The news of Simon Yates' sudden retirement announcement sent shock waves across the sport, especially in Spain, where many riders were gathered in training camps.
Everyone is focused on preparing for the new season, with new goals and new motivation, so Yates' announcement was a bolt from the blue. Yet it also touched a nerve with riders about the intensity, stress and demands of the sport.
Matteo Trentin raced alongside Yates at Mitchelton-Scott when Yates won the 2018 Vuelta a España. The Italian is now 36 and still hungry to race but praised Yates for his bravery to decide to retire.
"You have to be brave to quit. He's decided to stop and he's done it with a mic drop. Boom! He's gone out on top, as a Giro winner. Chapeau," Trentin told Cyclingnews.
"I'm surprised but not too much. Modern cycling has become super stressful, especially if you ride for the GC in stage races and Grand Tours like Simon did. He could never have a 'day off' and then there's more training camps, more specific work and more pressure.
Matteo Trentin rides in the European Champion Jersey on stage 10 of the 2019 Tour de France alongside Mitchelton-Scott teammate Simon Yates (Image credit: Getty Images)
"Perhaps he's just had enough of all the stress… He won the Vuelta and he won last year's Giro. He won a stage at the Tour and won a Tour with Pogačar. He has little else to achieve.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I don't think he woke up and suddenly decided to quit today. I imagined it had been on his mind for a while and had been eating away at him."
Larry Warbasse didn't know about Yates' retirement when he sat down to talk to Cyclingnews outside the Tudor team hotel in Moraira on the central Costa Blancas coast. The US rider is 35 and like Yates has been a professional for over a decade.
But he has no thoughts of retirement himself and has a new two-year contract with Tudor. He was shocked to hear about Yates' sudden announcement.
"Are you kidding? That's insane!" was Warbasse's immediate reaction. "It's not like he was slowing down, he won the Giro!"
Warbasse also highlighted the stress of modern-day professional cycling.
"I can understand him," Warbasse said. "When we turned pro, the sport was a lot more balanced in general. You didn't have to be as crazy about everything. Not everyone can handle that, especially the riders who turned pro when I did, back in 2012.
"I imagine that at Visma it's a step higher, for the level of dedication and precision they aim for. Of course, if you can do it, it's super rewarding but not everyone is capable of being that switched on for always.
"That's perhaps what led Simon to call it a day. I'm happy for him if he is happy but it's sad for the sport to lose a great rider so suddenly."
Cyclingnews will cover all of the 2026 cycling transfers from around the men's and women's pelotons with news, analysis, and an updated transfer index, to make sure you don't miss a thing this transfer season.
Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
