This was peak Pascal Ackermann back in 2018. Can he get back to that level, and does he even need to? Photo courtesy of SWpix.
As we first reported in the summer, Pascal Ackermann has signed with Jayco AlUla, with the team confirming that the 31-year-old German cyclist has agreed to a two-year deal for 2026 and 2027.
Ackermann, as it stands, will lead the Australian team in the sprints and team up with compatriot Jasha Sütterlin and Slovenian Luka Mezgec. Australian Kelland O’Brien will also be part of the team’s lead-out train, although his contract extension for 2026 and beyond has not yet been announced.
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“Team Jayco AlUla is a team with a great history, and one that I was already looking up when I was younger. It has always been a dream to join the team, so I am excited for this opportunity! For me, it’s definitely the best team to continue to chase my dream of winning races! Let’s get into 2026 and get back to the top,” Ackermann said.
On the face of it, Ackermann is not the glamorous sprint signing that Jayco AlUla fans had hoped for, but his arrival definitely makes a lot of sense. At the start of the year, Jayco carefully watched Olav Kooij’s availability, having identified the Dutchman as their main target in the transfer market. However, Decathlon simply assembled a better package, both financially and structurally, meaning that Jayco had to move on to their next target.