AusCycling’s pathways project propels 53 young riders onto world stage this May

AusCycling is pleased to announce 53 young up-and-coming riders will take part in international development camps and competitions across four disciplines next month.  

Four discipline-specific development camps – road, XCO MTB, track and BMX freestyle - will be running during May across Europe and Asia.  

The camps will expose the emerging athletes to international competition and elite training environments, with guidance and support from AusCycling staff and coaches.   

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said it was exciting to see such a big cohort of junior cycling talent selected for the development camps.   

“For many of these young athletes it will be their first taste of overseas competition. These camps are essential in fostering the development of our next generation of cycling stars who will get valuable insight into international competition, both on and off the bike,” Fechner said.   

AusCycling’s director of performance pathways Donna Rae-Szalinski said the camps would help develop and prepare riders for long-term success and future elite competition. 

“These camps are more than just racing opportunities — they’re about learning to be adaptable, professional, and prepared for the demands of international sport,” she said.  

“Not only will the athletes develop their physical, mental, tactical and skill components of international racing, they will also gain exposure to international training and insight into racing lifestyle demands.” 

The first of the four camps will see 24 U17 athletes travel to Malaysia to compete at the Yayasan Sime Darby Track Series. 

Expressions of Interest are also currently open for six U19 track sprinters to join the Malaysia camp.

This will also be an opportunity for coaches and support staff to step up and lead athletes at international events. Josh Harrison (SA) is the team Head Coach with support from Chloe Heffernan, Toireasa Gallagher (NSW) and Luke Zaccaria (WA). 

Three U19 athletes have been selected for the European XCO Mountain Bike development camp and competition block, with three U23 athletes to accompany the U19 group, aligning with their U23 international competition schedules. They will race UCI XCO Junior Series events. 

Thirteen junior road cyclists will race in a number of Nations’ Cup multi-day races across Europe. 

Lastly, four emerging BMX freestyle riders have been selected to compete and train alongside Australia’s elite riders at the UCI World Cup in Montpellier at the end of the month. 

 Read on to find out more about each camp and the riders selected. 

Isabella Potts will travel to Malaysia as part of the development camp. Photo: Mackenzie Sweetnam

Track development camp* 

Women:  

• Grace Hunter (Hamilton Wheelers CC, QLD) 
• Sienna Monteith (Balmoral CC, QLD)
• Nicola Morris (Brunswick CC, VIC) 
• Viana Najafian (X-Speed Australia CC, WA) 
• April Pattie (Balmoral CC, QLD) 
• Alexis Phillips (Wagga Wagga CC, NSW) 
• Madeline Pitt (X-Speed Australia CC, WA) 
• Isabella Potts (Balmoral CC, QLD) 
• Ava Rodgers (X-Speed Australia CC, WA) 
• Isla Shaw (Shepparton CC, VIC) 
• Charviunknown nodeTanksale (Carnegie Caulfield CC, VIC) 
• Cienna Tinkler (Peel District CC, WA) 

Men: 

• Lincoln Andrews (CycleTorq CC, WA) 
• Hugo Barnes (Dulwich Hill BC, NSW) 
• Riley Boyd (Brunswick CC, VIC) 
• Felix Crossman (Balmoral CC, QLD) 
• Cooper Dunlop (CycleTorq CC, WA) 
• Harrison Lace (South Coast CC, SA) 
• Joshua Moore (Neo CC, NSW) 
• Jack Panozzo (Carnegie Caulfield CC, VIC) 
• Trent Rensburg (X-Speed Australia CC, WA) 
• Billy van Hout (Norwood CC, SA) 
• Benjamin Woods (Blackburn CC, VIC) 
• Tobiasunknown nodeZhou (Midland CC, WA) 

*An additional six U19 track sprinters will join the camp with EOIs currently open.

Schedule: 

• Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) Track Series, Malaysia | May 2-5  

Alex Hewes will travel to Europe. Photo: Chris Auld

Road development camp 

Men: 

• Max Goold (Blackburn CC, VIC) 
• Alexander Hewes (Gold Coast CC, QLD) 
• Vinnie Manion (Launceston City CC, TAS) 
• Eddie Mungoven  (Canberra CC, ACT) 
• Lucas Stevenson (Northern Sydney CC, NSW) 
• Fletcher Medway (Hamilton Wheelers CC,  QLD) 
• Jonas Shelverton  (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils, TAS) 

Women: 

• Hannah Gianatti  (Penrith CC,  NSW) 
• Amelie Sanders (Gold Coast CC,  QLD) 
• Tully Schweitzer (Hamilton Wheelers CC,  QLD) 
• Neve Parslow (Hamilton Wheelers CC, QLD) 
• Leani van der Berg (Norwood CC, SA) 
• Anna Dubier (Lidcombe Auburn CC, NSW) 

  Men’s Nations’ Cup schedule: 

• Course de la Paix, Czech | May 8-11 
• Tour du Pays Vaud, Switzerland | May 22-25 
• Trophée Centre Morbihan, France | May 31-June 1 

Women’s Nations’ Cup schedule: 

• Tour du Gévaudan Occitanie | May 10-11 

Connor Wright racing in Europe during the 2024 season.

XCO Mountain Bike development camp

Women: 

• Amelie Burrell (Canberra Off Road Cyclists, ACT) 
• Ruby Taylor (Warrandyte Mountain Bike Club, VIC) 
• Ella Menigoz* (RATS CC, QLD) 

Men:  

• Connor Wright (South West MTB Club, WA) 
• Harry Doye* (Red Hill Riders MTBC, VIC) 
• Jack Ward* (Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers, VIC) 

* U23 athletes will accompany the U19 group, aligning with their U23 international competition schedules. 

Schedule: 

• Ötztaler Mountain Bike Festival (UCI XCO Junior Series) Haiming, Austria | May 10–11  
• Heubacher Mountain Bike Festival – Bike the Rock (UCI XCO Junior Series) – Heubach, Germany | May 17–18  
• Nové Město na Moravě (UCI XCO Junior Series) – Czech Republic | May 23–25  

Mylee Toohey will join is one of four emerging BMX freestyle riders set to compete at the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup in Montpellier.

BMX Freestyle development camp

Men: 

• Keegan Pryor (Centenary Plains BMX Club, QLD)   
• Xavier Gilbee (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD)   
• Will Spedding (Oasis Action Sports Club,  NSW)   

Women:  

• Mylee Toohey (Freestyle ACT BMX Club, ACT)    

Schedule:  

• UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup – Montpellier, France | May 29 – June 3