The CDF Racing Teams have had a busy few months, with the racing calendar almost back to full capacity.

The women’s team were honoured to be invited to participate in the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Women’s Tour of Thailand (UCI 2.1), in Mudhukan, north-east Thailand from 8-10 April. The team of Sabine Bird, Lucie Fityus, Serene Lee, Hannah Seeliger and Emma Pratt did us proud, working together as a team the whole time. They also had some fantastic results, including:

Best Young Rider’s Jersey: Hannah Seeliger

2nd on GC: Hannah Seeliger

2nd Stage 2: Hannah Seeliger

4th Stage 1: Lucie Fityus

5th Stage 3: Emma Pratt

2nd Teams Classification: Cycling Development Foundation

Stage 2 Most Combative: Hannah Seeliger

We’d also like to give our huge thanks to Jenny McPherson, who acted as our Directeur Sportif, on loan from the Butterfield’s racing team. Jenny’s experience and calmness, were a great asset to the team.

On the same weekend (9-10 April) were the Oceania Road Championships, held in conjunction with the Tour of Brisbane (a National Road Series [NRS] race). Again, the team had outstanding results, led by Brady Gilmore winning the U23 Oceania Championship Road Race and coming second across the line in the Elite Open men’s road race.

Brady was supported in the U23 road race by Mitchell McGovern, Dan Potter, William Thomas and Joe Inglis, plus Jaxon King and Harrison Aves in the Elite Open Men’s field. Nicholas Bolt and Ryley Collett represented the team in the Junior Men’s Road Race.

The women’s team was severely depleted due to the Tour of Thailand and covid taking out most of the riders. However, despite having to race as individuals Race Mackenzie Coupland achieved 3rd in the U19 Women’s Road and 4th in the U19 Women’s Time Trial. Savannah Coupland represented the team in a reduced U23 women’s road race, successfully completing her first National Road Series race.

Other results were:

U23 Men’s Time Trial

4th Brady Gilmore

8th Joe Inglis

12^th Mitchell McGovern

Next up was the CWP Renewables Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic (Men) and Gibraltar to Inverell des Femmes (Women) NRS races. A depleted men’s team (thanks to Covid) were represented by Brendon Green, Mitchell McGovern, Jaxon King, Harrison Aves and William Thomas, who all did a fantastic job. The women’s outstanding form continued with Lucie Fityus getting 4^th, and was narrowly beaten on the line. Lucie was assisted by Emma Pratt, Nicole Mitsigeorgis, Hannah Seeliger and Jen Davis (in her first NRS race, and her first race back from injury). Their combined efforts resulted in the team getting 3^rd in the team’s classification. Also of note, Nicole Mitsigeorgis came 3^rd in the sprint classification.

Several of our riders have been making the most of opportunities overseas. Mackenzie Coupland is racing in Belgium with the AusCycling U19 Development Team, gaining a huge amount of experience, racing with up to 150 riders and finishing some hard races against a top field, and Serene Lee is representing Singapore at the Asian Games. Good luck to both of you!

Back home, several riders have been getting podiums in local races, including Savannah Coupland winning the women’s race at the Tom Lowry Memorial in Western Australia. Mitch McGovern (2^nd), Joe Inglis (3^rd) and Will Thomas (6^th) all achieved outstanding results at Round #1 of the Victorian Road Individual Time Trial Series.

We also have to acknowledge the amazing achievement of Brady Gilmore, who after his success at the Oceania Road Championships, was signed by ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast, and is now racing in Belgium. Congratulations to Brady on making the next step in his cycling career, and we wish him all the best!

Next up in the calendar, is a team training camp in Belgium during June, featuring a lot of racing and then back for the reminder of the National Road Series.

As proud as we are when the team does achieve great results, that list (as extensive as it is!) does not begin to reflect the dedication and hard work of all of the team. After a tough couple of years, with reduced racing, plus crashes, covid and all of the other challenges facing individual riders, we are proud of the way they continually show and represent the team. We can’t wait to what their futures bring.

– Sam Bolton, Team Manager