With the National Road Series (NRS) now defunct and the newly introduced ProVelo Super League stepping in, the structure of Australian cycling is shifting. Whether this transition strengthens or weakens pathways for local talent remains an open question. In the lead-up to the Tour Down Under in January, the first of six ProVelo Super League rounds started with 3 racing days in the SA Kick It and a series continuing into March with racing in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland.

The International Perspective: The First Battles of the Season or a Training Race?

The biggest question surrounding the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Race is their true importance within the WorldTour calendar. Are they high-stakes competitions, or merely a place for riders to test their legs before the real season begins? In recent years, many top riders have opted out. Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have skipped these races, choosing to train in Europe instead.

That being said, for sprinters and punchy all-rounders, these races remain an important battleground. Traditionally timed just after the Australian National with many Australia Pros returning home – Aussie crowds are also usually treated with the world’s best Australian riders competing in a top level race on home turf and jostling for prized ‘local win’.

Over the 25 year history of the Tour Down Under, Australian have taken 14 wins against 11 wins for riders of other nationalities. On average, Australian riders make up between 3 – 5% of the peloton for major UCI WorldTour races while at the Tour Down Under the roster is stacked with 33% of riders on average from Australia. Figures are based on the start list from 2013 – 2023.

Other Australian riders have signalled the value of the early season racing; Richie Porte’s dominance at Willunga Hill translated into stage-race success in Europe, and Michael Matthews and Jay Vine also used the Tour Down Under to announce themselves before earning big WorldTour contracts. But not every winner of these races goes on to shine in the later season, reinforcing the perception that their significance remains somewhat team- and rider-dependent.

For Australian Riders, a Crucial Platform—or a Pathway in Decline?

For Australian riders, the stakes are different. Unlike their European counterparts, who have a deep network through strong local racing scenes, U23 and continental teams and accessible development teams, young Australians have fewer options. For them, Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Race are golden opportunities to race against WorldTour teams and earn recognition. Team UniSA has featured heavily in the past as a wildcard team and even won in 2004 (with Dutch born, Australian rider Patrick Jonker). Riders from the ARA Australian Cycling Team in both the mens and women’s races captured attention and visibility in breakaways winning the overall Queen of the Mountains (Alyssa Polites) and King of the Mountains (Fergus Browning) classifications.

Even with these races, the typical path for young Australian riders requiring moving to Europe and trying to impress in small races—an expensive and uncertain route. Robert Power debuted at the 2015 Tour Down Under, riding for UniSA before signing with Orica GreenEDGE for 2016 a career with Team Sunweb and Qhuebeka Assos.

However, there is a growing concern that with the end of the National Road Series (NRS), there is no longer a clear stepping stone from domestic racing to the WorldTour. Previously, the NRS acted as a launchpad, giving riders a proving ground before they were considered for WorldTour wildcard invitations. Now, with the NRS gone, where will these young riders prove themselves? This is where the ProVelo Super League comes in.

Can the ProVelo Super League Bridge the Gap?

Replacing the National Road Series was never going to be easy, but the ProVelo Super League, spear headed by Gerry Ryan, has been presented as the solution. Will it work?

The AusCycling sanctioned ProVelo Super League is designed to provide higher-level competition for Australian riders and to solve one of the biggest deficits of increases media exposure (and improving sponsorship opportunities). This ultimately could make it a better stepping stone to international racing.

But many are cautiously hopeful as journalist Simone Giuliani of Cycling News reports “Some may have become jaded and wary, as the reviews and meetings of the past have not stopped the decline of the once thriving National Road series. The hope is that the final year of the NRS is a case of it being darkest before the dawn, with the shards of light now beginning to shine through.”

Previously, the NRS benefited from ties to UCI-sanctioned races. Some individual NRS races held UCI status as part of the UCI Oceania Tour, allowing international participation. Examples include the Herald Sun Tour (UCI 2.1), the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic (UCI 1.2), and the Grafton to Inverell Classic, which was UCI-sanctioned in certain editions. This meant that strong performances could lead to wildcard invitations for events like the Tour Down Under.

