SIMON Yates has been included in the ORICA-BikeExchange team to ride the final grand tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana, after he and twin brother Adam signed up with the Australian outfit for another two years.

Adam has been left out of the eight-strong team after completing a lung-busting month that has seen him win the best young rider jersey and finish fourth in the Tour de France before competing for Team GB in the Olympic road race.

Simon has spent a frustrating summer out of the limelight after serving a short suspension for a doping violation.

His team doctor accepted the blame, after failing to submit an exemption certificate that would have allowed him to use a prescribed inhaler.

The administrative error cost the 24-year-old Bury rider his chance of riding in this year's Tour de France, and possibly selection for the Olympic squad.

But Simon's decision to re-sign for ORICA-BikeExchange, ending speculation linking him and his brother with a move to Team Sky, opened up the way to make his debut at the Vuelta.

Racing begins on Saturday and will follow a difficult, mountainous route over the next three weeks, covering a total distance of 3,315.4km.

Colombian Esteban Chaves, who was fifth in last year's race, will lead the team's challenge for the overall classification, but Simon comes into the squad after a string of excellent results, including his first professional victory at the Clasica Ordizia and fourth overall at the Vuelta a Burgos.

He is expected to provide Chaves with support in the mountains and should be given licence to seek out stage wins.

"I'm really pleased to be able to continue my development with ORICA-BikeExchange for the next two seasons,” Simon said.

“They have showed their faith in me from the start and I've been able to benefit from the experience of riding key races as a protected leader – that's an opportunity that doesn't exist too often in your first years as a professional.

“We've come out with some solid results so far and with the general classification focus increasing for the team, I'm looking forward to taking the next steps to bigger goals in the best races in the years to come.”

Adam echoed his brother's optimism, fuelled by his breakthrough year in the Tour de France.

“I'm really happy to extend my contract with the team and take the next, important steps in my career here,” he said. “I'm ready to target a podium spot in the Grand Tours and with the support and environment the team gives me, I think we can achieve it.

“This year, I showed that I can climb with the best in the world and I want to keep improving in other areas too.

“I feel really at home on the team and that gives me the opportunity to work in the best possible way.

"I've been on the team since I turned professional and I'm pleased that I'm staying with a great group of riders and staff going onwards."

Matt White, sport director at ORICA-BikeExchange, firmly believes the pair can go on to bigger and better things in the next two years.

“Adam took a massive step forward this year and at quite a young age he is ready to target the podium in a grand tour,” White said.

“I think he surprised a lot of people this year at the Tour, but it was probably only a matter of time before he arrived at the level we now see him at.

“His results are astonishing and he is one of the most promising young riders out there.

"It’s been fantastic for us to be part of developing such a talent and a real pleasure to see him shine in the hardest stages of the Tour this year.

“With Adam we have secured another key signing for our ambitions in the coming years.”

Alongside brother Adam and Chaves, Simon completes a promising trio of key young climbers for ORICA-BikeExchange.

“Simon has already proven that he is a massive talent,” White said. “His results so far in one-week races and in some of the toughest mountain stages in multiple tours tells me that he is an emerging general classification contender.

“He is part of the group of young riders that we have helped develop and it’s great for us that he will continue this trajectory with the team.

“Together with Adam and Esteban he gives us that extra depth that will put us in a powerful position in any of the big tours that we target across the calendar.”