News broke this morning that staff and riders from the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB team were said to be scrambling to find a home next year as the future was looking bleak, with management struggling to recoup the loss of the program’s major sponsors .
Belgian publication Sporza was quick to point the finger at Linda Jackson , founder of the program, stating that her refusal to work with the EF Education men’s program left most of her riders and staff without a job for the 2024 season. What’s more, staff and riders were allegedly contractually prohibited from working for the future EF-sponsored team for the coming two years.
By the afternoon, Jackson confirmed the ending of her program, which was the longest continuously running women’s professional cycling team in the world at 19 years.
"It is with deep regret that I confirm that I have not been able to secure the sponsorship needed to maintain my WorldTour license," Jackson told Cycling News.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU… Cycling Weekly In an email to Cycling Weekly , Jackson added that the Sporza article, however, had been less than fair.
"Neither I, nor EF, are enforcing any contract clause that would prevent the new team from hiring EF-TIBCO-SVB staff or riders and they are free to contact the new EF Education/Cannondale team regarding work for next season," she stated. "I have no say or influence on which members, riders or staff, from my team EF chooses to hire for the brand new EF Education-Cannondale team for 2024 and […]
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