News: Simon Yates to race TDF

Both the Yates brothers will be racing this years Tour de France with Simon racing for Aussie team Team Jayco AlUla with the aim of stage wins in the mountains

News: Simon Yates to race TDF

Britain’s Simon Yates to race the Tour de France: Team Jayco AlUla has named its strong and versatile eight–rider team for the 110thedition of Le Tour de France starting on Saturday, 1st July in Bilbao, Spain.

Two-time stage winner Simon Yates will lead the Australian outfit’s dual approach, as the squad targets both the sprint and mountainous stages (Simon).

Simon Yates: “On paper it looks really good and a course that suits me quite well, so I’m really looking forward to this year’s edition. I always love racing in the Basque Country, so to be starting there is very special. The narrow roads, the steep climbs, the amazing Basque fans, I think it is going to be really memorable.

We have a well-built team and clear objectives, for me of course the goals are in the mountains. I had a different build up to the Tour this year with less racing and more training and I have good sensations, so we will see. As we’ll be targeting sprint stages with Dylan, it will be full on for us with a dual approach and everyone is very excited to get started. It’s the Tour, everyone wants to be a part of it, and every edition I start, is a real privilege.”

A heavy start
Starting in the Bilbao and heading north to cross the border into France on stage three, 2023 has the foundations for an exciting ‘Grand Depart’ that will test the climber’s legs from the get-go. Unlike other recent editions, the Pyrenees will make an appearance early on, as opposed to the Alps, and the first hill-top finish comes on stage six, making the opening week a potentially pivotal one for the general classification battle.

The limited number of time trialling kilometres, with only one race against the clock coming in at 22km in length, may also influence the overall classification fight. Culminating on the Champs Elysée before the final stage moves to Nice for 2024, one thing is for sure: it is all set to be a memorable edition.

Team Jayco AlUla at the 2023 TDF:
Simon Yates – (GBR) 6th appearance

Lawson Craddock – (USA) 3rd appearance
Luke Durbridge – (AUS) 9th appearance
Dylan Groenewegen – (NED) 6th appearance
Chris Harper – (AUS) Debut appearance
Chris Juul-Jensen – (DEN) 6th appearance
Luka Mezgec – (SLO) 4th appearance
Elmar Reinders – (NED) Debut appearance