Team Jayco AlUla backing Matthews & O’Connor for the Ardennes Classics 

Team Jayco AlUla will go all in for an Amstel Gold Race podium, the first race of three at the Ardennes Classics, with the 34-year-old Michael Matthews looking for a top-result in a race that he has a consistent list of results.

Matthews has enjoyed no less than six top 10 finishes at the event and is hoping for more in 2025 on a course that returns to its previous finish line location.

Vuelta a España podium finisher Ben O’Connor will provide the team another strong option for the likes of La Flèche Wallonne, where the Mur de Huy will decide who is the deserving champion. The pair will be looking for a strong showing in the final of the three races, the lengthy iconic Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.

The Australian duo is ready for the tough week of racing and will have a solid support team around them for all three races in the shape of Cadel Evans GORR winner Mauro Schmid and former Italian champion Filippo Zana.

Coming into the fold for Amstel Gold and Flèche Wallonne only, will be MTB World Champion Alan Hatherly, Austrian rider Patrick Gamer and young Dane Anders Foldager.

For the final of the three races, the fourth Monument of the 2025 season, the team recruit three fresh riders with Australian duo Chris Harper and Michael Hepburn plus Dutch rider Koen Bouwman.

Team Jayco AlUla at the Ardennes Classics 2025:
Anders Foldager (DEN) *Amstel & Flèche only
Patrick Gamper (AUT) *Amstel & Flèche only
Alan Hatherly (RSA) *Amstel & Flèche only

Michael Matthews (AUS) * All 3x races
Ben O’Connor (AUS) *All 3x races
Mauro Schmid (SWI) *All 3x races
Filippo Zana (ITA) * All 3x races

Michael Hepburn (AUS) *Liège only
Koen Bouwman (NED) *Liège only
Chris Harper (AUS) *Liège only TBC

Ben O’Connor
“The Ardennes is always a hard week of racing. I’m looking forward to it, especially Flèche and Liège. We have a strong team and with myself and Matthews we’ve got options in the racing. We know it will be hard racing; the weather can also play a big part in the outcome of the races. 

I’ve been slowly building through the spring, the various weeklong stage races. I’m feeling in good shape now and hopefully can do something in a one-day race. Liege is a Monument of course and that gives a lot of motivation.”

Valerio Piva
“We’re ready to be back at the Ardennes Classics, this year we have two strong options for the races with both Matthews and O’Connor. Matthews has been consistent in Amstel and it’s a race we hope he can do well in this year. Then for the hillier of the races, Flèche and Liege, O’Connor can be strong if he’s on a good day. We know what he can do, and we have a strong team around that can support well with the likes of Mauro Schmid. It’s going to be hard as always, but we’re motivated.”

GreenEDGE Cycling results at the Ardennes:
1^st 2014 Liège-Bastogne-Liège – Simon Gerrans 
2^nd 2016 Liège-Bastogne-Liège – Michael Albasini
2^nd 2012 Flèche Wallonne – Michael Albasini
3^rd 2014 Flèche Wallonne – Michael Albasini
3^rd 2017 Flèche Wallonne – Michael Albasini
3^rd 2013 Amstel Gold Race – Simon Gerrans
3^rd 2014 Amstel Gold Race – Simon Gerrans
3^rd 2015 Amstel Gold Race – Michael Matthews
4^th 2021 Amstel Gold Race – Michael Matthews
5^th 2016 Amstel Gold Race – Michael Matthews

Photo: Sprint Cycling