Adam Yates and Esteban Chaves will lead Mitchelton Scott in the Tour de France, while Simon Yates will skip La Grande Boucle to prepare for the Giro d'Italia.

The Giro and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were the focus of Simon Yates' season before a coronavirus outbreak interrupted his campaign. The Olympics were postponed to 2021, but he stuck to his original plan to compete in the Giro, despite the change in dates to have the Corsa Rosa (October 3-25) precede the Tour (August 29-September 20).

Heads sport director Matt White said that despite the presence of Adam Yates, who finished fourth overall at the 2016 Tour, and Chaves, who finished on the podium at both the Giro and Vuelta a España that year, the team's main focus at the Tour de France suggested that the team's main focus at the Tour de France will be on chasing stage victories.

"After last year's success, we want to go after stage wins at the Tour de France. Last year we rode in an aggressive style and we want to continue that this year," White said.

"Right now I'm reconditioning certain stages. The difference this year, starting in the south of France, is that the first week is a tough climb. But by the time we get through the Pyrenees on stage 10, it will be more aggressive and with the first GC selections set, there will be more opportunities for breakaways."

Mitchelton-Scott has four stage wins in the 2019 Tour. Their 11 pre-selection for this year's Tour includes past Grand Tour stage winners Chaves, Adam Yates, Mikel Nieve, Daryl Impey, and Luca Medjeck.

"The stacked field of GC can affect stage chances, but it can also create opportunities," White said. It's no secret that the strongest teams are Team Ineos and Jumbo Visum, but once the GC stabilizes, we still have a chance."

Meanwhile in the Giro, Mitchelton Scott's focus will be on the overall ambitions of Simon Yates, who led the race for two weeks in 2018 but lost Maria Rosa in a dramatic stage 18 Bardonecchia. The 27-year-old won the Vuelta a España that year but had to settle for eighth overall when he returned to the Giro in 2019.

Like Simon Yates, Jack Haig, Damien Howson, Lucas Hamilton, and Andrei Zeitz will miss the Tour to form part of a strong climbing core in the Giro.

"Our focus at the Giro d'Italia is to support Simon Yates as much as possible, help him achieve optimal results as a team, and ultimately win the race," White said. [For me, the Giro d'Italia is the most physically demanding Grand Tour. The team we are sending is deep and I am confident that Simon will have great support in all aspects of the race."

Brent Bookwalter and Chris Juul Jensen have been named to Mitchelton Scott's long list for the Giro and Tour, but White does not see many riders combining the two Grand Tours as they are only a little over two weeks apart in the revised calendar He believes that the two Grand Tours will not be combined.

"There will only be a few riders who will double the TDF and Giro this year, and no GC riders will compete in both. This will affect the composition of the starting lineup in Sicily," White said.

"I am also very concerned about how the weather will affect the race. In a normal May event, the average weather threat will always remain, especially in the high mountains, but in an October event, the conditions will not be as unstable."

"The weather will be very unpredictable," White said.

Earlier this year, Simon Yates said that he was motivated to run the 2020 Giro because it fits well with his plans for the Tokyo Olympics. Following the season interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yates said he was "open to anything" regarding a modified calendar, but ultimately chose to target the Giro.

"The extra month will give the riders a chance to do more races. [Shayne Bannan and Alvaro Crespi left the team and were replaced by Brent Copeland and Darach McQuaid. The move followed news that team owner Jerry Ryan had decided against selling the team to Spanish businessman Francisco Huertas and would start over as Manuela Fundacion.

Mitchelton Scott Longlist for the Tour de France (August 29-September 20): Jack Bauer (New Zealand), Sam Bury (New Zealand), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Esteban Chaves (Colombia), Alex Edmondson (Australia), Tsugab Gurumayi (Ethiopia), Daryl Impey (RSA), Chris Juul Jensen (Denmark), Luca Mejek (Slovakia), Mikel Nieve (Spa), Adam Yates (UK)

Mitchelton Scott Longlist for the Giro d'Italia (October 3-25): Edoardo Affini (Italy), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Jack Haig (Australia), Lucas Hamilton (Australia), Michael Hepburn ( (Australia), Damien Howson (Australia), Chris Juul-Jensen (Denmark), Cameron Meyer (Australia), Nick Schultz (Australia), Simon Yates (UK), Andrei Zeitz (Kaz)