Visma | Lease a Bike sees 20-year-old British talent leave, young sprinter chooses development team Jayco-AlUla

Smithson took his first steps at the continental level last year with Visma | Lease a Bike's development team, but also made several appearances for the elite team. In 2025, he competed in the Tour of Denmark and the SUPER 8 Classic, among others, but the Briton increasingly made his mark in the U23 category.

He won a stage and the points classification in the Tour of South Bohemia and finished in the top 10 five times in the Tour de Bretagne. Smithson showed himself to be a fast rider, but his versatility in difficult races also came in handy, even as a domestique in the elite team. Nevertheless, he has now opted for an adventure with the American-Australian development team.

In recent years, the team has produced several top talents, such as Matthew Riccitello, Iván Romeo, Jan Christen, and António Morgado. “The history of Hagens Berman Jayco in developing riders into world-class professionals is truly inspiring,” Smithson says on the website of his new team. “It feels very special to be given the chance to join a team with such a strong legacy of success.”

After two years in Dutch service, the young Brit is changing course. "When I spoke with Axel Merckx, I immediately felt his energy and confidence, as well as a genuine sense that everyone within the team wants the best for each other. That makes me extremely excited to wear the Hagens Berman Jayco colours in the upcoming season and beyond."

Saying goodbye to Visma | Lease a Bike will not be easy, but Smithson is confident that he has now found the right place. "Over the past two years I’ve grown a lot, both as a rider and as a person, and with the support from Hagens Berman Jayco I’m looking forward to building on that progress and testing myself at a higher level.”

Team owner Merckx sees Smithson as a top talent. “Jed has already proven he can perform in a wide range of races, from technical sprints to hard one-day events. What impressed us most was his maturity and drive to improve. He has the engine and attitude to go far, and we’re excited to help him take that next step within our development pathway.”