Simon Yates says he is ‘ready to start racing again’ as he takes to the start line for the first time this season at Ruta del Sol.
Yates, winner of the 2018 Vuelta a España, will race the five-stage event in southern Spain as preparation for his bigger goals later this year.
The 26-year-old said he will be looking to support his Mitchelton-Scott team-mates, including twin brother Adam and Jack Haig.
>>> Ruta del Sol 2019 live TV guide
Yates said: “I am looking forward to starting racing again, it is a new race for me so I am looking forward to that and I know some of the roads quite well around Granada so that also helps.
“But really I am just ready to start racing again.
“We have a few guys who have already raced who are going quite well, like Adam and Jack, so I will just try to support them as much as possible.”
Yates finished his 2018 season by winning the Vuelta, taking a stage win along the way.
He then rode the World Championships in British colours and started the Giro dell’Emilia but didn’t finish either of those races.
His 2018 season was a revelation, as he took his first Grand Tour win in Spain, after leading the Giro d’Italia for two weeks before falling out of contention dramatically on the penultimate mountain stage.
He left Italy with three stage wins, and the experience no doubt contributed to his victory in Spain four months later.
In 2019, Yates is targeting the Giro after the "bitter taste" the race left him with last year.
>>> Ruta del Sol 2019 start list
Brother Adam is looking strong in the early season, having won a stage of the Volta a Valenciana earlier this month.
He said: “This will be my first time racing Ruta del Sol, so it’s always nice to experience something new and obviously we’re coming into it with a super strong team.
“Last week went better than expected, so after a week of recovery it’ll be nice to step back into racing and try to sustain the high level of success the team has already experienced so far this year.”
Esteban Chaves will also line up, as he makes his racing comeback after battling illness for much of 2018.
Ruta del Sol runs from Wednesday (February 20) to Sunday (February 24).
-
-
How one CW5000 rider took on an even bigger ride challenge
Through July Corrine Black took on a big challenge. Ride 100 miles a day every day. Here's how she got on.
By Simon Richardson •
-
Mathieu van der Poel focussed on Paris-Roubaix, but coach holds his World Championships place
The Dutchman returned to action last Sunday at Antwerp Port Epic and now faces a race against time to be fit for the Worlds and Paris-Roubaix
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
‘It could be one of the toughest races of our careers’: Tao Geoghegan Hart and Simon Yates share thoughts on Olympic road race
This year’s race will take place in brutal heat and humidity in Japan
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Simon Yates planning to ride Tour de France like series of one-day races in search of stage wins and Tokyo form
The Brit says is aiming for a stage win in France before hoping to back up his form at the Olympic road race
By Jonny Long •
-
Giro d’Italia 2021: Simon Yates says he ‘wanted to try something but didn’t have the legs’
The British star said he wanted to attack to improve on his podium place but couldn’t match Ineos Grenadiers
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Simon Yates believed Egan Bernal would let him go at Giro d’Italia after reading rival’s comments in media
The British climber said he had a feeling Ineos Grenadiers wouldn’t try to chase on stage 19
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Simon Yates reveals he was chasing the breakaway and didn’t realise Egan Bernal was dropped
The Brit gain timed on his rivals, but said he wasn’t trying to distance Bernal
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Five talking points from stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia 2021
Yates on the attack as Bernal slips back - key moments from a thrilling stage
By Alex Ballinger •
-
'Podium still within reach' for Simon Yates who accepts Giro d'Italia victory is beyond him now
Simon Yates concedes fighting for the maglia rosa and will now aim for the podium at the Giro d'Italia after losing time on stage 16
By Jonny Long •
-
Five talking points from stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia 2021
Bernal looks unstoppable, Yates on the attack, and a new Italian hero
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
