Silke Smulders has committed her long-term future to Liv AlUla Jayco, signing a contract extension that keeps her with the team until the end of 2027. The Dutch rider, still only 24, has emerged as one of the most promising all-rounders in the WorldTour and continues to develop rapidly inside the Australian squad’s structure.
A rider rising quickly through the ranks
Smulders joined the team at the start of 2024 and wasted little time making an impression. Her first professional victory arrived that spring with a stage win at the Vuelta a Andalucía, where she also finished second overall. She carried that momentum into 2025 with an outstanding Tour Down Under campaign, taking second place on the general classification and finishing runner-up on both stages 2 and 3. Another major result came at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, where she took fifth, while earlier performances, such as seventh at the Simac Ladies Tour in 2024, underline how consistently she has been improving.
Those results reflect not only her growing confidence but also her value within a squad that views her as a key part of its medium-term project.
Smulders: “This team helps me be my best”
Speaking after signing her new deal, Smulders said the trust Liv AlUla Jayco has placed in her was a major factor.
“I am really happy to renew until 2027. It shows they have a lot of confidence in me and that feels really good,” she said. “I have developed so much in the last two years and this team is the perfect place to continue that. We believe in each other, the group is growing together, and that is something special.”
Sporting manager Wim Stroetinga said the extension underlines the team’s belief that Smulders is close to making the next step.
“Silke has already become a key rider for us in both stage races and one-day races,” he explained. “Her second place at the Tour Down Under showed exactly what she is capable of. A major win feels very close. At 24 she is still developing, and this is the right environment for her to keep progressing.”
Smulders’ fast upward curve suggests there is much more to come. With her contract now secured through 2027, Liv AlUla Jayco will continue shaping her development as she targets bigger results in the seasons ahead.
