Simon Yates omitted from BikeExchange-Jayco team for Tour de France - set to ride in Vuelta a Espana instead

Britain's Simon Yates has been left out of the BikeExchange-Jayco team for the Tour de France. The second Grand Tour of the year gets underway in Copenhagen on July 1, but the 29-year-old Yates won't be on the start line.

Ad/> The reason is believed to relate to Yates' knee injury that he suffered at the Giro d'Italia back in May, and that ultimately forced him out of that race. Giro d'Italia'The pain grew worse and worse' — Yates abandons Giro25/05/2022 AT 14:23 Yates is now expected to ride the Vuelta a Espana instead following a longer period of recovery, according to Cycling Weekly.

With Simon's twin brother Adam — part of the INEOS Grenadiers team — withdrawing from the Tour de Suisse with Covid-19, it's not been a good few days for the Yateses and it could mean they both end up missing the Tour. In Simon Yates' absence, the BikeExchange-Jayco lineup will be: Dylan Groenewegen, Luka Mezgec, Michael Matthews, Luke Durbidge, Chris Juul-Jensen, Jack Bauer, Nick Schultz and Amund Grøndahl Jansen.

'I maybe don’t believe it, but…' – Wiggins on Froome’s chase of fifth Tour title Wiggins: Any other team would be crazy not to take Cavendish to Tour de France With Groenewegen and Matthews in their ranks, the Australian outfit will likely be primarily targeting sprint wins during the gruelling 21-stage event. Elaborating on his team's composition for the 109th edition of the Tour, team manager Matt White said: «This is an experienced group to be taking to what is always a beautiful, yet stressful block of racing.

»We have a team of guys who can win stages and be very competitive across the three weeks over various terrains. /> «There is one thing for sure; this group will put their hearts and souls into our daily plans and