Junior cross-country riders Japan-bound with Development Academy

Nine junior MTB XCO athletes will travel and compete in Japan this September as part of the AusCycling Development Academies.

Building on the success of the 2024 Development Camp to Japan, this year's program will return to the Coupe du Japon Fukasaka International XCO Race.

The race is in Shimonoseki City from September 27–28. The event is a UCI C3 race and includes youth categories for U17 athletes, providing valuable international racing experience in a high-quality, welcoming environment.

More information about the race can be found here. 

The camp aims to enhance riders' skills and performance through exposure to high-level competition and diverse race conditions. It will also give them the experience of competing in an international race environment and the logistical and cultural aspects of overseas travel and competition.

Riders offered the opportunity were all U17 athletes who belong to a state MTB Development Academy or who competed at the 2025 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships at Mt Buller in March 2025.

It’s an initiative of the AusCycling Development Academies, a comprehensive program designed to develop and support promising young cyclists across all disciplines, states and territories.

As part of the program, 22 young cyclists have also been selected to be part of the AusCycling Road Academy team that will contest the 2025 Yunca Junior Tour of Southland from September 26-28.

Riders selected for MTB XCO Japan development camp:

U17 Women

• Sienna O’Higgins (ACT) - Canberra Off-Road Cyclists
• Amaya Shaw (NSW) - Hunter Mountain Bike Association
• Juno Smith (NSW) - Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club

U17 Men

• Jock Barwick (NSW) - Tamworth Mountain Bikers Inc.
• Levi Billings (VIC) - Wangaratta Cycling Club
• Dylan Locke (TAS) - Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils
• Ben Shaw (NSW) - Tamworth Mountain Bikers Inc.
• Michael Straffon (ACT) - Canberra Off-Road Cyclists
• Travis Wardle (WA) - Perth MTB Club

STAFF

• Donna Dall (QLD) – Team Manager/Coach
• Izzy Flint (TAS) – MTB Development Academy Coach
• Brooke Anderson Tranter (ACT) – MTB Development Academy Coach