on 20th September 2011
Team Jewson MI Racing Patron Sean Yates will be a special gueast at our Dinner on 11th November. Sean is one of the biggest names in British cycling, not least because he is one of only four men ever to wear the Tour de France’s famous yellow jersey. You will have the chance to meet Sean at our Dinner on Friday 11th November so if you haven’t already ordered your tickets then please do so now or you might miss out!
As a leading professional in the 1980s Sean was a member of the English-speaking ‘foreign legion’ who helped change the face of the sport and earned a reputation as a strong time triallist by clocking the fastest-ever time on stage six of the 1988 Tour de France. He also claimed a stage win at the Vuelta a España that same year. But it was during the 1990s that Yates established himself as a top domestique and at the American Motorola team helped mentor one particularly talented young rider called Lance Armstrong. And after years of sacrificing his own chances of success for other, Yates was granted his day in the sun when he wore the yellow jersey for one day during the 1994 Tour.
Armstrong often mentioned his debt to Yates for the advice he provided, and in 2005 the record Tour winner invited him to become a sports director at his Discovery Channel team. In the 2009 season Yates worked once again with Armstrong at the Astana team before taking on his role at Team Sky. After “coming back to his roots”, Yates instantly established himself as one of the most respected sports directors on the team and oversaw stage victories at Paris-Nice and the Critérium International before leading Team Sky into both their Giro d’Italia and Tour de France debuts.
Looking back on 2010 Yates said: “Bike riding is not an easy sport and I don’t think we could have asked for much more given the fact we were a new team competing against the very best in the business. During 2011, Yates was back in the team car driving the riders forward, but a more senior role meant that away from the action he is also offeringing help and support to the newer DS’s on the team. “I am happy with my role and want to help the DS’s out as best I can,” he added. “They are all talented and experienced guys so I’m sure they will have no problems getting to grips with how best to direct the team.”