Team BikeExchange-Jayco is pleased to announce its continued support in developing young Australian talent, confirming the signing of two young promising riders, 22-year-old Blake Quick and 21-year-old Rudy Porter.
Quick, by name and nature, threw himself onto the team’s radar back in January when he won the U23 Australian Road Race Championships in style as well as an impressive stage win at the Santos Festival of Cycling. The Brisbane-born rider then continued to impress overseas this season, with top-10 finishes at Le Tour de Bretagne and Alpes Isère Tour. GreenEDGE Cycling is confident that the 22-year-old has a lot of potential yet to unleash. and will be able to challenge at the highest level in sprint finishes, having developed a great turn of speed previously competing on the track, where he won the Junior World Championship Madison and two bronze medals.
Porter, known for his climbing strength and ability to perform in stage races, also has experience of racing in Europe having enjoyed overall podium finishes in races such as the Course de GP Jeseniky, and is ready to step into a full season of professional racing next year. Both riders will join GreenEDGE Cycling on two-year neo-pro contracts starting on January 1st, 2023.
The signings come off the back of the contract renewal of team leader Simon Yates, with the squad hoping that this young generation of Australian talent can follow in the footsteps of the Briton, and other Australian riders, that also joined GreenEDGE Cycling as young neo-pros and developed into some of the world’s best elite road racers.
Gerry Ryan – Team Owner
“We are very excited to bring some new young Australian’s on to the team next year, we are an organisation that has enjoyed helping young riders develop and become winners in the WorldTour peloton and we believe we have found two great Australian talents in Quick and Porter.
They are two different types of riders, and it will be with great pleasure to help transition these two riders into the European peloton and seeing what they can achieve. Afterall, this is the new generation of cycling, and we want to give them the best start possible.”
Brent Copeland – General Manager
“It is of course important for GreenEDGE Cycling and Gerry Ryan that we continue to find and develop Australian riders. That has always been a key aspect of the team and by signing Quick and Porter, and we are excited to work with them both and help with their develop in the coming years.
Both riders have shown their strengths and already have experience racing overseas. They will have some of the best riders in the world around them, to be inspired by and learn from, with many of the riders on our roster having followed the same pathway, leaving Australia as young neo-pro’s and quickly settling in into the team and the WorldTour peloton. We believe these two riders will be a big part of the future of cycling.”
Blake Quick
“It’s been a really big goal for a long time to turn professional at the top level and I’m super excited to join Team BikeExchange-Jayco, the only Australian WorldTour team. I have big dreams and I couldn’t think of a better place for me to start my professional road career or with better people to chase those dreams. I very happy and cannot wait to start with the team next season.”
Rudy Porter
“I’m stoked to be joining this amazing organisation. One of my first cycling jerseys as a young kid was from GreenEDGE Cycling and to now be able to wear it as a professional rider on the team, it is incredible and I can’t quite wrap my head around it yet.
It’s a really exciting time and I am extremely proud to be part of the new generation of this team where I’m sure we will achieve great things as a group. I can’t wait to get started and learn from some of the best in the sport to continue my growth as a rider. I’d like to also say thanks to all who have supported me so far in my journey as I embark on a new chapter in my career with GreenEDGE!”
Blake Quick
Date of Birth: 26th February 2000 (22)
Nationality: Australian
Joins GreenEDGE Cycling: 2023 & 2024
Rudy Porter
Date of Birth: 15th December 2000 (21)
Nationality: Australian
Joins GreenEDGE Cycling: 2023 & 2024
