Liv AlUla Jayco under review: focus on two riders, one of whom is nearly 41 years old

The top ten of the Dutch NPO Radio 2 Top 2000 is revealed, and that means only one thing: a new year is on the horizon. 2024 gives way to 2025, and we at IDLProCycling.com end the year in style. After reviewing the men's WorldTour teams, we focus on the top ten women's teams. This time, we take a closer look at Liv AlUla Jayco.

One-day races 2024: Liv AlUla Jayco

The big names among the female equivalent of Team Jayco AlUla are Mavi García, Letizia Paternoster, and, although not necessarily by her own performance, Urška Žigart. To start with Tadej Pogacar's Slovenian friend, she finished her season strongly with fourth place at the rain-soaked Giro dell'Emilia Internazionale Donne. In other one-day races, the Australian team had to rely mostly on others.

Liv AlUla Jayco's leading one-day specialist in 2024 was Paternoster. The 25-year-old Italian had a strong spring, finishing fourth in the Tour of Drenthe, third in Dwars door Vlaanderen, and ninth in the Tour of Flanders. She was also her team's best in other races, such as Paris-Roubaix (21st) and Gent-Wevelgem (21st).

The team's other key player, García, rode a solid year but less strongly in one-day races. In previous years, she was consistently at the top of the results - such as sixth place in the Amstel Gold Race and fifth in the Flèche Wallonne in both 2021 and 2022 - but that success was lacking this year. In 2024, she mainly finished around spot fifteen in the major classics. She started the year well in her homeland, Spain, with strong results in the Trofeo Palma Femina and Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx, albeit for the Spanish selection. In addition, she finished sixth in the Olympic road race.

There were also some standouts from other riders. Alexandra Manly was suddenly third in the Brabantse Pijl; Ingvild Gåskjenn achieved the same place in the Amstel Gold Race and finished fifth at the European Championships. Georgia Baker sprinted to fifth place in the Classic Brugge-De Panne. Yet it was also regularly a battle in the back during the most significant classics, such as Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Paris-Roubaix.

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Letizia Paternoster on the job

(Grand) tours 2024: Liv AlUla Jayco

Needless to say, the year's first tour was immediately one of the most important. Good performance is vital for an Australian team in the Australian round. With Amanda Spratt, they won there three times in a row, but in the last two years, they have failed to achieve a podium. In 2024, Ella Wyllie, a 22-year-old New Zealander and newcomer to the top level was the best, with a seventh-place finish. Wyllie continued that promising streak the rest of the year, finishing 10th in the Itzulia Women, ninth in the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, and third in the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia.

The team completely dominated the latter Spanish 2.1 race. García won the stage race, and Silke Smulders finished second. The Dutch Smulders had a fine season and also finished seventh in the Simac Ladies Tour. García proved she can still excel in tours. At 40, she finished third in the UAE Tour, fourth in Itzulia Women, ninth in the Giro d'Italia Women, and fifth in the Tour de Romandie Féminin.

Paternoster rode four tours and performed well in British races: fifth in the Tour of Britain, fourth in the Ford RideLondon Classique, and podium spots in several stages. Žigart made another point with ninth place in the Tour of Switzerland.

The Tour de France Femmes, however, was a big disappointment. There was not a single top-ten ranking, neither in a stage nor in the GC. Smulders eventually finished best with a 21st place overall. Also, in the Vuelta España Femenina, there were only podium spots in stages.

Mavi Garcia 

Final rating 2024: Liv AlUla Jayco

Overall, Liv AlUla Jayco's year was solid. The team achieved some nice performances and podium spots but completely fell out of the spotlight in other moments. Especially in the biggest and most challenging races, it appeared too often that they fell just short. While there were bright spots and good performances, a race like the Tour de France Femmes cannot be forgotten. In the end, six victories remain - without national championships - including four in the dominated Tour of Andalusia and one WorldTour victory. Therefore, the (former) editors of IDLProCycling.com could not get beyond a rating of 6.3.

Transfers 2024/2025: Liv AlUla Jayco

So far, there have been three new arrivals: Dutch Amber van der Hulst, Australian Josie Talbot, and Italian Monica Trinca Colonel. The selection now has fourteen riders, two fewer than in recent years. Possibly, Campbell and Howe will stay, or other riders will join.

So far there are three new additions: Dutch Amber van der Hulst, Australian Josie Talbot and Italian Monica Trinca Colonel. The selection now has fourteen riders, two less than in recent years. Possibly Campbell and Howe will stay or other riders will join.

The departing riders were not the leaders but were valuable in the second line. They achieved a podium or a strong top finish in a major race. The question is whether the new additions can compensate. Van der Hulst and Trinca Colonel have shown they can ride results at a lower level, but it is uncertain whether they can do the same at the highest level.

Incoming: Amber van der Hulst (Liv AlUla Jayco Women's Continental Team), Monica Trinca (Colonel Bepink - Bongioanni), and Josie Talbot (Cofidis Women Team).

Outgoing: Alexandra Manly (AG Insurance - Soudal Team), Urška Žigart (AG Insurance - Soudal Team), Ingvild Gåskjenn (Uno-X), Teniel Campbell (?), Georgie Howe (?).

Zigart seeks other places

Ones to watch: Liv AlUla Jayco

Even in 2025, the team continues to rely on established names: Mavi García and Letizia Paternoster. The question is how long García can maintain her performance. On January 2, she already turns 41, after all. Paternoster, at age 25, is getting closer and closer to her prime. In 2024, she had her best season to date. The Italian is by far the most interesting rider on this team. But when will there be a big win?

In addition, Ella Wyllie is very promising. After an impressive debut year, it will be interesting to see if she can continue to grow. Ruby Roseman-Gannon, double Australian champion in 2024, stuck to places of honor just outside the top ten this year. Can she finish in the top ten again?

Finally, it is worth following Silke Smulders. With a strong season in 2024, the question is whether she can keep this up or improve. If so, she could easily surpass a 13th place in the Giro and a 21st place in the Tour.

Provisional selection 2025: Liv AlUla Jayco

1. Caroline Andersson
2. Georgia Baker
3. Mavi García 
4. Jeanne Korevaar 
5. Amber Pate
6. Letizia Paternoster 
7. Ruby Roseman-Gannon
8. Silke Smulders
9. Josie Talbot
10. Quinty Ton
11. Anna Trevisi
12. Monica Trinca Colonel 
13. Amber van der Hulst 
14. Ella Wyllie

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