Twin paths heading towards the Giro's pink jersey: The competing journeys of Adam and Simon Yates contesting for the accolade
Cycling Sisterhood
"Bloody hell," says Chris Latham, eyes sparkling mischievously, "I've just texted them. I've told them I want at least a tenner off each of the blighters for not selling them out in this chat!"
A lifelong friend of the Yates twins, Adam and the late Simon, Latham is gracing us with his presence, ready to dish the dirt on two of his closest mates. With a broad Lancashire accent, he recalls their youth spent in Bury, a small town nestled in the hills of north-west England.
"They've always been tight," Latham muses, his voice echoing with nostalgia, "I remember them sharing that room as kids, and just smashing Call of Duty, Haribo, and Lucozade all the while." Latham regularly visited the Yates family, joining the brothers for late-night bike rides, where they'd still give their old man a run for his money.
"We'd play Call of Duty for hours," Latham recounts, "My God, the nights I've spent in their heart of their homes! Back then, we'd ride down to Sainsbury's most evenings to pick up a bottle of cheap wine. But now, it feels like Simon and Adam have changed, swapping their budget booze for fine vintages on the wine list."
Sibling Rivalry: A Nonexistent Feud?
Newscaster James Knox once described the Yates brothers as a hoot during pre-Tokyo Olympics training in 2020, with them howling at the dinner table. But Latham insists it was always just friendly competition between the two.
"They'd stir each other up about anything," he says, "They'd race each other in Weetabix eating contests, or challenge each other on afternoon bike rides in the hills. There was always a good laugh wherever those two were."
Admitting that it's hard to imagine the Yateses as party animals, Latham shares a story of their recent night out, which had left him appalled. "I couldn't believe it when they started perusing expensive bottles on the wine list," he chuckles, "And I had to pull them aside and tell them to chill out, tone it down a notch."
As the years passed, Simon joined the British Cycling Academy, while Adam continued racing in France, backed by the Dave Rayner Foundation. But both would still line up at major races, their shared DNA evident on the bike. Fast-forward to May 2023, and the twins are riding together again – this time at the Giro d'Italia, a race Simon nearly conquered in 2018.
Yet, despite their genetics and similar rise to the top of the sport, Adam and Simon have carved out unique paths for themselves. Both elusive when it comes to interviews, the brothers prefer to let their legs do the talking. To understand their differences in personality and approach, we spoke to those who know them best.
Bury's Own Cycling Phenoms
Former Continental-level pro, Chris Latham, shares a fond memory of the brothers' early days back in Bury, "They were just remarkable riders, even then. They'd regularly race ahead of the competition in those criteriums, often lapping the field."
Despite their impressive beginnings, Simon and Adam flew under the radar in terms of appreciation, given their reserved public personas. "I honestly believe that they're not celebrated as much as they should be," says Nick Hall, a longstanding family friend, "Given what they've achieved in cycling, I think they're severely under-appreciated."
Hall recalls meeting the brothers for the first time during a club run, when they were around 12 or 13 years old, "They were racing ahead of us, leaving us all to think, 'what the hell are we doing out with them?'"
Throughout their childhood, the brothers were always inseparable, growing up together and competing against each other for fun, even if it meant eating too many Weetabix or challenging each other in video games. Their close bond allowed them to maintain a strong connection, even as their careers took them down different paths. Latham notes that this understanding and shared values distinguished their dynamic, "They have fairly similar personalities – they're both very cool and laid-back. That’s genuinely who they've always been."
"The Yates brothers, despite their popularity in cycling circles, have been seemingly under-appreciated considering their impressive accomplishments in the sport," says Nick Hall, a longstanding family friend.
"Back in their early days, the brothers exhibited a remarkable talent for cycling, often leaving their opponents in the dust during races," adds Chris Latham, a former Continental-level pro.
