Newly-launched Australian Cycling Academy-Ride Sunshine Coast will make its Jayco Herald Sun Tour debut on the last day of January, with team director and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ben Kersten identifying the race as a highlight of 2018. After making a strong statement with one national title and three bronze medals at the recent Road National Championships in Ballarat, the Australian Cycling Academy will be a team to watch in the coming months.
“This is the pinnacle of the season for us,” said Kersten. “We will be racing around the world, but to compete on home turf at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour against really quality teams and riders is something special. We are grateful to be part of it.”
Formed by Kersten with the input of his brother-in-law, former Jayco Herald Sun Tour winner and now Mitchelton-Scott sports director Matt Wilson, Australian Cycling Academy emerged as the result of an ongoing family conversation.
“My brother-in-law and I have both spent a long time in cycling, and we have often discussed how we might run a development team differently to help the athletes,” Kersten explained. “We had an opportunity to work on the Sunshine Coast, to create something new and different.”
One aspect of that difference is a focus on education. Australian Cycling Academy has partnered with a local university to provide study pathways for its athletes. The riders hit the books under the mantra of ‘Live. Learn. Ride’
“It is not just about racing with this team,” Kersten said. “We are aligned with the University of the Sunshine Coast, and we are interested in having a high percentage of tertiary students in our team. It is not forced upon them – this year we have two commencing their studies and a few already studying – but in the long term we hope to be the team that attracts high school riders looking to study with the help of a supportive team.”
The initial signs on the road are positive. Australian Cycling Academy rider Cameron Scott took out the U23 criterium at the recent Road Nationals, while Mitchell Wright secured third in the U19 time trial and Michael Potter won bronze in the U23 road race.
“We have put a lot of effort into this team – everything has come from scratch, every item, every staff member, every rider,” continues Kersten. “We are really happy with our Road Nats results, and it just shows that if we can work that well after just a week together, we’re going to be great during the year.”
While the Australian Cycling Academy roster is headlined by the likes of Sam Welsford, Kelland O’Brien and Leigh Howard, track commitments mean the team is expected to field a number of fresh faces in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
“We’re bringing our development road riders,” Kersten said. “We have a number of big hitters in the team, but they will be at Track Nationals – they come back to us after the Commonwealth Games. So, I think the Jayco Herald Sun Tour will be a great opportunity for these young guys to do such a big race on home soil and learn really quickly.”
If you are looking for some young guns to spring a surprise or two on the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, then study the form of this emerging group. Check out their video here
The 65th edition of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour commences with the inaugural Women’s Herald Sun Tour presented by Let’s Go Motorhomes on Tuesday January 30 with a road race around Healesville in the scenic Yarra Valley. The men get their start on Wednesday January 31 with a male and female prologue in the Melbourne CBD, from Alexandra Gardens to Queensbridge Square.
There will be food trucks, entertainment, music and more at Alexandra Gardens from lunchtime.
