The option of being called up to World Tour racing has now opened up for Ireland’s Adam Rafferty after changes were announced for his Hagens Berman Jayco, a UCI Continental squad registered in the US.
Rafferty (19) saw his first year as an U23 interrupted by exams this year but he still enjoyed some very strong results, including finishing 10th in the U23 TT at the World Road Championships, and looks ready for a big step forward.
Fellow Irish international, Liam O’Brien, has already benefitted from the World Tour call-up system riding for Lidl Trek Future Development this year. The Cork teenager was called up to the Lidl Trek World Tour team for some events, even though it was his first season as an U23.
Rafferty’s Hagens Berman Jayco squad this year became the sister team of Jayco AlUla, the Australian World Tour team Eddie Dunbar has been riding for for the last couple of seasons. Dunbar also rode for Hagens Berman, run by Axel Merckx, when he was an U23 rider.
Hagens Berman Jayco has now become the official development team of Jayco AlUla, and that means its riders can be called up to the World Tour team for racing opportunities. The official new relationship was announced on Friday.
“We are thrilled to be able to call Hagens Berman Jayco our official development team,” said Team Jayco AlUla general manager Brent Copeland. “Axel has done an incredible job in building the team over the last decade, which can be seen by the number of riders that have passed through and become stars in the World Tour peloton with victories in the biggest races.
“Growth and helping to develop the next generation has always been important to GreenEDGE Cycling and Team Owner Gerry Ryan and by having Hagens Berman Jayco now part of the GreenEDGE family is something we are all very proud of and it will provide a junction, a clear pathway for riders to envisage, a stepping stone into the World Tour.”
Merckx said he was “grateful to Team Jayco AlUla and owner Gerry Ryan for belief in our program and their commitment to the future of cycling”.
“We are excited to find a partner, alongside Hagens Berman and Steve Berman, who shares our passion for rider development and nurturing the next generation of talent. With this partnership, we’re excited to build a stronger foundation for success and continue shaping the future of the sport together.”