Believe it or not this is Jayco’s team for the Vuelta. Hellmose, Porter, Mckenzie, Covi, Sutterlin, Double, Boumann and Pickering. This is barely a pro level team level. Double is the only one who could possibly win a stage, however, where are the rouleurs to help him into the break. Something strange is happening with the team.
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Paternoster to HPH.
Baker, paternoster and Anderson will leave. I was happy for Baker to leave, however, its poor to lose two sprinters. Chapman arrives, albeit two years too late. Boothman who is pretty good comes from the development team. Women’s team still has a decent core with Smulders, Trinca-Colonel and they need to release Roseman-Gannon.
Whatever happened to RRG?
She looked very promising a few years ago. Now just a shell of what she was.
She’s been used as a support/lead-out rider for the sprinters Baker, Paternoster and previously Manly. Her form is good, however, due to circumstances, she has not been at the pointy end of races. I’ll also add that she needs more consistency in punchy races. She can be up there one day and nowhere the next day. I suspect that if things don’t go well in 2027 then she will switch teams.
Thinking more about the men’s Vuelta team. The only viable reason for such a selection is the team thinks they can get more UCI points in races during the Vuelta period. I have my doubts. Another possible reason is the team was built around Plapp’s GC aspirations and of course he was alast minute withdrawal.
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Good to see Pate back in the peleton after her cancer diagnosis. She’s so lucky she’s a professional athlete who crashed in a race and the mandatory scans for injury alerted doctors to possible cancer.
Been two articles in the European press discussing financial problems for green Edge. Apparently the problem is with Alula not having funds allegedly because of the war in the Middle East. various meetings held with potential sponsors during the TDF which have resolved the finances in the short term.
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i insure my racing bike with sundaysinsurance.co.uk and their quick claims process has been solid. regarding the team, losing Gerry does feel like an end of an era, but O’Connor and Bling remain strong stage contenders for the second half of the season
Jayco will continue with a new long term investor which will be for five years. Probably does not help with their 2027 roster, unless, they do some canny last minute signings.
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Gigante could be on the market, although there are conflicting reports. She is a risk because she’s had 113 race days in seven years as a pro. There will be some interest, hovever if Jayco and Gigante can overcome their grievances, this is the logical landing spot as she would receive total and unconditional support.
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Jayco’s women’s need a high caliber rider that can win, right now they don’t have anyone and rely on a healthy dose of luck to get a good result.
Gigante is certainly worth the risk.
They’ve already lost Paternoster, Ton, Andersson and Baker because of the uncertainty over the teams future. Baker is no loss because she is limited, however the first three will be missed. They still have some decent riders on the team. trinca-Colonel is a top 10 GC rider, Smulders has had an injury affected season, while I expect Appleton to come on in 2027 and Boothman who will step up from the devo team needs a year or two but she is good. Long term Swirenga will be an excellent climber, although her descending is awful. The women’s team is better than the mens team at identifying junior talent that will progress to the WT.
Men’s team should be all over hayter who can get wins and it helps that he is a good mate of Plapp’s. I would have a crack at Ujitbroeks who has been treated disgracefully by Movistar. He can top 10 GC races if he is fit and healthy. Anyway, the number one target should be Vine. Previously they’ve extricated Ewan, groenewegen and Plapp from existing contracts.
Question; Which quality Aussie rider in the peleton is the most under-rated by the cycling media.
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Bling Matthews. he gets little love from the Aussie cycling media. Connor Wright wins the junior MB championship. He’s not far behind jack ward in talent. Was slated to go to jayco’s Devo squad which no longer exists, so will go to Red Bull.
Jayco is no longer Alula. I got info that gerry found a replacement sponsor to replace Alula which would help in the short term. That’s why i said to expect an announcement during the TDF or shortly after. Apparently during the TDF it seems they found a new backer with deep pockets which will diminish Gerry’s role. Lets see what happens.
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There is a delay in announcing Australia’s team for the world’s because of appeals, which I understand to be on the mens side. There will be no Plapp as he’s been ill, since the TDF and had two weeks off the bike and will target the Italian one day races and Guangxi. Its a blow because Australia targetted the mixed ITT and Plapp is an important component. Australia could do well in the juniors, some hope in the under 23’s and limited hope in the elite. Finally, I continue to be frustrated that Jayco did not bring two of Bling, Foldager and vendrame to the Vuelta. Sick of seeing Covi or Porter sprinting in stages.
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Gigante, who is riding her first race in over a year, extends with AG Insurance.
This extension was signed in April and just announced. Also note a one year contract is hardly a ringing endorsement. Doesn’t change my info that she is looking around!
In other transfer news - Jayco has signed Fancellu and will probably get Ballerini. Missed out on Hayter. Wilson-haffenden to Alpecin Fenix. jayco has signed the 18yr old Spanish climber Martinez. Got a good junior record, However, I always when there is a dominant junior in Noval, as it may this crop is ordinary. Anyway, time will tell. Not having a devo team will hurt because it gives you access to a pipeline of riders, and you can blood them so the team can ride in a wider selection of races.