Jayco AlUla faces licensing delay but remains confident ahead of 2026

The UCI confirmed on Monday that 20 teams have applied for the 18 available WorldTour licenses, with both Jayco AlUla and its women’s outfit, Liv AlUla Jayco, among those still under review. Beyond the administrative setback, General Manager Brent Copeland insists the focus remains firmly on preparing for 2026.

“It was a decent season, but we could have done better,” Copeland told Bici.pro. “We won the queen stage of the Giro d’Italia with Chris Harper and another at the Tour de France with Ben O’Connor, but not all of our leaders delivered. "Looking at this year's team with [Ben] O'Connor, [Michael] Matthews, [Eddie] Dunbar, [Filippo] Zana, and [Mauro] Schmid, we had at least 7-8 riders capable of winning, but not all of them made their mark."

Looking ahead, Copeland said the team’s 2026 project will hinge on a younger roster and a more sustainable budget. “We’ve reduced investment to rebuild the roster, but we want to stay competitive while giving opportunities to young riders,” he explained.

Ben O'Connor will remain central to the team's Grand Tour ambitions after his debut season following his move from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. The Australian didn’t hit the GC heights of 2024, after finishing 11th this summer at the Tour de France, but the 29-year-old produced an excellent stage win to the Col de la Loze.

"Our dream, like that of any team, is to reach the podium at the Tour de France," said Copeland. "We have this opportunity with Ben [O’Connor], and nowadays, a podium in a Grand Tour is even better than winning a Monument."

Michael Matthews will continue to lead the team in one-day races following his return to racing after a pulmonary embolism. "[Michael] Matthews is the team's greatest asset. Maybe he doesn't win as much as he deserves, but that's only because there are riders with his characteristics who are slightly stronger," Copeland said. "Michael can have his say in the Milan-Sanremo or the Amstel Gold Race."

As president of the AIGCP, the union of both men’s and women’s professional cycling teams, Copeland also called for financial regulations in cycling. "We need to talk about this trend more. It could lead to the bubble bursting if, for example, a budget cap isn't established for each team," said Copeland.

"Right now, the best teams have budgets that are 100 or 200 percent higher than the intermediate teams. This system doesn't work and will only get worse if we don't regulate it somehow."

Arkéa-B&B Hotels CEO Emmanuel Hubert has also called on the UCI to implement salary caps following his Breton team’s demise.

"Cycling is currently suffering from an exponential format, with very large teams taking us to new heights. Perhaps at some point, the UCI will also have to legislate on salary caps," Hubert said during an appearance on RMC's Bartoli Time on Sunday. "I don't know what format this will take, but in any case, something must be done, otherwise, we will die out."

For teams like Jayco AlUla, the focus is clear: staying competitive while navigating the sport’s financial realities.