Sean Yates abruptly quit cycling after 30 years of involvement both as rider and latterly as a team director when Team Sky announced Sunday he was retiring.
The 52-year-old Englishman — who as a rider won stages on the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain — leaves after a three year sojourn and which saw the team enjoy a stunning season with the highlight Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France.
Yates had been one of the rare members of the cycling fraternity to defend disgraced American Lance Armstrong after he had all seven of his Tour de France titles stripped from him last Monday by the International Cycling Union over systematic doping.
Yates said that in the time he worked with Armstrong at the Discovery Team (2005-09) he never saw him do anything illegal.
Team Sky, though, were at pains to say that Yates’s sudden departure had nothing to do with their position on anti-doping, wherein the management team started a series of individual interviews with riders, management and support staff.
“Sean has been interviewed and there were no admissions or disclosures that would have required him to leave the team,” read the statement of the team.
Team Sky supremo Dave Brailsford showered Yates with praise.
“Sean joined us in our first year and has been with us for three tough but rewarding seasons.
“After a long career in professional cycling, he has told us that he wants to move on, for purely personal reasons.
“Sean has been a great support to the riders on the road and a valuable colleague to us all. We wish him the best for the next step in his life.”
Team Sky director Yates abruptly quits cycling
