The 2024 Tour de France will see the number of Australians on the start line halved from last year’s bumper crop. The number of Aussies taking part has bounced around in recent years with a low of 2 in 2020 and the high last year of 12 riders. However, don’t assume that this means the nation will fade into the background at the biggest race on the calendar. Among the six Australian riders at the Tour, there is plenty of potential for them to be highly visible at crucial moments, both in the mountains, on the flat and in between.
| Year | Number of Australian Riders |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2019 | 8 |
2024 Tour de France Australian Riders
Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe)
- Age: 28
- Tour de France record: Stage win, day in yellow and 7th overall in 2023
- Role: Climbing support
Jai Hindley entered last year’s Tour de France as the GC leader for Bora-Hansgrohe and quickly ascended the overall rankings, wearing the yellow jersey after his stage 5 victory in the Pyrenees. Despite facing illness and a crash, he still managed to finish seventh overall. With the recent addition of 2020 runner-up Primož Roglič to the team, Hindley will serve as crucial climbing support alongside teammate Aleksandr Vlasov. However, with the unpredictability of a 21-day race, his role could evolve into something more significant.
Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious)
- Age: 30
- Tour de France record: Completed in 2019, 2021, and DNF in 2020, 2021
- Role: Climbing support, stage opportunities
Jack Haig, from Bendigo, is heading into his fourth Tour de France. After dealing with crashes in 2021 and 2022, he managed to complete the race last year. Haig will mainly serve as climbing support for Santiago Buitrago, but he also has personal stage win ambitions. His ninth place on stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné suggests he’s in improving form. Given his past achievements, including third overall at La Vuelta a España in 2021, he could make an impact.
Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla)
- Age: 33
- Tour de France record: Seven participations with four stage victories and green points jersey in 2017
- Role: Stage opportunities
Michael Matthews is back in the Tour de France after a year’s absence. Known for his stage wins and green points jersey in 2017, Matthews is a strong contender for reduced group efforts. He secured an early-season win at the Ruta de la Cerámica-Gran Premio Castellón and narrowly missed out on victory at Milan San Remo. His recent second place at the Tour de Suisse indicates he’s in good form for the Tour and the upcoming Olympic Games.
Chris Harper (Jayco-AlUla)
- Age: 29
- Tour de France record: 16th overall in 2023
- Role: Climbing support
Chris Harper is a key support rider for Simon Yates at Jayco-AlUla. He made his Tour de France debut last year in the same role, helping Yates to a fourth-place overall finish while securing 16th place for himself. Harper has shown improved performance in recent races, finishing sixth overall at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. Despite crashes cutting short his last two stage races, he’s had time to recover and is ready to line up in Florence.
Luke Durbridge (Jayco-AlUla)
- Age: 33
- Tour de France record: Nine starts
- Role: Support
Luke Durbridge is set for his tenth Tour de France. Known for his strong driving force, Durbridge will play a key role in controlling breaks and positioning teammates. Although he’s unlikely to chase stage victories for himself, he will be a valuable player for both the sprint team and GC effort. Don’t rule out the possibility of him slipping into a break.
Jarrad Drizners (Lotto Dstny)
- Age: 25
- Tour de France record: Debut
- Role: Sprint lead-out
Making his Tour de France debut, Jarrad Drizners is the only Australian on the Lotto Dstny squad. The South Australian will support newly-minted Belgian champion Arnaud De Lie in the sprint stages. Drizners, along with Cedric Beullens, will focus on building the experience of their homegrown contender, aiming to replace Caleb Ewan.
