Two-time Grand Tour winner Simon Yates has announced his retirement from cycling with immediate effect.
The shock announcement comes just seven months after the 33-year-old Briton clinched a thrilling victory at the 2025 Giro d’Italia.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider also claimed his third stage win at the Tour de France in July last year.
Yates, whose first Grand Tour title was the 2019 Vuelta a Espana, joined the Dutch team on a two-year contract before the 2025 season.
“This may come as a surprise to many, but it is not a decision I have made lightly,” said Yates.
“I have been thinking about it for a long time, and it now feels like the right moment to step away from the sport.”
Visma’s head of racing Grischa Niermann added: “[Winning the Giro d’Italia] was one of the major goals of the season, for us as a team and for Simon personally. The fact that he also went on to win a stage in the Tour de France underlines his class.
“It is a shame that he is stopping now, but he does so at an absolute high point.”
The picturesque town’s manageable size makes it perfect for pensioners seeking a destination that’s easy to explore by foot.
Travel blogger and photographer Caroline wrote on her site Packthesuitcases that Cascais “is a nice walkable size, you don’t need to worry about taxis and buses unless you’re venturing further afield to things like Cabo da Roca – everything in the town itself is easily reached on foot”.
Caroline emphasised that getting to Cascais from Lisbon by train is hassle-free.
“The train takes about 40 minutes from Cais do Sodré, and it’s an enjoyable journey along the coast,” she explained.
On his travel podcast, Simon Calder praised the beautiful resort as one of his “favourite Portuguese locations”.
“Cascais is the port planted elegantly on the shoreline west of the capital, Lisbon, on what’s known as the Portuguese Riviera.
“It was settled in turn by Romans, Visigoths and Moors, and today the centre of Cascais is an intriguing combination of sun-worn houses, cafés, shops and smart hotels.”
The travel expert also highlighted that “excellent beaches within easy reach of Cascais” make it an attractive proposition.
One delighted holidaymaker shared their experience on TripAdvisor, describing the Portuguese town as “a little slice of heaven”.
They gushed: “Cascais is amazing, beautiful coastline, stunning, immaculate beaches and a really charming town. The people are lovely, and the food is out of this world!”
Simon also recommended Cassis in the south of France as another walkable gem, perfect for those seeking a winter escape.
SIMON Cowell could be locked in another copyright row after it emerged a group of British rockers also share the same name as his newly formed group.
Tattooed Scottish band December Tenth told the music mogul to get his lawyers to call them over the name dispute.
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December 10 are Simon Cowell’s shiny new pop bandCredit: instagram/december10Scottish rockers December Tenth aren’t happy about the similarity to their monikerCredit: Instagram
The seven-piece group – which conissits of Nicolas Alves, 16, Cruz Lee-Ojo, 19, Hendrik Christoffersen, 19, John Fadare, 17, Josh Olliver, 17, Danny Bretherton, 16, and Seán Hayden, 19 – released their new music earlier this week.
But they have an unexpected rivalry in the form of the Glasgow-based metallers, who are named after the date their pen pal was executed on death row.
They have challenged Simon after he and Netflix announced the new boy band with a very similar name to their group.
In a post on social media the lead singer of the band said: “It came to light over the last few days that Simon Cowell, Netflix and Universal Music, are involved in a new boy band that share, to some extent, our name December Tenth.
“Now if anyone in Simon’s team, Universal or Netflix, would like to get in touch with ourselves and our legal team they can do so.
“I would like to point out, the hundreds of new followers we have over the last few days are most welcome, but I’m not entirely sure they are all genuine.”
The band, who formed in 2020, have also been swamped with messages with confused boy band fans who mistakenly followed them online.
He added: “Our social media accounts have blew up and we had no idea why. It turns out that Simon Cowell has released a new Netflix show, called “December 10”.
“We are now being inundated with well wishes from fans of the show thinking we are that band.”
It’s not the first time Simon has faced issues over a pop group’s name.
In 2011 X Factor was forced to change their girl band Rhythmix to Little Mix after a disabled children’s charity in Brighton with the same name threatened them with legal action.
Simon hopes his new group can have similar success to One DirectionCredit: Getty
The six-part series followed Simon through auditions and recording studio bootcamp as he selected seven boys for the group.
The second run will pick up where it left off and show December 10 heading to Nashville to record new music, prepare for launch and take their first steps towards fame.
Simon Cowell: The Next Act has dominated the top three on Netflix since its launch last Wednesday.
