Yates named Giro leader as Mitchelton-Scott announce strong long list

Simon Yates will lead the line for Mitchelton-Scott as a strong team set out to seal a general classification victory at the Giro d'Italia in October.

Yates, who wore the Maglia Rosa for 13 days in 2018 before settling for eighth in 2019, still harbours hopes of an improved finish at the Italian Grand Tour and his team are prepared to help make that a reality.

Mitchelton-Scott have selected the strongest team possible to support the British star, with Australians Jack Haig and Lucas Hamilton on board despite the UCI calendar's reorganisation forcing them to miss out on the Vuelta. 

Nevertheless, head sports director Matt White believes his countryman can make a big difference for the team at arguably the most physically demanding Tour on offer.

"Jack started the season incredibly well. He rode two races, I think he finished second in both of them, Vuelta Valencia and Vuelta Andalucia," White told the Zwift Cycling Central Podcast.

"He was our leader for Paris-Nice, which we declined to go to. He's certainly taken some big steps in the last year and a half, and the other one that's taken a big step is Lucas Hamilton.

"He's a little quiet achiever, I've got big wraps on Lucas. What we saw last year from his Giro at 23 years of age, it's not easy what he did - backing up in the third week of a Grand Tour.

"It really shows promising signs. If you're improving in the third week of a Grand Tour, that's not for everyone and I also expect big things for Lucas later this year."

"We've got big ambitions to try and win the Giro d'Italia and I think we're in a good position to do that," White added.

"The team we will send will be a deep one and I’m confident Simon will have great support across all facets of racing."

Mitchelton-Scott - Giro d'Italia Long List:

- Edoardo Affini (ITA, 24) 

- Brent Bookwalter (USA, 36) 

- Jack Haig (AUS, 26) 

- Lucas Hamilton (AUS, 24) 

- Michael Hepburn (AUS, 28) 

- Damien Howson (AUS, 27) 

- Chris Juul-Jensen (DEN, 31) 

- Cameron Meyer (AUS, 32) 

- Nick Schultz (AUS, 25) 

- Simon Yates (GBR, 27) 

- Andrey Zeits (KAZ, 33)