Tour de France 2019: Simon Yates joins to support twin brother Adam in bid for yellow jersey

Adam has made the Tour the primary focus of his season while Simon concentrated on the Giro d’Italia, but Mitchelton-Scott have named both twins in their eight-man Tour squad

Simon Yates will ride the Tour de France in support of brother Adam, who is going in search of a first podium appearance when the race gets under way next week.

Adam has made the Tour the primary focus of his season while Simon concentrated on the Giro d’Italia, but Mitchelton-Scott have named both twins in their eight-man squad for the race, which begins in Brussels next Saturday.

Adam will hope Simon – who finished eighth in the Giro – can return the favour after helping him to victory in the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. This will be the first time the pair have ridden the Tour together since 2015.

Adam finished fourth in the 2016 Tour, winning the young riders’ classification, but his return in 2018 did not go to plan as he suffered from dehydration in the mountains and faded to finish 29th.

But the 26-year-old has had a strong season so far, finishing on the podium at Tirreno-Adriatico and Volta Catalunya, while picking up three stage victories over the year to date.

He started the final stage of the Criterium du Dauphine eight seconds off the lead earlier this month but was forced to withdraw through illness.

“After Dauphine I’ve managed to come back around pretty quick, back into full training and feeling good so hopefully it was just a minor bump.

“A couple years ago I was fourth and not far from the podium, I don’t really want to put a marker on what I want to achieve, I just know I’d like to go better than previously and with the condition and consistency I’ve had this year I don’t see why not.”

Simon’s inclusion in the squad suggests he will not defend his Vuelta crown later this year given the demands of riding three Grand Tours in a season.

“Our primary goal is to give Adam Yates every chance possible to arrive on the podium come Paris, but our secondary goal is also to win a stage,” said the team’s sports director Matt White.

“We have a good combination of riders who can help achieve those goals, and to get a result as a key GC rider, you are very much reliant on the strength of the team.

“If we can continue to support Adam as we did Simon at the Giro then this will only enhance Adam’s chances of a solid result.”

PA