Is it 2024 yet? Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp lead Team Jayco AlUla at Tour Down Under in search of victory

Cycling
Sunday, 17 December 2023 at 12:30
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The Tour Down Under 2024 has it's first team confirming the lineup. Home Team Jayco AlUla are targetting absolute success in Australia and they come in with a very strong lineup including it's new star signings.
“It is one of the most important races on the calendar for us as a team and for 2024, we are lining up with a very strong group and the riders we have can really tackle each stage," team DS Matthew Hayman said in a press release. “Having [Luke] Plapp and [Caleb] Ewan join us will be a huge boost and with [Simon] Yates returning after he enjoyed a stage win and second place finish overall in this year’s edition, we are coming in with high ambitions to win. It’s a dynamic course and we want to put on a great show for the Australian fans who only get to see us race once a year in January. Hopefully 2024 will be a memorable one.”
It is a team pointing towards GC success all out with Simon Yates and Luke Plapp co-leading the team. The latter, reigning national champion, will hope to peak in January in search of the race and the nationals. Caleb Ewan, another new signing for the team, is also hoping to perform after moving off Lotto Dstny and possibly finding new motivation. There is a lot of focus coming into the race, and the team's ambition is clear as they confirm their lineup with just under a month left for the start of the race.
“As an Australian the Santos Tour Down Under is such an important and special race. Racing for Team Jayco AlUla the race is even more important as it is an Australian team, I am so motivated and excited for the race," Plapp said. "We really want to win and start the season off on a high. For me personally, I want to perform at my best, it will be my first UCI WorldTour race with Team Jayco AlUla, so I want to work well with my teammates. We have an incredibly strong team with Simon Yates, so we are aiming for stage wins with Caleb Ewan, and a strong overall result”.
The team is completed by Chris Harper who will provide support in the climbs after he himself put on a set of very strong performances this year, and could be another card for the GC. Meanwhile, Aussie trio Kelland O'Brien, Michael Hepburn and Campbell Stewart round-up the lineup to ride in support of their leaders.
Team Jayco AlUla for Tour Down Under:
Luke Plapp, Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan, Chris Harper, Kelland O'Brien, Michael Hepburn and Campbell Stewart.

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