Some people were surprised that the in-form Yates twins were left out of Great Britain’s team for the Worlds Road Race a week on Sunday. But Simon has told Cyclingnews he and his brother never expected to make the team.

“No, I was not surprised that we weren’t on the team,” Simon Yates told Cyclingnews at the start of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal in Canada on Sunday. “There are better riders who can support the team in Richmond.”

Both are good climbers but the Richmond course appears to suit Classics stars and sprinters like Peter Sagan, Alexander Kristoff and Greg Van Avermaet.

“I don’t think that it’s a course for myself or Adam to do well in, maybe on the day and in certain conditions, but I haven’t seen the course, only heard what people have said. We had a quick discussion and there are better riders to help the leaders.”