The 2025 UCI race calendar doesn’t provide any indication that any of the races in the ProVelo Super League have UCI classification in 2025. The only other UCI classified race in Australia for 2025 (excluding the cancelled 2.2 Gravel and Tar Classic) was the one-day Surf Classic in January from Lorne to Torquay, a UCI 1.1 race reserved for elite men which attracted the riders and teams who had competed in the Tour Down Under and who would subsequently race in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race a few days later.

In context this means that in 2025 at minimum, aspiring Australian riders need to make the ranks of the national squad (ARA Australian Cycling Team) for the chance to ride in a Australian UCI classified race. Club and Regional teams have limited eligibility and can only compete in UCI 1.2 and 2.2 classified races, which are development-focused events.

In 2024 ProVelo announced that Super League winners would receive U23 stagiaire contracts with WorldTour teams, Team Jayco AlUla and Liv Jayco AlUla so there is positive movement in helping to build pathways for riders. Alternatively Australian Continental Teams such as CCACHE x BODYWRAP and St George Continental Cycling Team are a logical stepping-stone. These two teams are competing in some Super League Races and have UCI Asia Tour races in focus.

It may take years before the full impact of ProVelo is clear, but for now, the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Race remain the best showcase for new Australian talent who have a very narrow window of opportunity to make the start-list.

What’s Next for Australian Summer Racing?

As part of the WorldTour calendar, Australian summer races are still an interesting season-opener for fans and the first chance for riders and teams to get their legs warm and benefit from heat adaptation. For Australian riders and staff returning home over Christmas and competing in the nationals, timing is very convenient though on the world stage the January racing will always struggle for status.

The biggest challenge is that these races take place a time when many WorldTour teams prioritise training camps over racing. Preparation for the classics and the monuments ranks higher.

Yet, these races still matter. Top teams are incentivised to send star riders who are an important drawcard for Australian fans and they are the only local opportunity for spectators to be in the midst of international level pro cycling. This not only plants the seed for the next generation of riders, it also creates a pathway into international racing. The high visibility races with (some) live TV broadcast help to normalise sports cycling in a nation with such incredible talent but underwhelming social acceptance for bike riding.

In 2025 the Tour Down Under celebrated 25 years and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race marked it’s 10th year. For the popularity of cycling in Australia these races are important beacons. But to be a real stepping stone for Australian talent they demand a much stronger development pipeline. Not only does the ProVelo Super League have to fill the gap left by the NRS, it needs to improve on the deficits in order to become a clear pathway for talented riders while securing growth of competitive cycling.


Photos © Tourism South Australia

The post Australian Summer Races: A Stepping Stone or a Spectacle? appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

Most reputable brandname e-bikes strictly complied with standards and are less likely to be at risk. While there are no statistics available, the indications are that DIY and budget-level e-bikes are at higher risk of failure and combustion. In Australia a number of untrustworthy operators import and sell poor quality bikes and batteries sourced from disreputable suppliers. Similarly supermarkets who sell budget sports equipment can compromise on quality and safety to save costs and maintain bargain pricing.

“Enforcement” of the new standards begins in in NSW in February 2025 and in August 2025 mandatory testing and certification requirements will be enforced. In February 2026 Mandatory labelling requirement enforced. In practice, compliance requirements for batteries and e-mobility devices become much stricter so seeks to block unregulated and ‘loosely compliant’ equipment.

Across Australia, the states and territories are still playing ‘catch-up’ to create regulations for road use and safety for e-devices, in particular e-scooters. This lag has allowed some operators to take advantages of the gaps and import inferior and unsafe equipment which is typically in the budget price segment.

With the law change for standard and safety compliance of lithium-ion batteries, NSW is leading the charge and advocating for Australia-wide adoption of these regulations from other states and territories,.

The cycling trade organisation, Bicycle Industries Australia is providing information for member businesses and conducting a webinar with the NSW Office of Fair Trading to cover open questions. A key topic for cycling trade is the status of e-bikes in stock that is no-longer compliant or requires certification.


