Former podium finisher Michael Matthews will lead Team Jayco AlUla into the first Monument of the season, Milano-San Remo this weekend.
‘La Classicissima’ has a special place in GreenEDGE Cycling history with Simon Gerrans winning the race in the Australian champion’s jersey in the team’s debut season in 2012. That same national champions jersey will be on the back of Luke Plapp in 2024 as he lines-up in his first Monument after an impressive Paris-Nice where he wore the yellow jersey for two stages.
Plapp himself will have the job of looking after race leader Matthews in the top positions before the notorious Poggio climb, which has become even more decisive in recent times. Experienced teammates Alessandro De Marchi, Luke Durbridge and Michael Hepburn will be tasked with keeping Matthews protected in the first part of the race and then when the peloton runs parallel to the sea ahead of the grand finale.
Italian neo-pro Davide De Pretto will get his first taste of a Monument, while Lucas Hamilton completes the line-up for the 115th edition of the Italian classic. The 2024 race will have a first-ever start from Pavia with the traditional finish along the Via Roma in San Remo after 288 kilometres with the famous ascents of the Cipressa and Poggio featuring once again.
Team Jayco AlUla at the 2024 Milano-San Remo:
Alessandro De Marchi (ITA)
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Lucas Hamilton (AUS)
Michael Hepburn (AUS)
Michael Matthews (AUS)
Luke Plapp (AUS)
Davide De Pretto (ITA)
Michael Matthews
“I’m really looking forward to going back to Milano-San Remo, I missed it last year due to Covid, but it’s one of my favourite races of the season and definitely the most beautiful of the year in my opinion.
Unfortunately, I got sick in Paris-Nice so had to abandon, but I’ve had some time to recover now and I’ve got some good training in this week, so I’m ready to go.”
Mathew Hayman – Sport Director
“The first Monument of the year his here and with Michael Matthews we will be aiming to be gunning for the win when the race swings onto the famous Via Roma.
Milano-San Remo is always an exciting nail-biting finish after a long day in the saddle, Michael has a strong team around him who will be there to support and position him into key points, so we are ready.”
