Giro d'Italia champion Simon Yates announced Wednesday that he is retiring from professional cycling, just seven months after claiming the biggest victory of his career.

The 33-year-old Briton, a two-time Grand Tour winner, enjoyed what was arguably his finest season in 2025, backing up his Giro triumph with a stage victory at the Tour de France in July.

“This may come as a surprise to many, but it is not a decision I have made lightly,” Yates said in a statement released by his team, Visma-Lease a Bike. “I have been thinking about it for a long time, and it now feels like the right moment to step away from the sport.”

A Career Defined By Highs, Lows, And Redemption

Yates spent more than a decade in the professional peloton, much of it alongside his twin brother Adam, initially racing together at Jayco-AlUla.

He first announced himself on the world stage with a seventh-place finish at Paris-Nice in 2016 at the age of 23, but later that year tested positive for a banned substance and received a four-month suspension after his team doctor accepted responsibility for failing to apply for a therapeutic use exemption.

Months later, Yates claimed his first Grand Tour stage win at the Vuelta a España, where he finished sixth overall.

His most turbulent season came in 2018 when he dominated the Giro d’Italia, winning three stages and wearing the pink jersey, before suffering a dramatic collapse on the Colle delle Finestre on the third-from-last stage. Compatriot Chris Froome went on to win the race.

In a remarkable twist of fate, it was on that same climb in 2025 that Yates found redemption, launching the decisive move that secured his Giro d’Italia title.

Grand Tour Success And A Peaceful Farewell

Yates rebounded quickly from his 2018 disappointment, winning the Vuelta a España later that season to claim his first Grand Tour title.

His best Tour de France finish was fourth place in 2023, just behind his brother Adam. Over his career, he recorded three Tour de France stage wins, six at the Giro d’Italia, and two at the Vuelta, while also winning the prestigious Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in 2020.

“To my team, Team Visma-Lease a Bike, thank you for your understanding and support of my decision to stop now,” said Yates, who still had one year remaining on his contract.

“I step away from professional cycling with deep pride and a sense of peace. While the victories will always stand out, the harder days and setbacks were just as important. They taught me resilience and patience, and made the successes mean even more. This chapter has given me more than I ever imagined.”