Further information on the new standards:
NSW Government: New standards for lithium-ion batteries in e-micromobility devices

New Safety Standards for e-bikes

For e-bikes with a maximum continuous rated output not exceeding 500 watts: 

• AS 15194:2016- Cycles – Electrically power assisted cycles – EPAC Bicycles (also known as pedelecs), or
• EN 15194:2017+A1:2023 – Cycles – Electrically power assisted cycles – EPAC Bicycles, or
• UL 2849 – Electrical systems for eBikes

For e-bikes with a maximum continuous rated output exceeding 500 watts: 

• UL 2849 – Electrical systems for eBikes

New Safety Standards for e-bike batteries 

• EN 50604-1:2016+A1:2021 – Secondary lithium batteries for light EV (electric vehicle) applications, or
• IEC 62133-2:2017 – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes- Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable applications- Part 2: Lithium systems, or
• UL 2271 – Batteries for use in light electric vehicle (LEV) applications 

The post NSW introduces new standards for lithium-ion batteries to tackle e-mobility safety appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

Reigning Canadian National Champion Michael Woods returns to the streets of South Australia for the first time since 2019, alongside Italian National Champion Alberto Bettiol and three-time Australian National Road Race Champion (2022-24) Luke Plapp, who are both set to make their fifth appearance at the Santos Tour Down Under.

2024 Santos Tour Down Under runner-up Jhonatan Narváez will be looking to do one better this January following an exceptional 2024 where he claimed his second Ecuadorian National Road Race Championship and an individual stage at the Giro d’Italia.

Swiss National Champion Mauro Schmid will line up for Team Jayco Alula, whilst French National Champion Paul Lapeirawill lead French team, Decathlon Ag2R La Mondiale Team. 

The women’s peloton will have three riders currently wearing their unique national jerseys with reigning Australian National Champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon being one to keep an eye on, whilst 2024 Women’s National Champions Ella Wyllie(New Zealand) and Noemi Rüegg (Switzerland) will be seeking to add to their national achievements.

The men’s race will be headlined by Geraint Thomas and Sam Welsford beside defending champion Stephen Williams and 2023 champion Jay Vine. 

Other riders on the list include 2014 World Champion and two-time Tour de France stage winner, Michal Kwiatkowski, along with 2022 Paris – Roubaix winner, Dylan Van Baarle, both who will make their Santos Tour Down Under debut. 

Reigning Tour de France Queen of the Mountain Justine Ghekiere will be joined by 2024 Olympic gold medallist and 2024 UCI World Championships Road Race runner-up Chloe Dygert alongside 2024 Olympic silver medallist Ally Wollaston, who returns as one-to-watch following her Stage 1 victory at the Santos Tour Down Under in 2024.

Racing Schedule and Teams

The women’s racing starts on January 17 with 3 stages followed by the one-day Classic on January 26th.

The mens racing starts on January 18 with the one-day Classic and then on the 21st, the stage racing with six stages in total.

2025 Santos Tour Down Under: Race details and locations

Women’s Teams (start list)
AG Insurance – Soudal Team
Team Picnic PostNL
Canyon//Sram Racing
Liv-Alula-Jayco
Lidl – Trek
FDJ-Suez
UAE Team ADQ
Human Powered Health
Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team
EF Education – Oatly
St Michel – Preference Home – Auber93
Team Coop-Repsol
Uno-X Mobility
ARA Australian National Team

Mens Teams (start list)
Israel – Premier Tech
Team Jayco Alula
Bahrain Victorious
UAE Team Emirates XRG
Soudal Quick-Step
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
Intermarché – Wanty
Ineos Grenadiers
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
Team Picnic PostNL
Cofidis
Arkea-B&B Hotels
Movistar Team
Team Visma | Lease A Bike
EF Education – Easypost
Alpecin-Deceuninck
XDS Astana Team
Lidl-Trek
Groupama-FDJ
ARA Australian National Team

The post Start List for 2025 Santos Tour Down Under appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

The victory however was secured by Lotto Dstny rider Maxim van Gils who was in a lead bunch as the peloton split and left riders trailing towards Frankfurt city. Alex Aranburu of Movistar was second ahead of Riley Sheehan of Israel – Premier Tech.

This photo-series captures moments from the 2024 Eschborn-Frankfurt.

The post Local Legend John Degenkolb powers Eschborn-Frankfurt race appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

The Orage bike wipes from UNPASS cleaners are made in France and are multi-purpose with the label indicating they are suitable for almost any material (vinyl, leather, metals, carbon fibre and more). I tested them on a clear coated titanium bike, a carbon fibre bike and parts of a car.

