The UCI Americas Tour, a prestigious season-long points series recognizing consistent performance on the continent, finished with Jelly Belly Cycling presented by MAXXIS’ Lachlan Morton on top.
Morton, recently named amongst the hottest transfers to watch in 2017, kicked off 2016 with wins in the Boulevard Road Race and Tour of the Gila. Luck was elsewhere during Tour of California, where a stellar ride to the summit finish at Gibraltar was followed by an untimely crash on the stage into Laguna Seca. The Team, a significant factor in each of the season’s wins, was also nursing a collection of injuries there. Everything came back together for Tour of Utah, where a Continental team rider took an unprecedented victory after regaining the lead on the final stage.
Morton returns to European-based international racing in 2017 after two years of Continental racing and realigning his love of riding with top-level racing through well-documented adventures with his brother and a revolving cast of co-conspirators. Look for another installment soon.
“I’ve had the best two seasons of my career with Jelly Belly Cycling presented by MAXXIS,” confirmed Morton. “I will be forever grateful to this team. I have got renewed goals and dreams so I am heading back to Europe. Start of a new chapter and I couldn’t be more excited.”
“Lachlan changed the dynamic within the team,” said DS Danny van Haute. “We built a team based on stage races and we built it around a leader who could recruit the best aspects of every rider around him, while also motivating The Team and keeping morale high. Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS has benefitted and continues to benefit from Lachy’s time here.”
Photo – Jelly Belly Cycling
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