The first round of the ProVelo Super League kicked off in Adelaide and was the launch of our Elite Women’s Team.
Seven riders rolled into our Pasadena accomodation prior to Saturday’s stage 1 of SA Kick It, a three stage “tour” that kicks off the 2025 ProVelo Super League.
Director of Sports Taryn Heather assembled the team for a gentle ride prior to the race and set out the mission for the weekend. “We’re a new team of very good riders, and we want to prove ourselves in this new league. Let’s use this as an opportunity to find where we sit and work together to establish our ethos of working together and supporting each other to achieve a great team outcome”.
In Adelaide the weather was hot as the team pulled on the jerseys for the first time. Mia Williams returns to the squad after starting as a first year U19 in the 99 Bikes Women’s Academy in 2022. Carnegie Caulfield club teammate Vegas Henry took her first steps in the elite peloton as our U19 rider for Round 1. Experienced riders Cassia Boglio and Jess Pratt brought maturity to the team, as well as Pratt’s Maltese National Championship jersey. Sophia McBride made her first appearance in an Australian domestic team. Kirsty Watts arrived from New Zealand looking forward to her first race as an U23 and fellow New Zealander Rhylee Akeroyd returns to the sport after a year off in 2024.
Stage 1 was a 3km TT up the famous Wilunga Hill climb.
Led by Cassia Boglio, who only the previous week won the bronze medal at the AusCycling National Road Race Championships in Perth, the team lists three riders in the top 15. Firmly establishing Meridian Blue second on the Teams Classification. Rhylee and Kirsty were positioned inside the top 10 of U23.
Stage 2 was one hour criterium at the Victoria Park raced live on SBS television and in sweltering 40 degree temperatures.
The team road a brilliant race with Mia, Jess, Cassia and Rhylee working on maintaining position in the front of the peloton and ensuring that no attacks got away without MBC representation. On such a fast circuit it was always going to be difficult to make the break stick, and Praties, ARA and Butterfields were all keen to neutralise efforts in preference for their sprinters. Kirsty showed us her signature move mid race with a powerful surge and effort to time trial off the front but eventually it all came back together. The last four laps were organised around sprinters trains from Praties and ARA with Jess nominated as sprint rider, she found it difficult to get past the organised teams, posting a top 10 finish and the team holding on the second position.
Stage 3 was the Tailem Bend Road Race, which is notorious for its flat windy circuit. In temperatures pushing the high 30s this was always going to be a tough race.
With a similar tactical setup to Stage 2 Taryn handed the team a couple of individual targets to see if we could move Rhylee up the U23 standings. Ultimately the race was ridden at such a high pace no break away was going to be allowed to get away. Mia and Cassia were prominent at the front. patrolling the other teams and neutralising attacks to allow Jess to focus on the fast finish. Rhylee focussed on intermediate sprints but found the pace too high with well organised work from Praties and ARA. Kirsty handed out the strongest attack of the day, riding solo off the front of the peloton for severe kilometres putting Praties and Butterfields under significant pressure. However with wind being a decisive factor and the peloton committed to a bunch kick it all came back together. Jess found 8th spot on the line, and The team finished second on team classification.
The race debrief focussed on the strength and character of the group. We achieved our goals and set a level from where we can make further gains for the team in our pursuit of landing the top spot in this competition.
We were grateful for the camaraderie and particular the laughs and smiles the team shared. It was great to have our performance manager Alice Maggio join us from Italy and get to know the team. Cassia added a lot to the squad in her 3 days with us and we wish her the best for her next move to the gravel season.
We can’t wait for the next round when we tackle the Warnie, and welcome back in Alyssa from National duties