The Clean

For my test, the bikes were not filthy, just the usual road grim and accumulation of grease around the chain and parts. One towel is enough for an easy clean of the whole bike and the instructions suggest starting in the clean areas before moving to the dirtier areas, The moist towel is a good cleaner as long as it stays moist and a micro-fiber cleaning towel is an optional accessory that I recommend as it provides a much better finish. If you need a deeper clean and are tackling the chain as well, you will need a second bike wipe.

Regular dirt and grime comes off at ease with the wipe, anything oily or greasy may need a little more attention but generally dislodges. The moment that the wipe gathers dirt and oil, you need to take care as this can smear. The microfibre towel should be used before the surface dries to provide a final buff clean. On the frame, using the microfibre did provide a better end-result (than without), especially on the carbon fibre frame and it will give you a showroom finish.

The matt carbon fibre frame needed a little more work and polishing with the microfibre towel than the titanium frame. As the titanium was smoother, grime was easier to remove and clean with the cloth for a top finish.

For parts of the frame that have discolouration (from sweat, drinks or neglect), surface stains can be lifted though deep-seated stains are harder to remove. The wipes work reasonable well on greasy parts like the chain, chain rings and cassette. I think a separate degreaser and clean for these parts first will provide better end-results, but the wipe does fairly well. If the wipes get greasy, this will transfer to your hands so you either have to wear gloves or grab another towel.

I also wanted to test the cleaning wipes on a car and a fresh towel quickly picked up surface dirt. The areas of the car close to the road that attract tough grime are harder to clean and pre-soaking and washing will help. Grease and grim on the wheels clean off well though it streaks so a lot of wipes would be needed. It is smarter to do a soapy wash and clean and use these wipes for detailing.

The Results

Overall I was happy with these and found my mindset was shifting. For a big clean I would still use a bucket aof soapy water first and a degreaser on the chain, but to finish off or quick cleans, the bike wipes are convenient and provide a good result combined with the microfibre cloth. If you are selling a bike, the wipes and polishing cloth will help you present the bike well.

Wipes something I usually just think of for travel however the tub is simply too large to be a perfect travel-mate. It is really a garage or workshop item. UNPASS don’t have compact alternatives, though it would be easy to put a few towels into a ziplock bag for travel.

The packaging is a fiddly, it lacks a dispenser (like baby wipes) so you can’t simply remove one towel. You may have try to pull out the roll and find the edge. Be warned, at the bottom of the tub there the cleaning liquid which will spill of the tub is tipped over too far. If your hands are greasy and you reach for another towel, it will rub-off onto the other towels. Not a deal-breaker, but can be improved.

The website suggests that the wipes are eco-friendly, “Our wipes are eco-friendly, containing no silicone oil, being non-flammable, having low V.O.C content, and free from endocrine disruptors.” I couldn’t determine the specific ‘ingredients’, though it has a peach fragrance and not a chemical smell. The director of UNPASS Australia, Jonathan Mecque says that the chemical compounds are environmentally friendly, though dirt and particles that it picks up when cleaning may be contaminated so the used wipes should be disposed of carefully…. this means they go into the general waste bin.

They are ‘made in France’ and the strict European Union laws are a reliable indicator of high quality and clean production alkthough part of the eco value disappears in the transport Down Under. To be fair, local production can struggle to be cost effective and the ‘bulk’ container format of the Unpass Orage wipes is a suitable for long-term cleaning and detailing solution.

Short of a comparison test against other brands, my subjective test confirmed that the wipes were effective and convenient for cleaning, indeed much better than a hose and sponge. It was a pleasant surprise using the microfibre towel (while the surface was still moist) and see how much of an improvement it made to the finish.

The Orage wipes from UNPASS are available for purchase online.
https://unpass.com.au/products/orage

The post Review: Unpass ‘eco’ Orage bike cleaning wipes appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

The city of Adelaide is the hub and Victoria Square is the epicentre of The Tour Village. Riders and staff stay in the Hilton and nearby hotels. Each day the team mini-buses and an entourage of cars and motorbikes depart to the race start and return afterwards. The fixed geographic centre brings a number of benefits and many of the administration and spectator facilities are centralised.

