A thankless journey of trying to find out who apparent comedian Simon Yates really is

We take a sideways look at this mysterious figure who rarely shows much of his true self

Simon Yates
(Image credit: Getty)

There was a quote at the start of the season that really intrigued me, so much so that I think about it quite a lot. 

It was what James Knox said to this publication about his time training with both Adam and Simon Yates before last year’s Olympics, describing them as “both really funny.” 

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Chris Marshall-Bell

A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.

Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.