The veteran trio of Michael Hepburn, Chris Juul-Jensen and Lawson Craddock are set to go back to Group Jayco-AlUla for subsequent season, with Hepburn and Juul-Jensen showed with new two-year contracts and the two-time US males’s elite time trial champion signed for yet another yr.
The deal thru 2025 for Hepburn will make him one of the vital longest-tenured riders at Jayco-AlUla, as he and fellow Australian Luke Durbridge were at the WorldTour squad for the reason that starting in 2012.
“Those riders are a part of the principles of our group and the all-important engine room. They every have very numerous roles they usually at all times get the process accomplished,” group Normal Supervisor Brent Copeland mentioned in a media observation. “They know what they wish to do, they usually deliver numerous enjoy to the group, so it can be crucial for us to stay them and proceed this adventure in combination.”
The 2024 season might be Hepburn’s thirteenth season within the WorldTour, and he additionally raced with Group Jayco Skins for 2 seasons as a youngster, successful the Australian U23 street race championship in 2010 after which a bronze medal within the junior time trial International Championship the following season.
“It’s no secret that I think proper at house on this group and I’m having a look ahead to proceeding that dating. There are improbable other people in every single place this organisation and I think very proud to be part of the group’s historical past. I’ve grown so much right here and it’s been in reality particular to look the group evolve through the years,” the 32-year-old Australian mentioned in a group press unlock.
A flexible rider, Hepburn has ridden 12 Grand Excursions and was once fourth this season at Tirreno-Adriatico. He’s going to function in quite a lot of roles and is an asset within the dash teach for powerhouse sprinter. Dylan Groenewegen has additionally agreed to proceed for 2 extra years, and completed fastman Caleb Ewan, returns to the Australian squad in 2024.
Like Hepburn, Craddock has a protracted professional occupation at the street going again to 2011-2013 with the Trek-Livestrong, became Bontrager, building squad. The 31-year-old from Texas is understood for his dependable engine that may produce leads to time trials in addition to on climbs. Craddock received a bronze medal on the 2010 International Championships within the junior time trial, and has completed 5th within the U23 race (2013) and 6th as an elite rider (2019).
In 2019, Craddock landed at the podium on the Vuelta a España and Larry H. Miller Excursion of Utah. This previous summer season he completed fourth on level 15 on the Excursion de France to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc.
“I surely really feel like I discovered a brand new rent in my occupation after becoming a member of the group in 2022 and I’m very thankful to Gerry Ryan and Brent Copeland for giving me the chance to sign up for the group slightly past due in my occupation,” he mentioned as he appeared forward to his 3rd yr with Jayco-AlUla.
“I in reality really feel like I have compatibility in smartly among the fellows and I’m extraordinarily venerated that the group put the accept as true with in me, to stay me on board and I am having a look ahead to creating some extra excellent reminiscences sooner or later.”
Juul-Jensen has been with the GreenEDGE programme since 2016, and ridden 12 of his 14 Grand Excursions right through that point. A level winner on the 2018 Excursion de Suisse, the 34-year-old Dane has turn out to be a treasured make stronger rider in level races and one-day Classics.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to experience 8 nice years with GreenEDGE Biking and to proceed for 2 extra years says all of it in reality, I find it irresistible right here. The outdated and the brand new. I couldn’t believe myself happier and hungrier for luck any place else,” Juul-Jensen mentioned.
A similarity with the trio is that every has received at least once trial championships for his house nation through the years – Craddock successful for the US as a junior (2010) and two times as an elite rider (2021, 2022), Hepburn successful for Australia as a U23 and elite rider (2010 and 2015, respectively) and Juul-Jensen successful for Denmark in 2015.
The affirmation in their signings brings the Jayco-AlUla roster to twenty-eight for 2024.