Overseas camps, BMX academies: AusCycling pathways to span 5 continents

Australia’s next generation of riders will cut their teeth across a suite of overseas racing projects announced today by AusCycling.

In 2023, AusCycling’s pathways program will feature racing in Europe, Asia and the Americas, including the Commonwealth Youth Games, under-23 men’s and women’s Tours de l’Avenir, a BMX racing camp in the USA, and a junior XCO camp in Switzerland and Czechia.

Back home, AusCycling will roll out state-based development academies for BMX Freestyle.

2023 AusCycling international pathways initiatives:

ProjectDisciplineLocationDateU19 XCO Europe CampMTBSwitzerland, CzechiaMayU17 Track & Road CampTrack, RoadMalaysiaMayT-Town Podium Potential Track CampTrackUSAJunBelgian Road Camp & UCI Junior Road World ChampionshipsRoadBelgium, ScotlandJul-AugCommonwealth Youth GamesTrack, RoadTrinidad and TobagoAugUCI Junior Track World ChampionshipsTrackColombiaAugTour de l'Avenir - MenRoadFranceAugTour de l'Avenir - WomenRoadFranceAug-SepBMX Racing CampBMX RaceUSAOct

The international projects will give athletes a taste of overseas racing with guidance and support from AusCycling staff.

“We’ve witnessed a generation of under-19s who didn’t get to go overseas during the pandemic,” said Donna Rae-Szalinski, AusCycling’s director of performance pathways, who will oversee the projects.

“We know we need international exposure. We know the environment in Australia is growing, but doesn’t have all the required characteristics for overseas racing: bunch sizes, types of courses.

“We want to provide athletes with a safe and supportive environment to clock up international race days. And it’s not just about race days; the other part of the trip is education, about lifestyle.”

Photo: Nico van Dartel.

Rae-Szalinski said the projects are designed to maximise racing and learning opportunities.

“The length of each trip links into what we think the athletes are ready for at this stage of development.

“They’ve been strategically identified around competition blocks. For example, for the mountain bike camp, there will be three consecutive weekends of racing at an appropriate level for the cohort.”

The projects will also give state institute coaches the chance to gain international experience.

Expressions of interest for the XCO camp have opened today. Information about each project will be released throughout the year. Riders for UCI World Championships and the Commonwealth Youth Games will be selected by AusCycling selection panels, while other projects will have an EOI process.

Freestyle academies to widen talent base

Back home, AusCycling will introduce state-based development academies in BMX Freestyle, filling a gap in the pathway towards becoming an Australian Cycling Team categorised athlete.

“We have BMX Freestyle athletes performing successfully at an elite level, such as Olympic champion Logan Martin,” Rae-Szalinski said. “We have a good group that’s well-supported through the national program.

“An area of need in the pathway is regional development academies which we’ll roll out after BMX Freestyle Nationals. The aim is to deliver BMX Freestyle across the country more and to diversify the exposure.”

Women’s l’Avenir has rainbow tinge

Photo: Zac Williams.

Today’s announcement confirms that Australia will field a team in the first women’s Tour de l’Avenir, which until this year has been for under-23 men only.

Rae-Szalinski said the event was part of AusCycling’s longer-term plan to prepare for the first standalone Under-23 Women’s Road Race World Championship in 2025.

“We started with the summer of cycling in January,” Rae-Szalinski said, referring to the national teams that competed in the Santos Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

“It’s part of a broader roll-out towards our under-23 cohort with a view towards the first under-23 world championship road race. We’re starting the process now.

“Some of them in that under-23 cohort now will be too old by that time, but they’ll play a vital part towards educating the younger cohort coming through.”

Feature image: Matt Rousu