In 2014, two of the greatest British cycling talents, Simon and Adam Yates, will turn professional with the Orica-GreenEDGE team. Many were surprised to see that the talented brothers didn't follow the natural path by joining Sky but in an interview with Velonews, Simon explains that it was simply a matter of getting better opportunities and having less pressure on the Australian team.

British cycling finds itself at an all-time high. Having maintained its dominance on the track, the country has now also started to make a huge impact on the road scene. The 2012 and 2013 Tour de France champions are both Brits and the kingdom has the world's leading sprinter in its ranks.

To maintain that sort of success in the future, the country needs rising stars. When it comes to successors to riders like Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, most eyes are focussed on the Yates brothers Simon and Adam who have had a breakthrough on the biggest scene in 2013.

Simon kicked things off in February when he became world champion in the points race at just 20 years of age. Having shown his promises in several UCI stage races in Europe throughout the year, he became a household name when he won two stages and finished 10th overall in the Tour de l'Avenir. His brother Adam even finished 2nd in the race that is seen as the premier proving ground for up-and-coming young riders.

What proved that Yates already has what it takes to be a professional was, however, his performance in the Tour of Britain. Competing against riders like Wiggins and Nairo Quintana, the young Brit won the race's first ever summit finish and finished 3rd overall in a race that was won by the 2012 Tour de France champion.

Most expected the Yates brothers to sign a contract with Sky but they made an unconventional choice. Instead, they decided to join Orica-GreenEDGE on a two-year contract, leaving most Brits puzzled how their flagship team had failed to attract the brightest British talents.

In recent years, many young professionals have been attracted by the Sky team but they have failed to make much progress in their new surroundings. With the team riding most races with a clear captain, young riders have often been asked to work early in the races with little chances of personal success. Riders like Joe Dombrowski, Ian Boswell and Josh Edmondson have all found themselves in this position in their first season with Sky.

Orica-GreenEDGE is different. The team has mostly been focussed on sprints and opportunistic riding, thus offering more opportunities to a wider range of riders. That was exactly what attracted the Yates brothers.

“What the development program with Orica could offer us was the perfect plan,” Simon explained in an interview with Velonews. “It was nothing to do with money. Sky offered me the same. The pathway offered at Orica was simply better.

“There are so many good riders at Sky, so it seems that young riders kind of get stalled there because of the hierarchy of Sky,” he added. “They’re set up for their leaders, so it’s hard for a young rider to get established. It was best for me to sort of break out, and try something new. I do not want to get caught up in that web.”

Adam and Simon had joint success at the Tour de l'Avenir but in their early career, they have mostly been separated. Early on, Simon got on the development program at British cycling but Adam was told that he wasn't good enough. Instead, he went to France, riding three years with FDJ's development team.

The chance to ride together was another big factor in their decision to ride in Orica-GreenEDGE colours.

“You look at the last couple of races of the season, and you can see how much better I went compared to how I went without Adam," Simon said. "We raced together at Avenir and the Tour of Britain, and we both had our best results ever in those events. It was a no-brainer. It made a lot of sense to go together to Orica.”

Finally, the Yates brothers will have less pressure on their new team. With the attention of the British public, there would have been no less eyes on them if they had been riding in Sky colours. On an Australian team, they can ride almost unnoticed in their debut season.

“I felt a bit of that at the worlds this year," Simon said. "I had just won two stages at Avenir and was third overall at the Tour of Britain. Everyone thought it was going to be easy. I felt a bit of that pressure, but I cannot look too much at it. I cannot get clouded by stuff like that. Some days it just doesn’t happen. That’s bike racing.”