"My first race has been excellent": EF's new recruit excited after his racing debut at Tour Down Under
Cycling
Changing colours is rarely straightforward, but Luke Lamperti seems to have settled quickly. The American sprinter heads into 2026 with EF Education-EasyPost after ending his spell at Soudal - Quick-Step, and his first impressions after the Tour Down Under could hardly be more positive.
Stepping away from such a prolific Belgian setup always meant embracing uncertainty. Lamperti knew that and still chose a different environment, convinced this new project could give him what he needs right now: trust and genuine opportunities.
"It’s tricky to change teams because you never know how it will be," he admitted to Domestique after his first race with EF. "I really liked Quick-Step and the atmosphere there was good. But I know a lot of the guys here, I’d always heard very positive things about the team and, from the start, they’ve backed me with chances. That was one of the main reasons for the move."
That support has been evident from day one. Lamperti highlighted the environment and how naturally he has blended in with staff and new teammates. "All the staff have been incredible, the riders too, and my first week racing with the team has been really good," he summed up, describing a calm, encouraging debut in Australia.
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A varied and demanding role
At the Tour Down Under, his remit was varied and exacting. He worked for Harry Sweeny, who put in a solid general classification ride, while also going for his own chances in the sprints, with tenth on stage 1 his best result.
Luke Lamperti during the opening prologue at the Tour Down Under 2026
"Sweeny did really well in GC and I was able to help with positioning and those kinds of details," he explained. "Then I try to grab my chances when I can, even in the tougher sprints."
Lamperti admits the legs didn’t always respond as he hoped, but he values the process. "I haven’t been at my best physically, but we’ve been in the mix, working on the lead-outs and getting used to riding together," he noted, underlining the learning curve of this first week.
Overall, the takeaway is clearly positive. For the American, these opening races provided a firm platform for the rest of the season. "It’s been good to jump straight in and get race rhythm back," he concluded. "As a team we’ve been good, and that puts us in a very strong place for what’s next."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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