Luke Plapp set to become another INEOS Grenadiers departure and sign for Team Jayco AlUla

Cycling Market: Australian champion Luke Plapp looks set to switch teams for the 2024 season, leaving the INEOS Grenadiers and joining the Aussie-based, Team Jayco AlUla.

News of this possible transfer has generated great interest in the cycling world, as Plapp still has one year left on his contract with INEOS Grenadiers. However, according to sources close to the peloton, the young Australian cyclist is in the process of mutually terminating his three-year contract with the British team. So far, there has been no mention of any other team's involvement in the negotiations, suggesting that Plapp has his eyes solely on Jayco AlUla.

Luke Plapp, 22, joined the ranks of Ineos Grenadiers in early 2022 and quickly emerged as one of Australia's most promising emerging talents. This year, he successfully defended his Australian road cross-country champion title and posted an impressive second place overall finish in the UAE Tour. In 2022, he made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España and racked up a string of top-ten results in week-long stage races.

Plapp's possible arrival at Jayco AlUla would be a significant reinforcement for the team. Plapp, a former track cycling standout, has yet to reach his full potential on the road, and Jayco AlUla could see him as a possible successor to Grand Tour leader Simon Yates in the coming years.

Notably, Plapp would not be the only rider to leave Ineos Grenadiers this year, as other notable riders such as Pavel Sivakov, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Dani Martinez and Ben Tulett will also leave the team at the end of the current season. This marks a transition period for Ineos Grenadiers as they look to reshape their roster.

Importantly, it was recently reported that several Ineos Grenadiers riders will renew their contracts, including prominent names such as Geraint Thomas and Carlos Rodriguez. Thomas achieved an impressive second place in this year's Giro d'Italia, while Rodriguez stood out by winning a stage and finishing fifth overall in the Tour de France.

In addition, Americans AJ August, Tobias Foss and Oscar Rodriguez are expected to join the British team, adding further intrigue to the moves in the world of professional cycling ahead of the 2024 season.