Team Jayco AlUla have wrapped a successful La Vuelta a España that sees the Australian squad leave Madrid with two stage victories, three second-place finishes and six top-10 results.
The team were ever present during the 21 stages with an aggressive and attacking style of racing that took the peloton from Portugal to Spain and they were rewarded for all of their efforts.
Dunbar’s Double Delight
It was an unforgettable Vuelta for Eddie Dunbar in particular, as the Irishman delivered his maiden Grand Tour victory, firstly in stunning style from a select breakaway on stage 11, before backing up his first triumph with an imperious solo win on a brutal stage 20 mountain-top finish.
After being allowed up the road alongside Filippo Zana on day 11, the Team Jayco AlUla duo executed a perfect team performance, playing off each other’s strengths in a tricky finale before Dunbar attacked from the group inside 600 metres to go to ride home to a thrilling and memorable win.
The 28-year-old continued to grow into the race during the last two weeks as he climbed amongst the best general classification contenders day after day. Then, with a brutal three weeks of racing already in the legs, he made his move on the penultimate day of action, launching a daring solo attack from the GC group on Picón Blanco to take his second outstanding victory.
The man from Cork was also rewarded for his battling performances and consistency with 11th place overall on the general classification.
Eddie Dunbar:
“I’m still feeling really good, I said jokingly that it’s a shame that the race isn’t a week longer! But I’m really happy, the team rode really well for the full three weeks, the first week was a bit difficult with a few guys being sick and having to leave the race, but I think we came out of it strong in the second and third weeks.
For me to get a stage win and then Mauro and Pippo to get three second places between them I think it shows that the way the whole team rode over the three weeks has been really impressive. It was special to get the hands up again on stage 20 to finish off a successful three weeks for the team.”
Super Schmid
While he may have narrowly missed out on a stage win, Mauro Schmid put on one of the performances of the race. The Swiss champion racked up two impressive second-place finishes and a fourth place with a relentless and daring display over the three weeks.
He bookended the race with two strong time trial efforts, firstly in Portugal on the opening day before powering to fifth on the final day in Madrid. After riding into the breakaway on stage 12, the 24-year-old pushed the pure climbers all the way on the summit, showing his great determination to take a striking fourth place.
Not content with this, Schmid was once again in the break the following day, this time climbing to a strong second place, despite the steep gradients up to the finish line. After almost catching the bunch napping with a late attack on stage 17, Schmid was back in the breakaway action the following day. Schmid looked to be the strongest of the escapees, but was outnumbered in the end as he fought hard to another second-place.
Rafa Valls (Sports Director):
“The Vuelta didn’t start so great for us, but after the first week the guys started to feel better and better. We had some problems with illness, but in the end we can say it’s a successful Vuelta for us.
We have two victories and we were fighting for many stage win, almost every day, plus Eddie was not far off the top-10 overall in the end, so we can be very happy with that.”
A Constant Threat
Despite losing riders to illness, Team Jayco AlUla proved to be a constant threat throughout the three weeks of racing. With a stage win already in the bag, the squad didn’t relent in their desire for more glory as Italian Filippo Zana battled the elements on Lagos de Covadonga to take a well-fought out second-place from the breakaway on stage 16.
Six further top-10 finishes highlight the consistency and fighting spirit of the team. Despite making it to Madrid with just five riders, the group walk away with their heads held high and proud of their achievements in the final Grand Tour of the 2024 season.
Brent Copeland (General Manager):
“It’s definitely been a successful three weeks, we had some concerns in the first week with the heat and some illness in the team, so we didn’t have fortune on our side the whole time, but this group managed to turn it around with Eddie’s first win and then two second places with Schmid and Zana. That really got the morale going and it switched the switch to get things moving in the right direction.
The cherry on top was the win on the Queen Stage and Eddie’s ride, which was tremendously satisfying because of what he’s been through and how hard he’s worked after the misfortune he had at the Giro, it’s great to see him back at the level he should be.”
Victories:
Stage 11 – 1st place – Eddie Dunbar
Stage 20 – 1st place – Eddie Dunbar
Top-5 placings:
Stage 12 – 4th place – Mauro Schmid
Stage 13 – 2nd place – Mauro Schmid
Stage 16 – 2nd place – Filippo Zana
Stage 18 – 2nd place – Mauro Schmid
Stage 21 – 5th place – Mauro Schmid
Top-10 placings:
Stage 1 – 7th place – Mauro Schmid
Stage 8 – 8th place – Eddie Dunbar
Stage 11 – 6h place – Filippo Zana
Stage 19 – 7th place – Eddie Dunbar
General Classification:
11th place – Eddie Dunbar
