Team Ineos have announced the signing of Adam Yates from next season, bolstering their British contingent in a week when Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas were left out of the squad for the upcoming Tour de France.
The 28-year-old will join on a two-year deal from Mitchelton-Scott, the Australian-registered team where he has raced alongside his twin brother Simon since the pair turned professional in 2014.
“The prospect of riding for a British team is one that I am extremely excited about,” Yates said. “I’ve witnessed the rise of cycling in the UK during my career and I think this has been spurred on by success of British riders and this team.”
Simon committed his future to Mitchelton-Scott earlier this week, signing a two-year deal of his own, though the pair have emphasised throughout their careers that they were never a package deal.
Yates is due to race this year’s Tour, though the rider that finished fourth overall back in 2016 will not target the yellow jersey but instead pursue stage victories after seeing his general classification hopes frustrated in each of the past two editions.
Ineos Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “I’m really delighted that Adam is finally joining the team. It feels like the timing is just right as he enters the prime of his career and we embark on a new era as the Ineos Grenadiers.
“As a global team with a British heart, Adam’s no-nonsense British character is a perfect fit. He knows how to win and his gritty, determined and resilient approach are exactly the attributes we are looking to foster as we assemble the new Ineos Grenadiers to be built on purpose.”
