When Simon and Adam Yates opted to join Orica-GreenEDGE in the winter, it showed the Bury-born twins harbour real ambitions about the roles they wish to play in future. Success at the Tour de l’Avenir and Tour of Britain for the 21-year-olds last season saw them propelled into the limelight, and big things are expected of them in time at cycling’s top level.

Indeed, Adam has already made an encouraging start to life with the Australian team, placing 11th overall and topping the young riders’ classification at the Tour de San Luis on debut. His WorldTour debut is yet to come, but Simon showed he is comfortable in the upper echelons of pro cycling with a strong showing.

Fresh from winning the mountains classification of the GP di Lugano after joining the break, he finished safely in the leading group on stage one of Paris-Nice. He had earlier led the bunch over the first climb of the day and with team leader Simon Gerrans among the riders to miss the split could find himself with a little more freedom, should the team allow it, in the stages to come. Whether that proves the case remains to be seen, but Yates certainly does not look out of place at this level.