A source said: “There was a quiet hope that a show about finding a boyband would be as popular now as it was back in the days of The X Factor, but everyone has been thrilled by the reception because of course the whole world of entertainment has totally changed since then.
But there’s been another big character behind The Next Act’s success with viewers – the newly-minted Mrs Cowell.
Fans have loved seeing Lauren Silverman’s personality shine as part of the fly-on-the-wall scenes at home with Simon and their son Eric.
The source added: “The whole show has been a real boost for the whole family really, Simon is back doing what he loves and he’s been happy to reveal a little more about who he really is behind closed doors.
“Production firm Box To Box are back shooting the content for series two and it’s hoped Netflix will be on board to stream the next chapter of The Next Act.”
It comes after Simon told The Sun last week that he’s confident the boys will be a success.
Simon revealed December 10 had chosen the name themselves because it was the release date of the documentary
Iris eyes easy life
Iris Law, the daughter of Sadie Frost and Jude Law, reclining on a sofa for a shoot for Los Angeles-based fashion brand CasablancaCredit: Casablanca/Corentin Leroux
No wonder top model Iris Law is enjoying a lie down after a stellar year on the catwalk.
She has walked in Victoria’s Secret’s fashion show and fronted campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Knwls and Zara.
But Iris, the daughter of Sadie Frost and Jude Law, isn’t just taking it easy, she was reclining on the sofa for a shoot for Los Angeles-based fashion brand Casablanca.
She is one of the most in-demand women in fashion, so I’m sure we will see a lot more of her in 2026.
Thor-t I’d be actor
Chris Hemsworth says he became ‘obsessed’ with acting from a young age, admitting the dream became an escapism long before he realised how tough the reality would beCredit: Getty
THOR superhero Chris Hemsworth became “obsessed” with being an actor at a young age.
On the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast he said: “Once I locked into the idea that I was going to become an actor, it was an absolute obsession.
“There was no doubt that was what I was going to do. There was a naivety about the reality of how difficult that was going to be.
“But I guess it was sort of an escapism.”
Christina Aguilera’s brand new single Someday At Christmas was recorded at the Eiffel TowerCredit: Supplied
If you’re bored of the same old festive tunes, check out Christina Aguilera’s brand new festive album Christmas In Paris.
It was created in the French capital this year and celebrates the 25th anniversary of her album My Kind Of Christmas.
Lead single Someday At Christmas was recorded at the Eiffel Tower and the album is out now.
Judi hero Jagger rolls up
Dame Judi Dench meets Sir Mick JaggerCredit: PA
With a stellar acting career and a little black book packed with some of the biggest names in showbiz, it’s amazing to see Dame Judi Dench still gets starstruck.
Her friend Gyles Brandreth organised for Sir Mick Jagger to come on stage to surprise her as she was interviewed about her career, inset, at London’s Sondheim Theatre.
The former Bond actress was stunned by her idol’s appearance.
Sharing snaps of the moment online, Gyles said: “I’ve been working in the theatre for nearly 60 years and I’ve never known a moment quite like it.
“As a surprise, I invited Sir Mick Jagger on to the stage. Dame Judi Dench told me it was her dream to meet him.
“He was amazing: she was overwhelmed. Yesss.”
He added of the legendary Rolling Stones frontman: “He kindly made her dream come true. What a night.”
Huge congratulations to Essex lad Sam King who has just completed 79 marathons in 79 days for brain injury charity Headway UK.
I told you about Sam’s challenge last month after one of his pals got in touch to tell me about his feat.
And after adding five extra marathons on to his challenge, Sam has now set a new world record for the most consecutive ultramarathons run by a male – completing 79 in 79 days.
Sam took on the challenge to raise money for Headway UK, after they supported his mum when she suffered a life-changing bleed on her brain.
He’s now just short of his £74,000 fundraisingtarget so if you want to get involved and donate, check out his Instagram @fatboysking.
Madge ‘n Guy reunite for Rocco
MADONNA and Guy Ritchie put aside their differences for the sake of their son Rocco.
The former couple, who were last pictured together in 2008 – when they divorced – were proud as punch to support Rocco’s art exhibition in London.
“Stereophonic,” David Adjmi’s heralded drama that won five Tony Awards including best play, is ready for its Los Angeles close-up.
The first national tour production, which opened Wednesday at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, seems right at home in the music capital of the world. The play about a 1970s rock band on the brink of superstardom takes place in recording studios in Sausalito and L.A., where the Laurel Canyon vibe is never out of sight.
