The stage racing continues for Team Jayco AlUla as the squad rolls into the Tour de Romandie with a stacked team of climbing talent.
Australian champion Luke Plapp is back in stage racing action for the first time since a breakout Paris-Nice performance that saw him spend two days in the yellow jersey and finish sixth overall.
After an early season disrupted by illness, Simon Yates lines up in Switzerland hoping to rebuild his form as he targets the second half of 2024, while Irishman Eddie Dunbar also continues his comeback from injury, with a solid week of racing at Itzulia Basque Country in his legs.
The experience duo of Chris Juul-Jensen and Michael Hepburn will play their usual support roles alongside Colombian climber Jesús David Peña and Aussie all-rounder Callum Scotson.
Team Jayco AlUla Line-Up:
Eddie Dunbar (IRL)
Micheal Hepburn (AUS)
Chris Juul-Jensen (DEN)
Jesús David Peña (COL)
Luke Plapp (AUS)
Callum Scotson (AUS)
Simon Yates (GBR)
Luke Plapp:
“I’m really looking forward to Romandie and to be able to race with both Simon and Eddie. All of us could be capable of a strong GC result so I think we can play off each other quite nicely. I’ve been in altitude since San Remo building towards both Romandie and the Giro so I’m looking forward to seeing how my shape is heading into the Giro!
Romandie has always been a favourite race of mine. I had a great race in my first year pro here and the region of Aigle where we race is one of my favourite places to ride a bike in the world. With Two TT’s and the chance to wear the Aussie TT colours for the first time this year is also going to be great!
I think with the team we have on paper we are hoping to be right up there in the GC ranks and have a few cards to play! I believe the tour will come down to the 15km stage four TT, so that will definitely be a focus for myself. With Simon as a leader and myself and Eddie there to play a big roll of support and having some opportunities as well.”
Andrew Smith (Sport Director):
“We have three guys in good shape who will be targeting the GC, with Yates, Plapp and Dunbar. We have good options and, of course, it will be nice to snag a stage win along the win. In addition, Plapp will be targeting the stage three time trial.
The Romandie general classification usually always goes to a rather complete rider who can time trial and climb well. The prologue will likely go to a specialist rider, but the TT will be very important for the GC. We believe the course suits Plapp quite well and it will give us a good indication of our main GC rivals after stage three.”
Photo: Sprint Cycling
