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Looking Back: Simon Yates & Mitchelton Scott’s Historic Grand Tour Victory

As 26-year-old Simon Yates continues to celebrated his maiden Grand Tour win, the 2018 La Vuelta a Espana, the victory has also made history for Mitchelton-Scott, being their first Grand Tour win.

Yates has enjoyed eight wins for 2018 and led a Grand Tour for a total of 23 days. 

“I think it’s still sinking in,” he said the day after the huge win in Madrid. “I like to race on my instinct and I hope that I continue to do so and achieve more big results like the Vuelta a Espana.”

Showing tremendous form earlier in the season, Yates wore the leaders jersey of the 2018 Giro for 13 stages. But on Stage 19 of that race he dropped from first to 18th overall on a horror day in the mountains.

“I came back from real heartbreak from the Giro d’Italia,” he said. “I am still in shock that I’ve managed to pull it off and it will take a while for it to sink in just what we’ve accomplished. I get really nervous up on the stage, but it was a very special moment that I will cherish forever.”

Gerry Ryan: ‘It’s Unbelievable’

Describing the team’s maiden Grand Tour win as “unbelievable”, team founder and owner Gerry Ryan said Mitchelton-Scott were continuing to evolve as General Classification contenders. 

“I am sure that this is the first of many to come, it is very hard to do, but we will try,” he said. “I always say dare to dream and if you want success, surround yourself with people that share the same vision and have the same passion. When Shayne and I first sat down, and we said ok, let’s get some people around us – Matt White, Neil Stephens and it grew from there.”

Ryan said while the team had come close to a major win before, it was nerve-wracking right until the end in Madrid.

“In in the team car (we) didn’t really get excited until three kilometres to go until we knew we were safe,” he said. “More importantly it’s great to see the families here, because we are one big family. Simon, all his teammates and all the staff. It’s a great family.”

From GreenEdge To Mitchelton-Scott – The Aussie Team’s Timeline

GreenEdge Cycling was launched in Adelaide in January 2011. Later that year they were admitted by the UCI for the 2012 and 2013 WorldTour seasons.

The team’s winning ways came early with Simon Gerrans taking out the National Championship Road Race then Luke Durbridge winning the National TT Championship ahead of teammate Cam Meyer. 

A few weeks later Gerrans won the 2013 Tour Down Under, GreenEDGE’s first start and first WorldTour win.

Since then highlights have been plentiful – The team winning the TT at Tirreno-Adriatico, Simon Gerrans winning Milan-San Remo, and of course Gerran’s wearing the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France for two days before giving it to teammate Daryl Impey who wore it for a further two days. 

In 2017 Simon Yates – who joined the team in 2014 – won Best Young Rider at the Tour de France. In 2018 he won three stages of the Giro d’ Italia, and in September won the Vuelta.

2018 La Vuelta Final Top 3

1. Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) 82:05:58

2. Enric Mas (Quickstep Floors) +1:46

3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) +2:04

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