Tour de France 2026 - Matthews, O'Connor and Plapp lead the way for a stage-hunting Jayco

Team Jayco AlUla has confirmed its roster for the 2026 Tour de France, a special edition for the Australian squad with the race set to start in Barcelona next week. The team heads into its 15th Grande Boucle as the GreenEDGE Cycling structure with a balanced lineup, ready to fight in the sprints, mountain stages, and breakaways.

The selection carries a strong Australian stamp, with five of its eight riders hailing from Australia. Two former Tour stage winners, Michael Matthews and Ben O'Connor, will lead the team’s ambitions.

Matthews returns to the French Grand Tour after missing the 2025 edition due to a pulmonary embolism. The veteran, a four-time stage winner and former points classification victor, will look to be a protagonist again in a race he knows inside out - mostly in the hilly days that can end in a sprint.

For his part, O'Connor arrives buoyed by his win on the queen stage of the 2025 Tour and by a résumé that includes two stage victories and fourth place overall at the French race. He recently raced the Giro d'Italia and does not come in with eyes on the GC.

The same applies to another headline name: Luke Plapp, a Giro d’Italia stage winner, who will ride his second Tour targeting a maiden victory at the French Grand Tour.

Swiss rider Mauro Schmid also lines up as one of the team’s key attacking options. After a brilliant first half of the season, with three wins and overall victory at Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, he will try to land a Tour stage after coming very close last year.

In the bunch finishes, the reference will be Germany’s Pascal Ackermann, a five-time Grand Tour stage winner, while Luke Durbridge adds a wealth of experience in what will be his 12th and final Tour de France. The Australian will serve as road captain and play a key role in the opening team time trial.

The big news in the selection is the inclusion of Kelland O'Brien and Felix Engelhardt, both set for Tour de France debuts.

O'Brien, an Olympic champion in the team pursuit, will be pivotal in the Stage 1 team time trial thanks to his power; while Engelhardt arrives after showcasing his climbing versatility at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and also offers a turn of speed in reduced groups.

Matthews admitted that only a few months ago, making the Tour start felt highly unlikely, having fractured both of his wrists in a training crash back in March.

“If you’d told me three months ago that I’d be on the start line of the Tour de France, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I’ve worked really hard to be back with the team in time and I’m super keen to return.”

The Australian explained that last year’s setbacks have sharpened his ambition.

“After missing last year’s edition through illness and then crashing this season, I’m even more motivated and hungrier. The Tour is the most important race of the year and, even though it’ll be my ninth start, making the team is still huge for any rider.”

He also expressed confidence in the group’s potential.

“I think we’ve got a very strong team and I can’t wait to line up with my teammates in Barcelona. Starting with a team time trial makes the beginning of a Grand Tour really special. Hopefully we can start well and build confidence as the race goes on.”

Sports director Matthew Hayman underlined the balance of the selection.

“We’ve got a very strong and complete team for this Tour. We have Pascal for the sprints and several very solid riders to chase opportunities in medium- and high-mountain stages.”

He also highlighted the presence of the two debutants.

“It’s really exciting to have Kell and Felix at their first Tour de France. It’s a huge step in their careers. At the same time, we have Luke Durbridge tackling his 12th Tour, a true team stalwart we can always rely on.”

Hayman further stressed the Australian core of the lineup.

“Ben returns after winning a stage last year, Michael Matthews has done an impressive job to recover from his injury and arrive ready, and Plapp already knows how to win a stage at the Giro and now wants one at the Tour. Mauro Schmid rounds out a very competitive block; we’ll see whether he arrives in the Swiss champion’s jersey or flies a little under the radar.”