A wave of youth is coming to GreenEDGE Cycling: Ben Wiggins, Wil Holmes, Jed Smithson and Adam Rafferty will join the Team Jayco AlUla in 2027.

Over the past season, all four have been part of Hagens Berman Jayco, GreenEDGE Cycling's development team. Wiggins has carved his own path in cycling, following in the footsteps of his father Bradley since 2021. In 2026, the twenty-one-year-old claimed the national time trial title in the Under 23 category and stood out at the Tour of Britain, finishing in the top 10 of the general classification. The British rider is already well acquainted with the WorldTour squad, having raced alongside his future teammates on several occasions over the past three seasons.

«It's a truly special feeling to reach the WorldTour next year; racing for Team Jayco AlUla is a dream come true. I remember that in 2019, at the Tour de France, I was fortunate enough to be invited onto the team bus on the very morning Matteo Trentin won the stage finishing in Gap. From that day on, I've wanted to race for this team. I can't wait to compete in the races I've been following since I was a kid» explains Ben Wiggins.

The Australian Holmes has also already made several appearances with the WorldTour squad during 2026. National Under 23 time trial champion, Holmes is one of the talents the team is banking on for the long term: his signing dates back to 2024, with the goal of moving to the WorldTour in 2027. At just 20 years old, according to the technical staff, the young rider from Adelaide still has considerable room for growth. Wil Holmes: «I'm really excited to join the WorldTour team next season; it's been my dream since I was 10 years old, watching GreenEDGE at the Tour Down Under. I can't wait to take the next step in my development as a rider and learn from some of the best athletes and staff members in the world».

Irishman Rafferty represents a valuable addition to the 2027 roster. At just 20 years old, he has already proven to be a top talent among the Under 23s, securing a stage victory and a top 10 finish in the general classification at the Giro d'Italia Next Gen over the past two seasons. The national Under 23 time trial title, won in 2026, has further confirmed his abilities in time trials.

Adam Rafferty adds: «I couldn't be happier to have achieved my childhood dream: becoming a professional. I'm convinced there's no better environment than GreenEDGE Cycling to make my WorldTour debut. I can't wait to start racing in 2027 and I'm excited to immerse myself in the team's Australian culture».

Smithson is already a familiar face within the WorldTour squad, having participated in several races with the team on four occasions during the 2026 calendar. This year, the British rider has achieved success at the national level in the United Kingdom, and a series of excellent results among the Under 23s in recent seasons have confirmed his value.

«The challenge of moving to the WorldTour and competing with the great champions next season is an important milestone - comments Jed Smithson -. It's like a rite of passage, but also the realization of a dream I've had since childhood: becoming a professional cyclist. It's a goal I've worked hard towards for years, and there are countless people who have helped me get here».

Finally, Gene Bates, the Australian team's performance manager, speaks: «It's truly exciting for us to see four young prospects reach the WorldTour, after completing their journey in our development team. It's a project we've been working on for a couple of years now, particularly with Ben, Adam and Wil. It's rewarding to watch their progression to the next level, the result of years of hard work. Their growth journey doesn't end here: the jump to the WorldTour represents an important step, but we're confident they're on the right path and will continue to develop at their best within our organization, thanks to a race calendar suited to their characteristics. These are riders with different strengths and weaknesses, but we're confident they will integrate perfectly into the group. They've learned a lot and have grown consistently in the development team; we're certain they will bring great value to the squad over the next two years».