Key Takeaways:
– Hagens Berman Jayco will become the official development team for Team Jayco AlUla in the 2025 WorldTour programme.
– The Continental squad, founded by Axel Merckx, has contributed over 50 riders to the professional cycling ranks so far.
– The partnership with Hagens Berman Jayco will help in building promising young talents in the world of cycling.
Hagens Berman Jayco’s Ascendancy in the WorldTour Programme
In an exciting development announced last Friday, Team Jayco AlUla confirmed that Hagens Berman Jayco, a US-based Continental squad, would become the official development outfit for the WorldTour programme. This significant partnership will commence in 2025 and is a testament to the team’s remarkable success in nurturing future cycling talents.
Established in 2009 by Axel Merckx, the cycling squad has done an exceptional job in the field. Over the years, the team has successfully graduated more than 50 riders to top professional cycling positions. Amongst the prominent talents include 22-year-old Alastair MacKellar, winner of Alpes Isère Tour. MacKellar transitioned from the Continental squad as a stagiaire for Team Jayco AlUla last season before signing a two-year contract with EF Education-Easypost. Furthermore, Artem Shmidt, the US U23 ITT champion of 2024, secured a multi-year contract with Ineos Grenadiers.
Notable Alumni and their Success Stories
The current alumnus roster of Team Jayco AlUla is enriched with riders like Eddie Dunbar, a Vuelta a España stage winner, and former GreenEDGE Cycling participants Lawson Craddock and Sam Bewley. These riders’ accomplishments underline the integrity of the talent grooming process within the squad while maintaining a high standard in their rider selection procedure.
“We have a shared passion for nurturing talent and helping riders develop, and we are thankful to Gerry Ryan, Team Jayco AlUla, and Gerry Ryan for their belief in our program,” stated Axel Merckx.
In a similar vein, Brent Copeland, General Manager of Team Jayco AlUla, lauded Merckx’s achievements, emphasizing the team’s role in creating prominent cycling stars.
Hagens Berman Jayco’s Role in Developing New Talent
The partnership between the men’s teams marks a significant milestone following the creation of a women’s development team to support Liv AlUla Jayco. The organization now comprises four teams, including men’s and women’s WorldTour rosters and two Continental outfits. These setups offer an ideal platform for budding riders to thrive.
Continuing the Legacy
In late November, Hagens Berman Jayco disclosed their powerful 15-rider roster for the upcoming 2025 season. Included in the squad are returnees such as Adam Rafferty of Ireland, Gonçalo Tavares of Portugal, Samuele Privitera of Italy, and Ben Wiggins of Great Britain. Notably, Wiggins, Bradley Wiggins’ son, has already stamped his authority by capturing a silver medal in the men’s junior time trial at Worlds in 2023.
New to the roster are Wil Holmes of Adelaide and Tasmanian native Will Eaves. Holmes holds the junior World Record in the 3km Individual Pursuit, while Eaves has had successful runs in the junior road race and time trial at the Australian road nationals.
The partnership of Hagens Berman Jayco with Team Jayco AlUla creates an exciting precedent in creating formal pathways for young talents to transition into the professional cycling circuit. As the countdown for the new season begins, fans look forward to witnessing the impactful collaborative efforts, marking a new era in competitive cycling.