Yates brothers extend their stay with Aussie World Tour team

MITCHELTON-Scott have pulled off a coup, with the Australian team signing British twins Adam and Simon Yates to new deals.

MITCHELTON-Scott have pulled off a coup, with the Australian team signing British twins Adam and Simon Yates to new deals.

Two of the most promising general classification contenders in the world, the brothers signed fresh two-year contracts to continue their evolution with the Aussie World Tour team.

The pair have taken seven World Tour victories this year alone, with three coming from Simon in a glittering Giro d’Italia’s where he wore the leader’s Maglia Rosa for 13 days.

“There’s always offers and there’s always interest when you’re winning bike races. But we started here and there was never really any reason to change and we’re excited about another two years,” Adam said.

Adam Yates says he and brother Simon thought it was important to show loyalty to the Australian team. Picture: AFP

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“At a lot of teams there’s a lot of pressure and with this team they know we want to win bike races and it’s just a good environment to perform. We’re pretty chilled and laid back and this team suits us down to the ground and it’s an easy environment to perform in.

“Hopefully we can take the Grand Tour victory that the team want, and that we want. We just have to keep working and it’s going to happen.”

Asked if there was any desire, as British citizens, to race for British outfit Team Sky, Simon said: “It’s a very stressed environment there, I believe.

“There’s always a possibility, I guess, but it’s really not how we are as people. For me personally, when I’m relaxed it’s when I’m at my best.”

Simon Yates is looking for more success with Mitchelton-Scott. Picture: AFP

The brothers joined the team as 21-year-old’s and turned professional there. It’s that history that made it an easy decision for them to stay with the team that owner Gerry Ryan started in 2011.

“The team really knows us as riders and people. That’s what really attracted me to re-sign because we’ve got a relationship now,” Simon said.

Mitchelton-Scott sports director Matt White said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for us and we continue the journey we started four years ago.

“We had them when they were kids and they turned pro with us and you can see the development they’ve made with us.

“It is a relief because we didn’t want them to go anywhere else. We want to keep them as long as we can because we’ve got a lot of faith in them.”

Originally published as Yates brothers extend their stay with Aussie World Tour team