The visual crispness of this L.A. premiere goes a long way toward dispelling doubts that the Pantages is the wrong venue for this ensemble drama. If there’s a problem, it isn’t the cavernousness of the theater. The production, gleaming with period details on a set by David Zinn that gives us clear views into both the sound and control rooms, comfortably inhabits the performance space, at least from the perspective of a decent orchestra seat.
The play, which includes original music from Will Butler, the Grammy-winning artist formerly of Arcade Fire, has a sound every bit as robust as one of the blockbuster musicals that regularly passes through the Pantages. The songs, crushed by the actors at top volume, are Butler’s indie rock re-creation of cuts for a part-British, part-American band that bears such a striking resemblance to Fleetwood Mac that a lawsuit brought by a former sound engineer and producer of the group was eventually settled.
Adjmi, like Shakespeare, takes his inspiration where he finds it. And like the Bard, he makes his sources his own, alchemizing the material for novel ends.
The touring production of “Stereophonic” makes clear just how integral the original cast was to the success of the play.
(Julieta Cervantes)
Unfolding in 1976 and 1977, “Stereophonic” offers a fly-on-the-wall perspective of a band at a crossroads. While recording a new album top-heavy with expectations, the group falls prey to romantic conflicts and self-destructive spirals, to toxic jealousies and seething insecurities. The prospect of fame magnifies pathologies that have been intensifying over time.
Diana (Claire DeJean) is the Stevie Nicks of the band. Beautiful, achingly vulnerable and awash in lyrical talent, she is entangled in a relationship with Peter (Denver Milord), the Lindsey Buckingham of the group, who strives for musical perfection no matter the cost.
Their connection is as professionally enriching as it is personally destructive. Diana’s ambition is matched by her self-doubt. She’s susceptible to a Svengali yet doesn’t want anyone to tell her how to write her songs.
Peter, angrily competitive, can’t help resenting the natural ease of Diana’s talent, even as it’s her song from their first album that has put the band back in the spotlight. His genius is ferociously exacting while hers seems to spring naturally from her soul.
Artistically they depend on each other, but the tension between them is unsustainable. And as the play makes clear, there’s no way to keep their personal lives out of the studio.
DeJean and Milord are the most captivating performers in the ensemble. The other actors are solid but this touring production makes clear just how integral the original cast was to the success of the play.
Daniel Aukin’s production, which had its New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons in 2023 before moving to Broadway the following year, hasn’t lost its confident flow. The storytelling is lucidly laid out. But the tantalizing peculiarities of the characters have been whittled down.
The British band members suffer the worst of it. Emilie Kouatchou’s Holly moves the character away from the obvious Christine McVie reference, but her role has become vaguer and less central. Cornelius McMoyler’s Simon, the drummer and weary manager, fills the bill in every respect but gravitas, which must be in place if the character’s ultimate confrontation with Peter is to have the necessary payoff.
No one could compete with Will Brill, who won a Tony for his strung-out portrayal of Reg, a deranged innocent whose addictions and dysfunctions create farcical havoc for the band. Christopher Mowod can’t quite endow this “sad man in a blanket,” as Simon dubs his bundled-up bandmate, with the same level of fey madness that Brill was able to entertainingly supply.
These casting differences wouldn’t be worth noting if it weren’t for their impact on a play that distinguishes itself by its observational detail. Everything is just a little more obvious, including the two American sound guys bearing the brunt of the artistic temperaments running riot in the studio.
Jack Barrett’s Grover, the sound engineer who lied about his background to get the job, sands off some of the character’s rough edges in a more straightforwardly appealing version of the character than Eli Gelb’s bracing portrayal in New York. Steven Lee Johnson’s Charlie, the dorky assistant sound engineer, is an amiable weirdo, though I missed the way Andrew R. Butler played him almost like a space alien in New York.
The play has been edited, but it’s still a bit of an endurance test. Art isn’t easy for the characters or for us. But the effort isn’t in vain.
Adjmi’s overlapping dialogue and gaping silences, orchestrated in a neo-Chekhovian style, renders the invisible artistic process visible. By the end of the play, the tumultuous human drama behind creative brilliance emerges in poignant, transcendent glory.
‘Stereophonic’
Where: Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., L.A.
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. (Check schedule for exceptions.) Ends Jan. 2.
Tickets: Start at $57 (subject to change)
Contact: BroadwayInHollywood.com or Ticketmaster.com
Running time: 2 hours, 55 minutes (including one intermission)
