Liv Racing TeqFind to combine forces with Team Jayco AlUla in 2024, creating a development pathway into the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Liv Racing TeqFind and GreenEDGE Cycling (Team Jayco AlUla) are thrilled to announce the exciting news that the two teams will be uniting to launch a comprehensive cycling plan for 2024 and beyond.
Liv Cycling, an innovative brand dedicated entirely to women, which forms part of the Giant Group, has supported both teams for the past seasons. In 2024 the vision of creating a strong development route for female riders will become reality as the two squads merge.
The long-standing heritage and expertise of both teams will combine as Liv Racing TeqFind integrates into the GreenEDGE Cycling organisation, Australia’s first WorldTeam owned by Australian businessman Gerry Ryan, with an overall plan of creating a new Development Team. This new team will have ambitions of becoming an international breeding ground for cycling talent, alongside a highly competitive UCI Women’s WorldTeam, looking to grow into one of the world’s best.
As the women’s WorldTour peloton goes from strength to strength at a rapid rate, a clear and functioning pathway for female riders into the demanding WorldTour peloton is more crucial than ever. The mission of the partnership is to ensure that the younger generation is well prepared and equipped to embark on a long and fruitful professional career in the UCI Women’s WorldTour, an important initiative for both teams and Liv.
Brent Copeland – Team Jayco AlUla General Manager
“For us, this is a huge step forward and a valuable one for female riders. To have a structured development pathway in place for any rider is not only an important part of a rider’s career, but is something that we feel is lacking for the women’s peloton in particular. Unlike the men’s peloton, there is currently no competitive under 23 category and the step up from junior to elite level is huge. We are passionate about this new mission and believe it will be extremely beneficial, not only for the riders on the programmes, but inspiring for the upcoming younger generation, to envisage a career pathway.
Having the two new teams working closely together will create a solid structure and foundation. We are thankful to Liv Cycling for their commitment and their active and passionate approach, bringing opportunities and ensuring inclusivity through various projects like this one. We believe it will be an impactful and important step for women’s cycling and it is something to be incredibly proud of.”
Extension partnership
The partnership with Liv Cycling will run through to 2027, signifying the commitment and passion to the growth of women’s cycling and providing stability for female riders. The Development Team will be a place for riders to thrive by utilising the knowledge and expertise from the WorldTeam, as the two squads work closely together, with monitoring of riders a way of ensuring professional development. Through this comprehensive cycling plan, female riders can be encouraged to dream of reaching professional levels, whilst also symbolising inclusivity and ensuring that young talent isn’t lost as women’s cycling continues to transform.
Eric Van den Boom – Liv Racing TeqFind Team Owner & Manager
“We are extremely happy to take next steps in the further professionalisation of women’s cycling with Liv Cycling. Together we have a long history of establishing a solid foundation for the sport. This is now in place, with good training facilities and guidance and an appealing race programme. In the phase we are in now, we see that a different approach is required to further increase the success of women’s cycling and its reach. The absolute top is getting stronger, for the youngest generations the step to the high WorldTour level is sometimes hard to overcome.
With the arrival of a Development Team, we are creating the ideal environment for up-and-coming talent. With access to the same knowledge, insights and training methods as the WorldTeam, tomorrow’s heroes can get ready in a professional environment. So that one day they will be on the highest podium of the most famous races. Thanks to this careful approach, we are making our beloved sport accessible to even more women, regardless of their background. This reinforces the open, global character of women’s cycling. We thank Liv Cycling for their unwavering support.”
Stronger together
Liv Racing TeqFind has generated many strong riders having competed at the highest level since 2009 and boasts an impressive list of victories including numerous stage wins and four overall wins at the Giro d’Italia Donne, La Flèche Wallonne Féminine, Tour of Flanders and La Course by Le Tour de France. Liv Racing TeqFind has also had many world champions (road, track, MTB and CX) and Olympic champions (road and track) on its team over the years. GreenEDGE Cycling has been at the forefront of women’s cycling since 2012, when the team was brought to life, and over the years it has enjoyed success in all major races, with overall and multiple stage victories at the Giro d’Italia Donne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour Down Under, Strade Bianche and La Course by Le Tour de France to name a few.
Incorporating the strengths of these two current WorldTeams, the merger will see consistency remain as Liv Racing TeqFind brings their expertise and experience across to combine with those of GreenEDGE Cycling, allowing for this new cycling plan to flourish from the get-go.
Bonnie Tu, Liv Cycling Founder and Giant Group Chairperson
“Women’s cycling is growing worldwide, and we want to ensure the athletes we support are provided every avenue for success. We have been honored to sponsor Team Jayco AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind these past years, and it is clear this merge of the two teams into and the start of the GreenEDGE Cycling Development Team will give way to even more possibilities for the athletes to reach the top of the WorldTour level, and bring more women and girls into pro-cycling.”
(Photo: Team Jayco AlUla rider Georgia Baker (left) and Caroline Andersson (right) of Liv Racing TeqFind see their teams' merger as an important step for the further development of women's cycling.)
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