The Orica-Scott team has confirmed it will have a 25-rider roster in 2018, with head directeur sportif Matt White claiming the Australian WorldTour team is ‘stronger in all areas’.
On Wednesday Orica-Scott confirmed a largely unchanged 10-rider women’s roster for the 2018 season as they continue to compete at the highest level in both men’s and women’s races. Jolien D’hoore, who won 12 races this season – more than any other rider – and Tour de l’Ardeche winner Lucy Kennedy are the team’s only new signings. World time trial champion Annemiek van Vleuten and Amanda Spratt are among those that have remained with the Australian outfit.
Adam and Simon Yates and Esteban Chaves will again lead the men’s Orica-Scott team in Grand Tours and stage races, with Caleb Ewan the protected sprinter. New signings for 2018 Matteo Trentin and Jack Bauer (both from Quick-Step Floors) will bolster the Classics squad that includes Matt Hayman, Chris Juul Jensen and Luke Durbridge. Trentin will also provide an alternative sprint strategy in hilly races, while Mikel Nieve joins from Team Sky to share his Grand Tour experience. Cameron Meyer returns to Orica-Scott as he combines track and road racing.
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The team has extended contracts with Svein Tuft, Hayman, Juul Jensen, Michael Hepburn, Sam Bewley and Jack Haig. The only neo-pro for 2018 is talented Australian Lucas Hamilton, who won the Tour Alsace and finished second in the Baby Giro.
Orica-Scott drops from 26 to 25 riders for 2018, with several riders moving on. Magnus Cort has joined Astana, while Ruben Plaza has gone to Israel Cycling Academy, Simon Gerrans to BMC, Jens Keukeleire to Lotto Soudal, and Mitch Docker to EF Education First-Drapac.
“We are in a better place than we were 12 months ago in all areas,” said White in a statement from Orica-Scott confirming the 2018 roster. “One of the reasons for that is we have bought very well; our new signings definitely compliment the squad we already have in place.
A busy year ahead
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