Can Tao Geoghegan Hart's Giro d'Italia win help save the Hagens Berman Axeon team?

Tao Geoghegan Hart (Axeon) collects another best young rider jersey
Tao Geoghegan Hart (Hagens Berman Axeon) collects another best young rider jersey in the USA Pro Challenge in 2015 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

What do 2020 Giro d'Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart, former leader João Almeida, mountains classification and stage winner Ruben Guerreiro, and stage winners Jhonatan Narváez and Alex Dowsett all have in common? They all came up through Axel Merckx's development team

But even as the programme's alumni enjoy these high-profile victories, sponsor woes are shrinking the team. Geoghegan Hart said he was thinking about Merckx before the crucial final time trial to win the Giro d'Italia and thanked him for his guidance and all of the team's former riders are hoping the Hagens Berman Axeon team can find more support.

Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.