Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it. - Andrew Jackson
Les Woodland's book Cycling's World Championships: The Inside Story is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 17: World Cup Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 26: World Cup Gaver Cyclocross
- Dec 27: Superprestige Heusden Zolder
- Dec 28: Superprestige Diegem
- Dec 29: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
Latest completed racing:
- Nov 5: European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- Oct 28: Superprestige Ruddervoorde
- Oct 22: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaanse Druivencross
- Oct 12 - 17: Tour of Guangxi
- Oct 15: Japan Cup
- Oct 15: Veneto Classic
The team sent me this news release:
Team Jayco AlUla has confirmed its strengthened roster for the 2024 season, which sees six new additions, fortifying the team in all areas, by adding an extra layer of depth.
Double the speed
With the news of ‘pocket rocket’ Caleb Ewan returning to his roots, re-joining the Australian outfit in 2024, there’s no secret that the squad is searching for more sprint victories in major races throughout the coming season.
Caleb Ewan wins stage three of the 2015 Herald Sun Tour. Sirotti photo
Joining Dylan Groenewegen as one of the fastest sprinters in the world, the pair will enjoy a parallel race programme, with both riders set to be given their own opportunities and dedicated lead-out trains to assist them throughout the demanding season. German powerhouse Max Walscheid is a welcomed addition in this area, set to boost the sprint trains, providing brute force and a crucial turn of speed in the finale.
“We have been working on our sprint lead-out group a lot the past year and have added extra strength to it for next season. To have two of the best sprinters in the world on the team, with Caleb and Dylan, it is important to have the right support group and we believe with our new rider signings, and the way our current riders have developed and gelled together this year, we will have one of the best sprint groups in the WorldTour peloton for the 2024 season.” – General Manager Brent Copeland
Powerful engine room
With general classification success in stage races continuing as a major focus, the Australian outfit heads into 2024 with multiple options to tackle hilly races, with a now well-rounded group of climbers in the shape of Simon Yates, Eddie Dunbar, Chris Harper and Filippo Zana. This core climbing group will have an injection of talent as Australia’s next big hope Luke Plapp joins the ranks.
“Over the past couple of years we have created a solid climbing group, riders that can win in their own right but also support our leaders to go for overall general classification results in the biggest races. We have a lot of depth now in the team and with hugely talented riders joining us in 2024, we can only expect more in stage races and hilly one-day events. It is very motivating for all of us heading into the new season with this strength and many options to target results in the biggest races.” – Copeland
Content continues below the ads
Looking forward to the future
Building on its foundations and looking to the future, Team Jayco AlUla is pleased to continue with various development projects by adding up and coming Italian talent Davide De Pretto, and Danish all-rounder Anders Foldager.
After helping to nurture its young debutants throughout 2023, the squad is delighted to have seen the progress of 2023 new recruits – Ethiopian climber Welay Hagos Berhe and German rider Felix Engelhardt – with both riders shining on the world stage. In his first year as a professional, Engelhardt picked up two victories and Berhe managed to climb with the world’s best and unleash his potential. With this, the team is confident that the environment it has created will be the perfect place for De Pretto and Foldager to transition into the WorldTour peloton.
Swiss phenomenon Mauro Schmid is another ‘up and coming’ talent that the organisation is thrilled to have onboard for the new season. Having already racked up a whole host of major victories at WorldTour level, including a Giro d’Italia stage win, it is easy to forget that Schmid is only 23 years old.
Mauro Schmid wins stage one of the 2022 Coppi Bartali race. Sirotti photo
“We are really focusing on the next generation of riders; we have added a women’s development team and we are supporting Axel Merckx with the men’s development team, but we are also focusing on guiding and developing new talent within our WorldTour team set up. We saw this year that our youngest riders really stepped up and displayed the potential they have. This proves to us that we have a solid working environment to get the best out of young talent, we have a lot of older experienced riders within the team, and this is crucial in developing the next generation. Having the talent of De Pretto, Foldager but also Schmid, who is still a young rider, it will be very interesting to see what they can achieve in 2024 with the support of a WorldTour team.
Content continues below the ads
Our preparations for 2024 are well underway and we believe that our men’s team roster is one of the strongest we’ve seen in recent years with these exciting new signings. As always, we want to say a huge thank you to our dedicated Team Owner Gerry Ryan, our passionate partners AlUla and Giant and all of our sponsors, who without, none of this would be possible.” – Copeland.
Team Jayco AlUla’s 2024 Roster: (30)
Welay Hagos Berhe (ETH)
Lawson Craddock (USA)
Alessandro De Marchi (ITA)
Davide De Pretto (ITA) *New Rider
Eddie Dunbar (IRL)
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Felix Engelhardt (GER)
Caleb Ewan (AUS) *New Rider
Anders Foldager (DEN) *New Rider
Dylan Groenewegen (NED)
Lucas Hamilton (AUS)
Chris Harper (AUS)
Michael Hepburn (AUS)
Amund Grøndahl Jansen (NOR)
Chris Juul-Jensen (DEN)
Jan Maas (NED)
Michael Matthews (AUS)
Luka Mezgec (SLO)
Kelland O’Brien (AUS)
Jesús David Peña (COL)
Luke Plapp (AUS) *New Rider
Rudy Porter (AUS)
Blake Quick (AUS)
Elmar Reinders (NED)
Mauro Schmid (SUI) *New Rider
Callum Scotson (AUS)
Campbell Stewart (NZL)
Max Walscheid (GER) *New Rider
Simon Yates (GBR)
Fillipo Zana (ITA)
Team Jayco AlUla 2024 stats:
No. of riders: 30
No. of Australians: 11
No. of internationals: 19 (3x ITA, 3x NED, 2x DEN, 2x GER, 1x SUI, 1x ETH, 1x NZL, 1x GBR, 1x COL, 1x SLO, 1x IRL, 1x USA, 1x NOR)
Youngest rider: 21 De Pretto
Oldest rider: 37 De Marchi
Content continues below the ads
Here’s the team’s news:
Suffering from pain in his right leg for several months, our sprinter Lorrenzo Manzin recently underwent successful surgery. Affected by iliac endofibrosis, a pathology that prevents blood from flowing properly through the artery.
Our rider is currently beginning his convalescence period with the aim of returning to the roads as soon as possible.
Lorenzo Manzin wins stage four of the 2022 Poitou Charentes. Team Cofidis photo
Lorrenzo said:
“The operation went well, this type of injury is common among cyclists and affects the recovery of athletes. I’m going to begin a period of convalescence lasting several weeks, before gradually getting back into the sport. The aim is to get back in shape to help the team in 2024. My start to the season will certainly be delayed.”
The whole of Team TotalEnergies wishes Lorrenzo a good recovery.
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary