Europe Awaits NSW Juniors After Two-Year Delay

03 Jun 2022 | 04:54 PMBy: Luke Macquire

After a two-year wait, junior cyclists from NSW are set to head to Europe to race an international program.

In late 2020, AusCycling partnered with Dutch development team TWC Maaslandster Zuid-Limburg to allow up to three male under-19 cyclists to race with their squad each year.

Soon after, AusCycling confirmed an equivalent partnership with the Watersley Race & Development Women Cycling Team.

The partnerships were formed with junior development as the intention. However, due to COVID-19, the first two years of the program were unable to materialise.

With overseas travel now reopen, 2022 will see eight riders head to Europe to race an international road program in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg under the guidance of top-level staff. The selection criteria was based on results from selected NSW road races in 2020 and 2021

The riders will be based with their respective teams in the Limburg province in the south of the Netherlands, where the Amstel Gold Race is held.

Not only will the group of NSW cyclists ride overseas within a European cycling team dynamic, but they will gain valuable real-world experiences throughout their journey.

Emily Strumfin, Keira Will, Alani Cockshutt, Andrew Phillips, Ryland Short, William Heffernan, Jonah Hamer and Asher Fawle will jet off on June 7 with their first race weekend taking place over June 11-12.

Neo's Andrew Phillips Received Silver in the 2022 Junior Men's National Criterium Championship in Ballarat — *Neo Cycling Club's Andrew Phillips (left) on the podium in Ballarat after finishing second in the 2022 Federation University Road National Championships Junior Men Criterium. (Photo: Con Chronis)*

AusCycling’s General Manager of Clubs - Road, Track, Para & Esport & State Manager NSW, Graham Seers is excited the program is finally a reality after the disruptions of the past two years.

“It’s a great program, the riders learn not just about racing but being self sufficient as well as integrating into European teams,” said Seers.

Based on what appears to be a successful experience for the selected riders, this development opportunity for NSW U19 riders could possibly expand and continue into 2023 and beyond.

NSW riders selected for Watersley Race & Development Women Cycling Team