Jayco AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind to merge in 2024

Women’s WorldTour teams Jayco AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind have announced that they will merge at the end of this season, becoming one WorldTeam for 2024, as well as setting up a development team at Continental level.

The merger will be supported by Liv Cycling - a brand that forms part of the Giant Group and is dedicated solely to women’s cycling - which has sponsored both teams for the past seasons.

The move will see Liv Racing TeqFind merge into the GreenEDGE Cycling organisation, with the Australian outfit therefore expected to retain some superiority in the merge. No team name has been announced yet.

Neither team have confirmed any transfers in or out for the next season, but the new outfit could see the likes of Mavi García, Alex Manly and Kristen Faulkner all racing under the same umbrella.

The merge will effectively see the end of Liv Racing TeqFind, who have been racing since 2006, in various incarnations as Rabobank-Liv Giant, WoawDeals Pro Cycling, and CCC-Liv, with the likes of Lotte Kopecky, Marianne Vos and Anna van der Breggen passing through their ranks.

“We are extremely happy to take next steps in the further professionalisation of women’s cycling with Liv Cycling,” commented Liv Racing TeqFind owner and manager Eric van den Boom. “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.”

Pooling their resources into one WorldTour outfit, Jayco AlUla and Liv Racing TeqFind will bring together a wealth of experience, with the Australian team now racing in its 11th season.

The merge will also see the creation of a new development team, likely to race at Continental level. New regulations brought in at the start of 2023 have allowed Women’s WorldTour teams to have official development teams, and the new Liv-backed project will see them join the likes of Canyon-SRAM, Fenix-Deceuninck and UAE Team ADQ in having such a feeder team.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Perhaps discussing battle plans for the next season, Mavi García (Liv Racing TeqFind) and Kristen Faulkner (Jayco AlUla) compete in La Vuelta Femenina

“With the arrival of a development team, we are creating the ideal environment for up-and-coming talent,” said Van den Boom. “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.”

Neither Jayco AlUla nor Liv Racing TeqFind currently have a development pathway, though GreenEDGE Cycling announced a partnership with men’s Continental side Hagens Berman Axeon ahead of next season. The new team will add to the growing number of pathways for riders looking to move up to the WorldTour.

“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,” was the verdict of Jayco AlUla general manager Brent Copeland. “Unlike the men’s peloton, there is currently no competitive under 23 category and the step up from junior to elite level is huge.”
With WorldTour teams limited to 20 riders, the new development team could also see some of the existing Jayco and Liv riders find a new home for 2024.

Liv Racing TeqFind have been racing on Liv bikes since 2013, whilst Jayco AlUla switched to the manufacturer in 2022, and the new partnership will see the Taiwanese manufacturer support the team until 2027.

“Women’s cycling is growing worldwide, and we want to ensure the athletes we support are provided every avenue for success,” commented Lic Cycling founder Bonnie Tu. “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.”