10
- TT Result: Yorkshire Cycling Federation 50
- TT Result: Port Sunlight Wheelers 10
- TT Result: Lindsey Roads CC 10
- TT Result: Lea Valley CC 10
- TT Result: Alltrax 10m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth Circuit Series (Wyke)
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Update
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2
- Report: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 1
- STARTLIST: Owen Blower Memorial Road Races
- Events: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- News: May Pedal Club Lunch
- RIBBLE PARTNERS WITH THE BIKE FITTERS
- Monday: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- British Stars for Women’s Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain Riders 2025
- BIKES: RIBBLE UNVEILS ULTRA-RACE
- Women’s Tour of Britain Routes
- STARTLISTS: 2025 Lincoln Grand Prix
- STARTLIST: The Witham Hall Grand Prix
- Startlist: Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
- FEATURE: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH REPORT (APRIL)
- 2025 BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUTES
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy (April 27)
- News: Teams Revealed for the Women’s Tour of Britain
- Startlist: CiCLE Classic International
- Sunday: CiCLE Classic UCI Road Race
- News: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage Hosts
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Startlists: Witham Hall Junior Two Day (Men & Women)
- Startlist: Totnes-Vire Two Day