20/06/2024

Team Jayco AlUla for 2024 Tour de France: Simon Yates aims for podium; Dylan Groenewegen for sprints and Michael Matthews for stages

The second team to reveal their lineup for the Tour de France this year is Team Jayco AlUla. The Australian squad have not taken a long time to decide on the riders they will take to the Grand Boucle and they start off with the same leaders as in 2023: Simon Yates, Michael Matthews and Dylan Groenewegen.

It is incredible in fact how little the lineup changes in comparison to 2023. Jayco are heading to the 2024 Tour de France with 7 out of the 8 riders who have put on the number last year, and the goals remain the same after a successful year. Simon Yates leads the team's GC ambitions, aiming for the podium after conquering an impressive fourth place last year which confirms the Briton remains at his best climbing level. He is rumoured to be joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike but he still has one more opportunity to achieve Tour greatness.

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The Australian team follow their regular format, with no goal of working in the mountains, Yates will be joined by only one climber in Chris Harper. The 29-year old is a growing climber however, he was 12th at Paris-Nice and sixth at the highly-competitive Volta a Catalunya so with no doubt he can be a feature in the mountains of this race. Last year he finished 16th and was good support for Yates.

Dylan Groenewegen will be the team's best for the bunch sprints. A five-time winner in this race, he will once again be the most supported rider in the lineup as he looks to succeed in the flat stages. Recently, he has won the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic and the opening stage of the Tour of Slovenia. Leadout men Luka Mezgec and Elmard Reinders will be the key support riders; whilst Luke Durbridge and Christopher Juul-Jensen will also play a key role in these finales. The latter, in good form, may also be a good stage hunter.

Finally Michael Matthews completes the lineup, and he will likely have a free role. It would not be a surprise to see him help the team and Groenewegen in the flat sprints, but his priorities will certainly be the hilly days where he could benefit from a reduced peloton sprint, or possibly aim for wins from the breakaways. He is a big contender to take the first yellow jersey in Rimini.