Simon Yates is going to be taking to the start line at Tirreno-Adriatico for the first time in his career.
He will be hoping to go one better than his brother, Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), at the race after he lost the overall by one second last year to Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).
Roglič and Adam Yates are racing for yellow at the Tour de France this year, with Adam wearing yellow.
Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), in the meantime, has his focus firmly set on pink in October. His season target is to win the overall at the Giro d'Italia and Tirreno-Adriatico is an ideal warm-up race.
>>> Tirreno-Adriatico 2020 route: Stages for revised 55th edition
In a Mitchelton-Scott press release, Yates said: "I’m looking forward to the race and excited to be there for the first time. Normally I would race Paris-Nice while Adam (Yates) would be here in Tirenno as we split responsibilities.
"Looking onwards to the Giro, my condition is always improving and I’m looking forward to get stuck into this race as it’s an important hit out.
"On a side note, I am excited to have a go to try and get that unique trident trophy."
This will be a good test for the man from Bury with some very tricky days, including a few stages that will test the climbing legs as well as a 10km individual time trial on the final stage.
It's very important that Yates performs well in the ITTs as he will have to ride three at this year's Giro against some traditionally stronger riders against the clock, with Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo) set to start in October.
>>> Five things to look out for at the Tirreno-Adriatico 2020
Those same riders are riding Tirreno, along with other GC men for the Italian Grand Tour, so it will be a good test.
Sports director at Mitchelton-Scott, Gene Bates said: “We are going in pretty pointed; Simon will be the leader and we will be going after stage results first and foremost and obviously that has a knock-on effect for the GC.
“With the TTT being replaced by another sprint stage this year, it really comes down to the Queen mountain stage on stage five and the final individual time trial. Those will probably be the biggest factors in the overall battle.
“It will be a good loading event pre-Giro d’Italia and everyone is really one their roles and responsibilities.”
Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
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