Clean Sport

Lucy Kennedy named 2020 AusCycling Queensland Cyclist of the Year

17 Jun 2021 | 11:53 AMBy: Josh Davies

Lucy Kennedy has been named the AusCycling Queensland Cyclist of the Year for 2020 following her successful title defence of the Women's Herald Sun Tour and further performances in Europe with her trade team Mitchelton-Scott (now Team BikeExchange) as well as the Australian Cycling Team.

It is the first time the Brisbanite and Lifecycle Cycling Club member has won the award.

"Queensland has produced some outstanding cyclists over the years, so it's an honour to be named alongside them in receiving this award," Kennedy said from her European base in Girona, Spain.

"2020 was a particularly challenging year for everyone, which makes it feel extra special."

Kennedy's path to the professional peloton is one best summarised as a late bloomer.

The talented climber did not touch a bike until she was 24 – after injuries stopped her from running. She balanced a career as a traffic modeller with rapid progression through the domestic ranks, before signing with Mitchelton-Scott late in 2017.

"I didn't come through the junior ranks and didn't really know anyone. Despite this, the Queensland cycling community has been inclusive and supportive from the beginning," Kennedy said.

Lucy

"Starting in club crits, then moving through the grades and Queensland Road Team Series (QRTS) was a great pathway into the National Road Series and then international racing.

"I have formed close friendships through cycling in Queensland and always feel support from home wherever in the world I'm racing."

Kennedy made note of how in the turbulent year 2020 was, it was important to remember the positive events.

"The season started well when I successfully defended my Herald Sun Tour victory,” she said.

"Another highlight was the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy.

"Unlike many sports, we were fortunate to have a World Championship and after a somewhat disappointing condensed European season I was happy with my performance there, being the highest placed Australian finisher (28th) in the second chase group."

With the 2021 Jayco Herald Sun Tour and Women's Herald Sun Tour called off amid COVID-19 uncertainty, it meant Kennedy was unable to race for a third consecutive win.

Despite this, Kennedy enjoyed a successful summer in Australia to start the year, placing second at the Santos Festival of Cycling and playing an important role in teammate Sarah Roy's 2021 national championship win around Mt Buninyong.

Kennedy's goals for the back half of the year remain a little less clear than in previous seasons, after only recently returning to riding on the road following a serious crash at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"My return to racing is likely to be at San Sebastian as the defending champion from 2019, and other races I hope to target are the Tour of Norway and Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta," she said.

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Kennedy is the third cyclist from the Team BikeExchange (formerly Mitchelton-Scott) GreenEdge Cycling system to win the AusCycling Queensland Cyclist of the Year award - joining Ipswich Cycling Club product Michael Hepburn and Gold Coast Cycling Club's Katrin Garfoot on the honour roll.

AusCycling congratulates Sunshine Coast Cycling Club's Kaden Groves (Mitchelton-Scott) and Mackay Cycling Club's David Nicholas, who were finalists for the 2020 AusCycling Queensland Cyclist of the Year.

Gold Coast Cycling Club pair Kane Richards and Danielle De Francesco have been crowned the Queensland Elite Male Road Cyclist of the Year and Queensland Elite Female Road Cyclist of the Year following overall wins in the 2020 KOM Financial Advice Queensland Classic Road Series.

Balmoral Cycling Club's Liam Walsh claimed the Queensland Elite Male Track Cyclist of the Year.

Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy member and Sunshine Coast Cycling Club product Kristina Clonan was named the Queensland Elite Female Track Cyclist of the Year.

Moreton Bay Cycling Club's Kyle Willis was named the 2020 Queensland Road and Track Para-Cyclist of the Year.

2020 AusCycling Queensland Cyclist of the Year award winners

AusCycling Queensland Cyclist of the Year