¡Adiós!

[tobydawq]

I usually associate him with early-career anonymous top 10s, and late-career being another faceless Sky and then subsequently UAE superdom who is always there and visible as part of the train, placing well but without doing much of interest in and of himself, and even when he's won some lesser races and one-weekers it's typically just been a product of UAE's bludgeoning strength.

Through the middle of his career I got less mileage out of that meme comparison, for sure, and he's added to a decent number of one day races over the years too, but in recent years for me that comparison has been back with a vengeance. When Adam retires, I can't say I expect to really care much. I expect I'll miss Simon.

I generally agree, I just find it funny how many bizarre moments of the Tour he has been involved in.

 

[Salvarani]

I don't think they have anywhere near the coin for the buyouts looking at some of the bargain bin signings, though this will free up some money, Hindley and Carapaz out of contract after 2026 I think which would be direct replacements for Yates, but I think they will probably go for LVE.

I could definitely see Hindley being high on their list now and he is three years younger than Carapaz.

He would make more sense for them I think.

 

[awavey]

Onley or Gee?

We dont know they didnt try for Onley, and he just picked Ineos instead though he's still quite young imo to be thrust into the mix of being a GC lead rider as Yates. would have been.

Gee, I dont know, it didnt sound like many teams were rushing to sign him, and again id assume Visma were well aware of Simons decision and could have stepped in at the last minute.

I'm guessing they trust the ranks of riders they've got,more than we do, for one of them to step up.

 

[awavey]

Also in the women's team.

 

[RedheadDane]

According to Daniel Friebe, it has been rumoured since last summer (I heard nothing of those rumours).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008886768238776499

View: https://x.com/friebos/status/2008886768238776499

Was it rumoured that he was considering retiring now?
Or was it rumoured that he was thinking about having 2026 be his last season, and then something happened to make him - rather suddenly - change his plans?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Simon Clarke is half of Simon Yates (name wise at least) if they're able to convince him to continue after the Aussie summer. Carlton Kirby would approve of it, perhaps he'd even pay a part of the salary.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Honestly, retiring soon after your last big win makes sense if you know there isn‘t going to be another one. Simon Yates has never been the most consistent performer and to get that Grand Tour that comes down to one massive climb, have it all go right for you that day after peaking for the 3rd week and having the top favorite crash out and winning thanks to tactics and the ride of your life with your best numbers is not gonna happen for you another time while well on the wrong side of 30.

 

[tobydawq]

Was it rumoured that he was considering retiring now?
Or was it rumoured that he was thinking about having 2026 be his last season, and then something happened to make him - rather suddenly - change his plans?

You can click on the link. I don't know anymore than what you can read in the post and in his replies to his own post.

 

[Panda Claws]

Uijtdebroeks in shambles

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Visma should really go after Cian blablabla now

 

[Tim Cahill]

They should go after Roglic, he can also bolster the Tour of Flanders lineup.

 

[Netserk]

whata bomb

had expected him to extend too

 

[Netserk]

wouldnt mind if it had been van aert though

 

[Cycling111]

Uijtdebroeks in shambles

This is the clearest indication that this is sudden. Furthermore, Simon said a few weeks ago that he would love to return to the Giro.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

They should go after Roglic, he can also bolster the Tour of Flanders lineup.

They should use the money to get Dumoulin to tow Italian Van Aert to victory in Amstel Gold Race.

 

[Netserk]

Obviously I'm younger than most on here, but I can't remember a more shocking retirement in this sport.

ulle

 

[Ilmaestro99]

They should go after Roglic, he can also bolster the Tour of Flanders lineup.

TBF if Roglic actually only cares about the vuelta, as Bora PR wants us to believe, then visma is surely a match made in heaven.

 

[RedheadDane]

You can click on the link. I don't know anymore than what you can read in the post and in his replies to his own post.

All I get when I click the link is the same thing shown in the picture.

 

[Gratemans]

Im sure he also sacrificed a lot and achieved something great in his last season. He might feel he has accomplished everything he needed or wanted to now. Especially, winning the Giro on Finestre... with his own history of the climb and the race.

It is a fairytale end to his career with the last season. He is 33 years old.

He is good enough to continue and could have earned a pay-check riding for a couple of more seasons... but if his heart aint in it anymore... there is literally no better time than for him to retire after a season like this. 33 is still a respectable age to retire at and very few get to retire like this. Spend more time with the family. Best wishes to him.

I don't disagree with anything you're saying there, but why not announce your retirement directly at the end of the season? Kind of a d*ck move to do it last minute like this.

 

[RedheadDane]

I don't disagree with anything you're saying there, but why not announce your retirement directly at the end of the season? Kind of a d*ck move to do it last minute like this.

And that's why I'm wondering if the original decision might have been "At the end of 2026", and then something happened to change it to "NOW!"

 

[tobydawq]

wouldnt mind if it had been van aert though

That's quite mean.

 

[Netserk]

That's quite mean.

i am mean

 

[tobydawq]

i am mean

Did your shift button also retire?

 

[Netserk]

Did your shift button also retire?

im not a trackie, i like to change gears

 

[QueenStagiaire]

im not a trackie, i like to change gears

So you changed gears by not shifting?