"It feels like a natural fit": Jayco's founding DS makes a return after near-decade in rival teams

Neil Stephens (62) had a successful road career including a Tour de France stage victory, before he became a sports director and one of the founding member of GreenEDGE Cycling’s staff when the team launched in 2012. After a couple years, he made a switch to UAE Team Emirates, and later Bahrain - Victorious, but 2026 will see him return back home to Australia after 8 years abroad. The team identity may have changed to Jayco AlUla, but the structure won't be completely new to the experienced DS.

Stephens has played an integral part in some of Orica's biggest early successes, including the team’s first Monument victory at the 2012 Milano-Sanremo and its first Tour de France win in 2013.

"To be able to come back to the team after eight years away, a team that I helped create many years ago, it’s exciting," Stephens said of the move in an official announcement via team website.

"I’m really looking forward to it and it just feels like a natural fit. I’m happy to be joining up with great colleagues that I’ve worked with before, some new people and getting back into that unique way of working at GreenEDGE Cycling."

Through his more exotic stints in Middle-Eastern teams, the idea of retutning to Brent Copeland's team was always at the back of Stephens' mind. "I have always felt it would be a nice idea to return to GreenEDGE at some point. Once the conversations started with Brent and Gerry [Ryan – Team Owner], it seemed like the right moment to come back, and things quickly fit into place."

"I’m thankful to the teams I’ve been with, I’ve had some great experience, and it’s helped to shape me in my professional career. I’m looking forward to bringing my experiences back to the team as we fight for some major wins over the years to come. I’m excited to get started and being a part of that fighting spirit and bringing some of that Australian DNA.”

"It’s great to have Neil back on board with the team for next season," said the team's new Sporting Manager Gene Bates. "He was with the team at the very beginning and played a big part in growing the us into what we are today."

"He knows many of the staff and riders already as well as the culture of the team. He brings with him a wealth of experience from his years of working at the top level of the sport that will complement the established team of sport directors at Team Jayco AlUla. I look forward to working with him again as we aim to open a new chapter with the team."