With two wins in Spain already deposited for this early spring, Staff AlUla Jayco appears to be like to proceed their Spanish conquests at Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Del Sol, February 14-18. US rider Lawson Craddock makes his season debut to drive the ‘engine room’, and help GC efforts of Alessandro De Marchi.
For Craddock, the 12 months begins his 14th skilled season, and eleventh on the WorldTour degree. The 31-year-old Texan had confirmed his versatility in stage racing for Staff Large then EF Schooling earlier than shifting to Jayco in 2022. It by no means appeared to disturb his quiet manner when his function was described as a help rider. The 2-time US Professional time trial champion stated you might not see him ‘put up my arms on the finish of the day’ however that’s not what drives him.
“The crew considers me to be a part of their engine room, which is a gaggle of fellows that the crew will put into actually any sort of race or scenario. It’s sort of the group of fellows that do the grunt work, the soiled work, you understand, using the entrance, spending a whole lot of time within the wind, being there late for the leaders,” Craddock informed Cyclingnews from his residence in Texas earlier than starting his third season with Jayco AlUla in Spain.
“The crew positively places a whole lot of emphasis on that group of riders, and the blokes that we think about the engine room have a whole lot of enjoyable, working for one another. We’re actually lucky that we’re on a crew that has such nice leaders. We now have guys that may win throughout any stage, actually. Whether or not you are the chief or a part of the engine room, that function is appreciated from high to backside.”
Up to now this 12 months, Craddock’s teammates have proved his level about profitable nearly wherever. Among the many sprinters, Dylan Groenewegen received Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 and Michael Matthews adopted the following day with an uphill victory at Gran Premio Castellón. On the AlUla Tour, Simon Yates grabbed the GC with a hilltop victory on the fifth and closing day of racing, whereas Caleb Ewan took the win on stage 1 of the Tour of Oman.
It’s the primary time Craddock has lined up for the five-day stage race in southern Spain, which has been round for 99 years. It’s one of many early-season occasions the place the nice and cozy climate and diversified terrain present a strong measurement of winter coaching and evaluation for the upcoming Classics. Final 12 months Tadej Pogačar received the general, and this 12 months his teammates Tim Wellens and Juan Ayuso led the cost for UAE Staff Emirates.
The 2024 Ruta Del Sol kicks off with a really hilly stage within the province of Granada between Almuñecar and Cadiar, adopted by an uphill end in Alcaudete on stage 2 throughout cobblestones. There isn’t a time trial this 12 months, as the ultimate three levels soak up simply over 160km every and flatter terrain for bunch finishes.
For Craddock, it’s time to evaluate his health and assist his teammates once more.
“Most of my program is predicated round being round guys who can win races. I am at a degree in my profession the place that is sort of what’s vital to me, and what drives me. I wish to be part of success,” Craddock stated.
“I am on a crew that has riders that may win huge races, so my aims are fairly easy this 12 months – simply be dependable and be constant all through your complete spring, after which hopefully be there for a few stage wins through the Tour.”
Of his 10 begins in Grand Excursions over his profession to this point, Craddock landed on the rostrum on stage 11 of the 2019 Vuelta, having survived within the breakaway for the 180km stage solely to fade within the closing dash. Simply the day earlier than he was fourth within the ITT to Pau. On the Vuelta in 2021 and 2022, he carried the stars-and-stripes jersey to a pair of ITT high 10 stage finishes as US Professional nationwide champion. Final 12 months he was fourth on stage 15 on the Tour de France to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc.
“For positive, the Tour is a particular breed. It is the one race that everybody actually needs to be at as a result of it is the one race in our sport that everybody on the planet is aware of about. We had a terrific Tour final 12 months. We did not get the stage the place we wished however we had Simon [Yates] fourth total. It is a huge goal for me once more,” he stated.
“Clearly, there may be a day right here or there the place I can get in a breakaway and go for a end result, just like the Tour final 12 months. However total, I believe my program is simply being round guys that may win races.”
There’s a protracted approach to go earlier than Craddock can take into consideration the Tour. At current, he’s joyful to be on a crew on which he has felt probably the most comfy in his profession.
“I am in my third 12 months throughout the crew and I sort of want I had the chance to affix the crew earlier. I am in a terrific spot. The crew has a whole lot of perception in me and a whole lot of religion in my skills,” Craddock confirmed.
“They’ve additionally given me a whole lot of causes to imagine in myself. In order that’s been actually huge. And that did not essentially exist prior to now. So I am very joyful. They’re a bit extra relaxed, a bit extra enjoyable. That’s how they current themselves to the skin, and that’s precisely how they do issues from the within too.”
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