Team Jayco AlUla signed newly crowned Italian road national champion Filippo Conca to its squad, giving the 26-year-old from the Giant-sponsored Swatt Club team an opportunity to target top-level WorldTour races as he continues his upward trajectory.
Conca signed an agreement through 2027, giving him the rest of this year to settle in with Giant’s Australian-based WorldTour squad and then start the 2026 season with some big goals. His first race with Team Jayco AlUla is August 15 at the Circuit Franco Belge one-day race in Belgium.
“I'm really happy to join Team Jayco AlUla,” Conca said. “I chose this team because I'm confident that I'll find the ideal environment to work hard. Before making my decision, I consulted my colleagues and the staff, and they all told me that at Jayco AlUla, I would find a family that can support me personally and on a sporting level.”
Conca made headlines in late June when he won the Italian elite men’s national championship on a hilly 228km course in Gorizia. His Swatt Club teammates helped him earn the prestigious tricolore jersey that represents Italian national champions with a brilliant team effort. After a strong display of his climbing power, Conca outsprinted Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Thomas Pesenti (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) to take the win.
Conca rode his Giant Propel Advanced SL with a CADEX Ultra 50 WheelSystem and Aero Integrated handlebar to score the biggest win of his life, and he said the continued connection with Giant and CADEX played a role in his decision to join Team Jayco-AlUla.
“Another thing that is important to me is that I'll continue to use the same equipment as I have been using this year – Giant and CADEX,” Conca said. “I've had a great experience with both, so I'm happy to be able to continue with the same bike and wheels.”
The national championship victory marked the first win of Conca’s professional career. He spent four years racing professionally in a domestique role, first with Lotto-Soudal and later with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and has ridden one Grand Tour, the 2022 Vuelta a España.
“Filippo clearly has a lot of talent and that was highlighted not only by his win at the Italian championships but also if you look back at his past results,” said Team Jayco-AlUla general manager Brent Copeland. “He was unfortunately plagued by a number of challenges as a professional cyclist which caused several setbacks and inhibited him from showing his true potential. Now we are pleased to give him the full support he deserves in order to reach his ultimate goals. I would personally like to thank Carlo Beretta and his team at Swatt Club for making this transfer for Filippo an easy one and giving him and ourselves the full support. It has been a pleasure dealing with Filippo and his team and we very much look forward to working him.”