Widely regarded as Britain’s hardest ever cyclist, Sean Yates had a formidable reputation in the peloton in the 1980s and 1990s.

Though Yates made his name mostly for the work he did as a hard-riding domestique, the rouleur also enjoyed plenty of success in his own right – not least winning a stage each at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in 1988.

That Yates pulled on the maillot jaune at the Tour de France in 1994 after a day in the breakaway is fitting for the man nicknamed The Animal – for obvious reason.

Yates was, as you’d expect, a fine time trialist, and a fearless descender in the mountains – and no mug when it came to climbing up them either – while his performances on the cobbles include fifth at Paris-Roubaix in 1994 and second at the 1989 Gent-Wevelgem.

A no-nonsense rider, Yates repeatedly and willingly drove himself to the limit and beyond both in support of his team-mates and when given the opportunity to ride for himself.

Career highlights: Stage wins at the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana and one day in the maillot jaune top Yates’ palmares.