Gerry Ryan suggests 2027 could mark final year of Jayco-AlUla backing

Gerry Ryan has indicated that 2027 could be his final year as the owner of the Jayco-AlUla and Liv-AlUla-Jayco teams. In an interview with the Stanley St. Socialpodcast, Ryan confirmed that the end date was in sight for his involvement with the GreenEdge set-up, which was founded with his backing in 2012.

“Probably looking to the end of the year, next year,” Ryan said when asked to give a timeframe for his departure. “I’ve been doing it for a long time, and my kids are a bit concerned about their inheritance. They like it when we’re there [at races], but they see their inheritance going out the door.”

Ryan has been a key figure in Australian cycling history, with his backing of the sport dating back to his sponsorship of Kathy Watts ahead of the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. His involvement grew deeper over the following two decades, culminating in the foundation of GreenEdge in 2012.

In recent years, it has been reported that Ryan was considering scaling back his involvement in cycling, and the future of the Jayco-AlUla and Liv-AlUla-Jayco squads was in doubt last Autumn due to a delay in providing a bank guarantee to the UCI during the WorldTour registration process. 

Ryan provided the guarantee shortly after the initial deadline to ensure the survival of the GreenEdge project ahead of the new three-year cycle of men’s WorldTour licences, but he confirmed in the Stanley St. Social podcast that the squad was currently seeking additional sponsorship.

The Saudi oasis city of AlUla has been a title sponsor of the men’s and women’s teams since 2023, and Ryan indicated that the country was the most likely source of new funds for the project.

“We’re over there talking now because we need to keep increasing our income to try to be competitive,” Ryan said. “We have people over there next week trying to look at increasing the sponsorship. The money is coming from the Middle East, and you’ve got to go to where you can try to find sponsorship. The money’s not here in Australia.”

Jayco-AlUla underwent considerable flux in 2025, with Matt White surprisingly removed from his role as head of performance ahead of the Giro d’Italia. White has since joined Movistar, with Gene Bates taking over his old role at Jayco-AlUla, while Brent Copeland remains in situ as general manager.

The men’s team scored 19 wins in 2025, including Ben O’Connor’s stage victory at the Tour de France. O’Connor will lead their GC challenge at next month’s Giro d’Italia.