Stronger in all areas, ORICA-SCOTT confirm men’s squad for 2018

ORICA-SCOTT has confirmed their 25-rider squad for the upcoming 2018 season with head sport director Matt White describing the team as “stronger in all areas.”

Strong additions to the squad include Italian classics specialist and sprinter Matteo Trentin who enjoyed a rich vein of late season form including four stage wins in the Vuelta a Espana and comes to ORICA-SCOTT on the back of the most successful season of his career. Trentin will strengthen the classics side of the team alongside experienced and versatile New Zealander Jack Bauer.

“We are in a better place than we were 12months ago in all areas,” said White. “One of the reasons for that is we have bought very well; our new signings definitely compliment the squad we already have in place.”

“For example, Trentin and Bauer are two riders who are going to bolster our classics group and also add a lot to our sprint train around Caleb Ewan so I am sure we will see significant gains for us in those two areas.”

The two classics specialists are joined by the vastly experienced climbing pedigree of Basque climber Mikel Nieve, who knows first-hand what it takes to achieve repeated Grand Tour success and will step into an important role within the team as both support and mentor to the team’s young general classification leaders.

“Obviously bringing in a rider like Nieve, who has been one of Chris Froome’s right hand men through numerous Grand Tours is a great signing for us,” continued White. “He will be playing a similar role here and lending his experience and support to our younger GC guys while also being very capable of winning some big races in his own right.”

With positive additions made throughout the squad and the racing calendar getting fuller every year, programming and goals for 2018 are beginning to take shape.

“The strengthening of our squad in key areas allows us to work towards clear objectives for 2018 and it’s really exciting.” concluded White. “Going after more monument success and results in the classics are definitely part of that along with stages and GC results in all three Grand Tours.”

“There is only one monument we haven’t already won and that’s the Tour of Flanders, it’s possibly the hardest one to win, but we have a team capable of winning it and we want to be up there challenging.

“Then comes the Grand Tours, we want to be competitive in all three and that includes stage wins and the general classification. It will be a busy year and we are really looking forward to it.”

ORICA-SCOTT Men for 2018:

Michael Albasini (SUI, 36)

Sam Bewley (NZL, 30)

Jack Bauer (NZL, 32) - new signing

Esteban Chaves (COL, 27)

Luke Durbridge (AUS, 26)

Alexander Edmondson (AUS, 23)

Caleb Ewan (AUS, 23)

Jack Haig (AUS, 24)

Lucas Hamilton (AUS, 21) - new signing

Mathew Hayman (AUS, 39)

Michael Hepburn (AUS, 26)

Damien Howson (AUS, 25)

Daryl Impey (RSA, 32)

Christopher Juul-Jensen (DEN, 29)

Roger Kluge (GER, 31)

Roman Kreuziger (CZE, 31)

Cameron Meyer (AUS, 29) - new signing

Luka Mezgec (SLO, 29)

Mikel Nieve (ESP, 33) - new signing

Robert Power (AUS, 22)

Matteo Trentin (ITA, 28) - new signing

Svein Tuft (CAN, 40)

Carlos Verona (ESP, 25)

Adam Yates (GBR, 25)

Simon Yates (GBR, 25)

Photos courtesy of ©TDWsport.com