Yates brothers 'aiming higher' at next year's Tour de France
Orica-GreenEdge team is planning on both British brothers Adam and Simon Yates riding the 2016 Tour de France, with an eye on the overall classification
The Yates twins, Adam and Simon, will return to the Tour de France when it begins from France's northwest next July if all goes according to plan. They will race for stage wins, and perhaps the overall, say team Orica-GreenEdge.
After Simon raced half of the 2014 edition, they debuted together in the 2015 Tour. They both collected two top 10 stage finishes over the three weeks.
"I spoke to them at the end of the season, and I'll do so again," Sports Director Matt White told Cycling Weekly. "We can run a similar template to 2015, but aim for higher."
>>> Adam and Simon Yates: Britain’s future Tour de France winners?
White wants the already successful 23-year-olds to improve on every level throughout the season. Instead of ninth place in the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race, which Adam achieved, White would like to see a podium spot.
Simon placed fifth overall in the Vuelta al País Vasco, sixth in the Tour de Romandie, and fifth behind Sky's Chris Froome in the Critérium du Dauphiné. Adam won the Clásica San Sebastián after the Tour and placed second in the GP Montréal.
"A successful year next year would be to podium on some of those WorldTour stage races," White continued.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"They will be a great option next year in Ardennes Classics, like Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, we already have Michael Albasini and Simon Gerrans, but they give us two other options.
“Simon placed top 10 in Huy when the Tour de France finished there, so there is no reason he can't ride well in Flèche Wallonne."
>>> Tour de France route 2016 confirmed
Orica's other developing grand tour cyclist, Colombian Esteban Chaves is on course to return to the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. White explained that the 25-year-old is further along in his career and can already aim for an overall win after placing fifth and winning two stages in the Vuelta this August/September.
The Yates's path will look very similar to 2015, with one in Tirreno-Adriatico and one in Paris-Nice, and both likely returning to the Dauphiné stage race in June ahead of the Tour's start from Mont Saint-Michel.
Watch: Yates vs Yates
"At this stage, I'm not going to rule out those guys getting through the first week unscathed. We'll have a better idea in six months' time obviously," White said.
"This year we deliberately cruised through the first week and then targeted some stages. They achieved a lot, and we are going to see more next year. I'm not going to rule out those guys racing for the GC. Worse case, they get caught up in some action, lose time, and we just go back to the same plan as [2015] and we try to win a mountain stage."
Tour organiser ASO unveiled the race's 2016 route on Tuesday in Paris. The Yates's will have their chances early on, with stage two including ramps up to 14 per cent in its finale.
"Half the Tour de France is suited to them," White added. “There won't be a lack of opportunities.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place’ ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
I’m a fat cyclist; these are the top 3 misconceptions people have about bigger riders and why they’re wrong
After my recent 'We're fat cyclists' reel went viral, I realized I had hit a nerve
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
Jayco AlUla set out to win 'every single stage and the GC' at the Tour Down Under
With Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp all on one team, the team's big goal for their home race might be in reach
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I've not really had any bad races, I've been consistent throughout' - Adam Yates on his best year yet
The unassuming Lancastrian was thrust into the spotlight this year when he took the Tour's first yellow jersey and held it for eight days
By Adam Becket Published
-
Adam Yates says ‘less pressure’ key to Tour de France third
UAE Team Emirates co-leader says he still thinks Tadej Pogačar is the best rider in the world despite defeat by Jonas Vingegaard
By Vern Pitt Published
-
A one-two was always the dream: Simon and Adam Yates' mum on a wild start to the Tour de France
‘There would have been a lot of banter afterwards’ says the mother of the UAE and Jayco-AIUla riders
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Adam Yates: Going one-two with your twin brother at the Tour de France, not many can say that
Adam beats Simon Yates in Bilbao, but says his brother will be a 'pain in the ass' in the coming weeks
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘A perfect week for us’ – Adam Yates wraps up overall title in Romandie
Briton will now turn his focus to preparing for the Tour de France
By Peter Cossins Published
-
Adam Yates insists his Grand Tour dream is not over: 'When I am at my best, I am amongst the best'
The Briton admits that one week racing is his strength but hasn't given up on the Grand Tour dream
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
BikeExchange safe from WorldTour relegation, no more 'scrapping over points to the death'
"The points system is clearly broken" says Matt White, team's head directeur sportif
By Adam Becket Published