Just 24 hours after his twin brother Adam stood on the Champs-Elysees podium after winning the best young rider’s white jersey at the Tour de France, Simon Yates has claimed his first victory after his return from a four-month doping ban. It’s also his first since joining Australian UCI WorldTour outfit Orica-BikeExchange with his brother in 2014.

The suspension was imposed by the UCI after the 23-year-old tested positive for an asthma drug at Paris-Nice in March, with his team doctor having failed to secure the necessary therapeutic use exemption due to an administrative error.

> Simon Yates “ashamed and embarrassed” at doping ban

The timing of the ban meant the rider from Bury could not line up alongside his brother at the start of the Tour de France in Normandy three weeks ago, and he returned to racing a week later at the Tour of Poland where he finished 20th overall.

Eurosport reports that after winning the Basque race the Prueba Villafranca-Ordiziako Klasika in the Basque Country today, the 23-year-old said: “I am really happy with this win.

“It’s actually my first victory as a full professional and of course it is very special, especially in such a tough race.

“I hope that I can carry this form into the upcoming races, but for sure I am going to enjoy this moment,” he added.

Before joining his current team, Yates rode for the Great Britain development squad and in 2013 won the Devon stage of the Tour of Britain, where he finished third overall, as well as two stages of that year’s Tour de l’Avenir.