Dylan Groenewegen and Michael Matthews will headline Team Jayco AlUla at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday, while Letizia Paternoster will spearhead Liv AlUla Jayco’s ambitions.
Paternoster is a former podium finisher at the one-day race, one of her favourites on the calendar. Matthews finished in the top five on his last outing at Gent-Wevelgem, and with Groenewegen he gives the team multiple options for the race.
Gent-Wevelgem has changed a lot in recent years and the inclusion of the so-called plugstreets, or gravel roads, to the men’s race makes it a stern test for the riders. The men will tackle three plugstreets in addition to nine climbs while the women’s race includes seven ascents.
Returning to the Team Jayco AlUla line-up with Groenewegen is his leadout man Luka Mezgec, who has recovered from an illness that stopped him racing earlier this week. Luke Durbridge, Kell O’Brien, Elmar Reinders, and Max Walscheid complete the squad for Gent-Wevelgem.
Joining Paternoster in the women’s line-up will be Georgia Baker, who impressed this week with her top-five performance at Classic Brugge-De Panne.
Amber Pate comes back to the team after racing at Trofeo Alfredo Binda last week. Teniel Campbell, Jeanne Korevaar, and Silke Smulders round out the Liv AlUla Jayco lineup.
Team Jayco AlUla line-up:
Dylan Groenewegen
Michael Matthews
Luka Mezgec
Elmar Reinders
Kell O’Brien
Max Walscheid
Luke Durbridge
Liv AlUla Jayco line-up:
Letizia Paternoster
Georgia Baker
Teniel Campbell
Silke Smulders
Jeanne Korevaar
Amber Pate
Dylan Groenewegen:
“We have a strong team for this race that can do well in different scenarios, so we are looking forward to going out and getting a good result.”
Letizia Paternoster:
“Gent-Wevelgem is one of my favourite races on the calendar, so I’m really excited for it. Unfortunately, last year I wasn’t able to do it after crashing a few days before. This year, I feel like my shape is really good and I’m really happy about the work I’ve been doing.
I’m super excited and hungry to take a really good result and my dream is to get on the podium. I know the level is really high and all the best riders in the world will be there, but I believe in the team and myself.”
Megan Chard (Women’s Sport Director):
“We are building towards a result, we can all feel it within the team. Whilst we have lost both Ruby and Quinty in the original selection for this race due to injury, we have riders ready to step up and take their roles which is great to see and really increases that positivity within the team.
Letizia is in very good condition at the moment, and she has a lot of support behind her. We know it is going to be a hard day out especially with the predicted weather, but we are riding together well as a team and believe we can really deliver her where she needs to be at the right time and then it is up to her to make those right decisions and fight for that position on the podium.”
Mathew Hayman (Men’s Sport Director)
“We have Dylan and Luka returning to the squad for tomorrow’s race. With Michael and Dylan in the team we have two riders who can feature in this race. They are supported by a very experienced group of riders.
It is always a special race for an Australian team owing to the fact we race through Flanders Fields, history of this area, starting in Ypres under the Menin Gate.”
Photo: Sprint Cycling
