Simon Yates hints at Tour de France podium challenge in 2018
(Cyclingnews.com)

The luxury for Orica-Scott is that they have three of the most dynamic climbers in the peloton in the form of Esteban Chaves and the Yates brothers, Simon and Adam. Three leaders for three Grand Tours: it makes perfect sense. But while the Giro d´Italia and Vuelta a España routes for 2018 are yet to be unveiled, Simon Yates has hinted at returning to the Tour de France next season. Yates finished 7th in the 2017 edition of the Tour, picking up the white jersey as the best young rider for his efforts. After seeing next year´s route presented by Christian Prudhomme in Paris on Tuesday, the Briton stopped just short of delivering a concrete intent to return to the race for back-to-back challenges. `We´ll see. There´s still a lot of planning to do and the presentations for the Giro and the Vuelta,` Yates told Cyclingnews. `But we´ll have to see. Why not?`ADVERTISEMENT Asked if he would lead the team come July, Yates said: `It really depends on the routes and the feelings of the other guys. We´ve cards to play and we can decide who goes where and how we´re going to play.` Should Simon Yates be Orica´s designated Tour leader it would leave his brother Adam and Chaves as the team´s options for the Giro and the Vuelta. That said, Orica sent two of their leaders to the Tour this year after Chaves´ spring was ravaged by injury and then turned up at the Vuelta with all three captains. `I just have to keep improving,` Yates said of his own Grand Tour ambitions. `I was seventh last year in the GC and I´d rather keep raising the roof, keep going, target the podium and go from there.` Critical first week You can read more at Cyclingnews.com