It was clear that Jayco AlUla was aiming for dash victories when newly signed Caleb Ewan was named as one of many race headliners on the 2024 Santos Tour Down Underneath again in October, nevertheless it revealed the total extent of its residence race ambitions because it this week revealed a squad that additionally included Luke Plapp and Simon Yates.
“Having Plapp and Ewan be part of us can be an enormous increase and with Yates returning after he loved a stage win and second place end general on this yr’s version, we’re coming in with excessive ambitions to win,” Mat Hayman, group sports activities director mentioned in a press release.
“It’s a dynamic course and we wish to placed on an incredible present for the Australian followers who solely get to see us race every year in January. Hopefully 2024 can be a memorable one.”
Jayco AlUla final received the general race in 2019, when Daryl Impey took his second ochre chief’s jersey in a row. It was, nonetheless, a detailed run battle this yr when Yates climbed to victory atop Mount Lofty to assert the ultimate stage of the race in 2023, because it returned after two years of COVID-19 pandemic associated cancellations. Yates in the end completed 11 seconds behind winner Jay Vine (UAE Workforce Emirates).
Again-to-back Australian nationwide champion Plapp, who left Ineos Grenadiers to signal a four-year take care of Jayco AlUla, can even be a key rider from the group to observe intently on the climbing phases. The rider reeled again within the break for Ineos Grenadiers on the race on the ultimate Mount Lofty stage in 2023 and in 2021 it was his runner-up effort alongside Richie Porte on Willunga Hill on the home incarnation of the race that was pivotal in catching the eye of WorldTour squads.
“For me personally, I wish to carry out at my finest, it is going to be my first UCI WorldTour race with Workforce Jayco AlUla, so I wish to work properly with my teammates. We have now an extremely sturdy group with Simon Yates, so we’re aiming for stage wins with Caleb Ewan, and a robust general outcome,” mentioned Plapp in a group assertion.
Ewan, a nine-time Tour Down Underneath stage winner – his final coming in 2020 – can be trying to rekindle his profitable methods instantly on his return to the Australian squad with the dash pleasant phases coming within the first 4 days of the six-stage occasion. After spending 5 years with Lotto-Dstny, the Australian walked away in 2023 from his contract a yr early earlier than heading again to Jayco AlUla, the squad the place he began his profession. Seven of his 9 stage victories on the South Australian race got here throughout his time racing with the Australian squad.
Trusted domestique Chris Harper of Adelaide can even line up for Jayco-AlUla on the residence race, together with Olympic monitor medallists Michael Hepburn, Kelland O’Brien and Campbell Stewart. The Tour Down Underneath takes place January 16-21 in South Australia and culminates with a weekend finale that features two summit high finishes atop Willunga Hill and Mount Lofty.
Jayco AlUla 2024 roster
- Caleb Ewan (AUS)
- Chris Harper (AUS)
- Michael Hepburn (AUS)
- Kelland O’Brien (AUS)
- Luke Plapp (AUS)
- Campbell Stewart (NZL)
- Simon Yates (GBR)