Recently retired Italian veteran Alessandro De Marchi will continue his career in the sport, moving into a sports director role at Jayco-AlUla, where he has spent his final three seasons as a rider during his professional racing career.
After announcing his retirement during the spring, the Italian climbing all-rounder will begin his new job with the Australian outfit at the start of 2026.
“I’m happy to finally take this step, and above all, I’m happy because I can begin this new journey in an organization I know, one that recognizes me, and one that has always valued me for who I am,” De Marchi said in a team press release.
“I know I’ll be starting from scratch, I’ll begin to reconstruct myself in this new role, which I’d like to interpret a bit like I did as a rider: with passion and determination for a job I love. I’m also very intrigued to see and work on the process from a new perspective; it’s stimulating to think about how I can contribute now.”
Though his main role was as a domestique, De Marchi managed seven wins from a career that started in 2010, when he joined Androni-Giocattoli-Serramenti. Riding for Cannondale, BMC Racing, CCC Team and Israel-Premier Tech before his move to Jayco, De Marchi won three stages of the Vuelta, a stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, Tre Valli Varesine and the Giro dell’Emilia. His most recent success came in 2024, with a solo success at stage 2 of the Tour of the Alps.
“It is fantastic to have Alessandro staying with Team Jayco AlUla for the next phase of his cycling career,” Jayco-AlUla’s Sporting Manager, Gene Bates, said.
“During his time in the peloton, Alessandro developed a reputation as an intelligent rider, and he is well respected within the bunch. The transition from rider to staff member can be a challenging one, but one we believe he will flourish in, and GreenEDGE Cycling will be a very good place for him to learn.”
The team announced De Marchi’s retirement in a team video released in mid-August.
“Those who know me have probably seen this coming, but let’s begin from the start,” De Marchi said. “First, I would like to read you something: ‘Sometimes change is not suffered, it is desired. It is a push that comes from within, that wants to be recognised, and above all to be listened to.’
“This is a phrase I came across in a book, and by no…
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