In its near 70-year history the Jayco Herald Sun Tour has always attracted high calibre names, like Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins – and now another champion who has worn the Union Jack at the highest level will race at our event.
In a superstar signing, Englishman Simon Yates will join his Mitchelton-SCOTT team mates when he takes on this iconic race, steeped in tradition.
With other WorldTour teams to be announced shortly the Mitchelton-SCOTT team is expected to start favorites to take out the famous five-day event starting February 5 2020.
The 27 year old has won multiple stages at each of the Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana) as well as being awarded best Young Rider (TdF 2017) and winning World Championship Gold on the velodrome (Minsk 2013 Points race).
Simon Yates:
“I last rode the Sun Tour back in 2013 and still to this day it’s the hottest temperatures I have ever raced in.
“It’s a great race which I’m looking forward to returning. The final climbs look very challenging and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and giving it a go.
“Of course, we’re in the middle of the Aussie summer and so the local teams are in great shape and very motivated.
It will be a hard race and not knowing the opposition always puts a question mark in your mind before trying anything in the race, but I’m looking forward to racing nonetheless.”
Jayco Herald Sun Tour Race Director Scott McGrory:
“It’s so exciting to have a rider of the calibre of Simon in our event. The global talent pool of riders capable of winning a Grand Tour such as the Tour of Spain is extremely small, therefore Simon is respected as one of the very best athletes on the planet.”
“For Simon to choose the Jayco Herald Sun Tour as one of his early season races shows the status of our event, and how it is reaching globally, and that is something we can be very proud of.”
The Jayco Herald Sun Tour forming part of Simon’s Aussie adventure:
“I have always wanted to do the Aussie summer. Of course, riding for an Australian team there is more pressure, but I really enjoy getting stuck into racing and giving it a good go. With these being our home races, the boys are super motivated to give everything.”
“I would love to hit the ground running, so when any opportunities to take my own chances come, I hope to grab them with both hands.
“After competing in both the Giro and the Tour last season, I was extremely tired and so we decided as a team to stop earlier than normal to give myself the best possible preparation for 2020.
“Winter has been going great so far and I have just finished a very important block of training in Gran Canaria, but I will fly out early to Australia to be able to adapt to the heat.”
Watch Simon Yates ride to win – February 5-9 2020 throughout North Eastern Victoria and Melbourne
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Nearly 70 years strong, the Jayco Herald Sun Tour is Australia’s oldest professional stage race. It is one of Australia’s heritage sporting events, supported and revered by generations of Victorians.
This exciting event has captured the attention of sports fans throughout Victoria for over six decades, and it provides a platform for upcoming Australian riders to race against the world’s best. Simply a great opportunity for fans and families to join the millions of people who have been road side in years gone by to watch elite riders, emerging stars and all the ‘fun of the fair’ when this iconic event hits town!
The Tour is a major international race and generates significant economic impact and media exposure for the towns involved, and provides amazing access to watch some of the world’s best riders ‘up close’.
