That list of rivals could also potentially include his twin brother Adam.

Adam will ride at the Giro for his UAE Team Emirates team-mate Juan Ayuso of Spain, but he could also be a contender for the pink jersey.

The competition between the two twins from Greater Manchester could then continue on into the summer.

Simon’s new team is home to two-time Tour de France winner and de facto second best rider in the world Jonas Vingegaard, who he will support this year as the Dane tries to regain the yellow jersey.

Vingegaard lost out to Tadej Pogacar last year following a harrowing crash early in the season which compromised his Tour.

“There’s a lot of people underestimating his injuries,” said Simon. “Tadej was very strong, but if you look where Jonas came from – there’s a lot of improvement to come.

“It’s exciting to play a similar role to what my brother would do.”

Pogacar – who was peerless in 2024 after winning the Giro, Tour and Road World Championships ‘triple crown’, external – will try to defend his title with Adam by his side as a super-domestique.

The pair have spent a lot of their careers in the same team but clashed in the first stage of the 2023 Tour de France, with Adam winning a sprint for victory and the honour of wearing the yellow jersey.

Nevertheless Simon has been the more decorated of the two, winning 10 Grand Tour stages to Adam’s two, and the overall red jersey at the Vuelta six years ago.

“Me and my brother are always very competitive in races,” says Simon. “But we’ve not raced against each other as much as you would think.

“Next year that’s going to change. We’ll have to see who comes out on top.”

Visma-Lease a Bike, based in Den Bosch, are one of the biggest-budget teams in the World Tour and this year have the largest number of British riders in their squad in their history.

There are five, a list that also includes Ben Tulett, Thomas Gloag, Matthew Brennan and sprinter Dan McLay.

Yates is expected to begin his season at March’s Tirreno-Adriatico stage race across Italy.