The Giro d'Italia has yet to announce its 2021 route, but Simon Yates is "likely" to be on the start line before the Tour de France and the Olympics. It is still undecided whether Yates will be aiming for overall victory in either the Giro or the Tour, and he will be on the start line of the Grand Tour for a stage win, but according to team director Matt White, the British rider will be backed by Team BikeExchange He said.

"We're waiting for the final course of the Giro, but we're pretty much set on what we're going to do," White told Cycling News.

"We know what he [Yates] will be doing for the next month. He'll ride Valencia and Tirreno, see the Giro course, and then make a decision. It is very likely that he will compete in both the Giro and the Tour, but he will decide later what role he will play."

Yates won the Vuelta a España in 2018 and led the Giro d'Italia that year until the last few days; a year later he finished eighth, but suffered a drop in results in 2019. Last year it looked as if he would try the Giro again, but a positive coronavirus test forced him, and later his team, to withdraw from the race.

With his brother Adam's move to Ineos Grenadiers, Yates is now free to target the Grand Tours, and with so many riders competing in time trials at the Tour de France, it is no wonder that he and his team have yet to announce any concrete plans.

"The big goal for Simon is the Olympics. No one can achieve GC in both the Giro and the Tour and then aim for the top spots in the Olympics. Already (Mikel) Landa has his hand on both, and so does (Vincenzo) Nibali. [So is] Bauke Mollema, and there will be more riders like that this year. Once the course details for the Giro are worked out, they will go for one of the two, including Simon. Some riders may target the Giro and see what happens at the Tour. If they are in a good position, they might go straight to the Tour," White added.

Now that Adam Yates and Jack Haig have left, White is hoping that Lucas Hamilton will fill the void. The 24-year-old, who won a stage at last year's Tirreno-Adriatico, has only made two starts in the Grand Tour, but White believes he can make another leap forward in 2021 and lead the team to three weeks of racing.

"I expect Lucas to step up this year. Once the Giro course is announced, which will be confirmed, he will definitely lead us in the Grand Tours this season. Last year's Giro was obviously terrible, but Lucas was in a good position after Simon left the race, and when he had to go home he was ahead of Tao Geoghegan Hart and others. Lucas made a big step up in Tirreno. [Now that Adam Yates and Jack Hague have left, Lucas will be looking to step up in many races. He will have a lot of freedom in the spring and will lead us in the Grand Tours. He is in the same class as riders like Pavel Sivakov and Jai Hindley. All three of these riders were on the podium at the Baby Giro the year before he turned pro. I think he will take Lucas to the Tour and that would be a good option.

Hamilton's Grand Tour ambitions are clear, but the same cannot necessarily be said for Esteban Chaves. The Colombian climber is in a contract year and needs to impress as he has had a dominant 2020 season. The 30-year-old was once considered a Grand Tour contender and finished on the podium in both the Giro and Vuelta in 2016. Since then, however, he has been plagued by health issues and injuries. Last year, he looked competitive in the week-long race but lost his form after the first week of the Vuelta. White believes the diminutive climber needs to get back to basics and cannot use the virus as an excuse for ruining his 2018 season.

"I don't think so," White said when asked if the virus was to blame for Chaves' poor performance. 'No, he can't use that as an excuse anymore, that was three years ago. He is 100% healthy and there is no excuse. He needs to perform, step up for us, and get results."

Asked if Chaves can deliver a GC result in a Grand Tour, White replied: "It's been five years since he's achieved a GC in a Grand Tour. When he is in good shape, he is a world-class climber. But GC in Grand Tours hasn't worked out for him in the last few years.

"We will take it one step at a time and it starts with a stage win in a Grand Tour and a level we know he can reach. Now he is aiming for selection to the Tour team," White said.

While Team Bike Exchange solidifies its Grand Tour plans, it welcomes the return of Michael Matthews, who has spent the past four years away from the team and in Sunweb. His return provides the Australian team with much-needed ammunition in the classics and sprints, and the 30-year-old will target Milan-San Remo in the cobbled classics and Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège for his first Monument win.

"Michael gives me a lot of chances to win races that I didn't have before. It is very exciting to bring him back into the fold. He comes into the Classic group and adds a new dimension to us. We know how he works and we know from the past what works. He is a man who responds well to having someone and a team that backs him 100%. He hasn't always had that in the last four years that he's been away from us.

"Before, when he was here, there was tension with Simon Gerrans. He would be a leader in Milan - San Remo, some classics, Amstel Gold, and Liège - Bastogne - Liège.

Matthews made a surprise return to BikeExchange despite his contract with Team DSM, but his return is a great opportunity for him and his new team.

"He can still get better. He's still motivated.

"In the past he played against (Peter) Sagan and unfortunately now he plays against (Mathieu) van der Poer and (Wout) van Aal.

"In the next few years, it may be harder to get the top-end speed that I had a few years ago, but my ability on the climbs will improve. If you look at the Tour de France, there are two uphill finishes in the first few days, which is perfect for him."