Visma-Lease A Bike has emerged as a frontrunner to sign Simon Yates as the Briton looks to move on after 11 years on the Australian side, now called Jayco AlUla.

Yates's contract, which turned professional with the team in 2014 as Orica GreenEdge, is expected to expire at the end of this season. Australian rider Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) is reportedly planning to join Jaco and replace Yates with GC leader.

Yates's strong link to transfer to the Dutch outfit was first confirmed by multiple sources to Het Laatste Nieuws, then to La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

He is one of several new signings that are strongly rumoured to strengthen the Dutch team in 2025, alongside classic men Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) and Axel Zingle (Cofidis), and Visma is one of the cyclists who will not be harmed by injuries in the 2024 season. 1 of the super teams in the world.

At Visma, Yates took part in matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss and Cian Uijtdbeoreks, a step below Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard, but the leadership opportunities will be able to be grabbed in the week-long world Tour races and in the Giro and Vuelta.

Vingegaard will definitely be a leader in any race he lines up for, but Yates has taken inspiration from twin brother Adam Yates, who has reached career best form riding as domestique for Tadej Pogañar at UAE team Emirates. It is possible that you will not be able to do so.

Since joining the Emirati team from Ineos Grenadiers in 2023, Adam Yates has had 10 wins, including the opening stage of the 2023 tour, and has enjoyed a stint on the yellow jersey. Adam finished 3rd on that entire tour and appears to be riding in a flying shape for his next tour again after dominating the recent Tour de Switzerland with teammate Joao Almeida.

Simon Yates has brought great success to Jayco throughout his career, winning the overall title at La Vuelta a España in 2018, winning the podium at the 2021 Giro and winning a career-best 4th place on last year's tour.

He has also managed 33 wins in the team in some of the biggest races, in particular 2 stages in the tour, 6 in the Giro and 2 in the Vuelta, alongside GC wins in the Tyrrhenoadriatico and a tour of the Alps. 

However, at the age of 31, Yates is ready to take on a new role in the Dutch team after having one last crack on his tour with Jayco this summer (1). There will be no official confirmation until the transfer window opens on 8/1, but look for the yellow Yates in 2024.