Team Zone

One of the biggest highlights for cycling fans is the Team Zone; team workshops with public viewing. After each stage when the racing teams return to the city, most of the riders pass through the Team Zone tent while the mechanics clean and tune all of the bikes. Some riders will skip through and some will interact with fans. The mechanics have a tough job working under the glare of the inquisitive public (and not forgetting they have long days working during and after the race).

For Tech-focused cycling media, the cameras, phones and recording gear are on the ready in the Team Zone.

Bike Expo and Public Viewing

Next door to the Team Zone, the Bike Expo is a collection of indoor and outdoor exhibitors with bikes, gear and tech on display. In the absence of major bike expos in Australia, the Tour Down Under is, by default, the biggest event opportunity for cycling brands to reach their customers.

Space for exhibitors is limited though the convenient opening hours mean that spectators can go to the race and return to the city with plenty of time to visit the expo. Tyres, helmets, sunnies, parts and accessories with TDU discounts are popular sale items. Alongside the expo is a public viewing area. Many of the fans will ride or drive out for road-side viewing, though a handful will follow on the big screens. This area however is popular for special events such as panel discussions or Team presentations which draw larger audiences.

The Tour Experience

Many of the spectators are lycra-ready and the of the Tour Down Under Experience involves cycling, riding out each day and finding a spot to watch the race pass. Tour operators provide supported rides and VIP packages with conveniences such as wine tasting and tourist activities across the different South Australian wine regions.

The Tour Down Under offers a real highlight for spectators who are on bike when the stage finish is within close riding distance to the city. The pro-riders will often choose to ride back to the hotel and mix with the regular riders. You can easily share a word or two with Julian Alaphilippe or Simon Yates as you roll back into town.

As the entire Tour Down Under is tied to Adelaide and the stages all need to be within reasonable travel distance, most locations and stages for the racing are familiar, even when the race organisers try to inject variation into the route planning.

Celebrating the Tour is an annual affair for many of the towns and good business when the tourist descend.

Other rides and events

Accompanying the Festival of Cycling are a series of official and unofficial events. The Down Under Classic criterium is an evening event and precursor to the main race. RADL GRVL is new gravel ride event that is hosted alongside the Tour Down Under by pro rider Tiffany Cromwell and F1 driver Valtteri Bottas. It attracted so much interest that a number of the media publications and photographers chose to ride or attend the gravel event over some of the stages in the men’s tour down under.

On a daily basis, various cycling clubs, groups and brands have training rides and rides to and from the stage. The bulk of these are not not formally associated with the race, nor are the pop-up events or brand hosted events around the city.

Behind the scenes are cycling industry events, Bicycle Industries Australia hosted a series of panels and workshops for its members (Australian cycling trade) and experts including sustainability forums that revealed how organisations, brands and shops are approaching and making headway on environmental practices.

This melting pot of riders, their teams, ex-pros, brands, traders and media ensures the entire event is an important affair behind the scenes, with a race that runs in parallel. But the men’s and women’s races make international cycling news. For the women’s race in 2024, Australian Sarah Gigante of team AG Insurance – Soudal took the leader’s jersey on the third and final stage. For the men’s it was a tighter, though Australian (ex-track cyclist) Sam Welsford held the first stage win, Mexican team UAE rider Isaac del Toro Romero gain the overall lead until the final two stages when Welshman Stephen Williams of team Israel-Premier Tech secured the lead and overall race victory.

The post 2024 Tour Down Under – Beyond the Race appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

The 144km opening stage featured three laps through the Barossa Vally in South Australia, starting and finishing in Tanunda. Throws of cyclists ventured 75km from Adelaide city as official temperatures soared to 32ºC and joined fans in the towns and hills to cheer on 139 starters. Only the French Arkea-B&B Hotels rider Louis Barre and German Intermarché-Wanty rider were allowed to break away and lead the peloton into the first loop before being pulled back. A few minor tumbles aside, the well behaved peloton focussed on the finish which saw Sam Welsford in front of Phil Bauhaus and Biniam Girmay across the line. Sprint Favourite Caleb Ewan of Team Jayco-Alula came through in ninth.

The post 2024 Tour Down Under success for Sam Welsford appeared first on Bicycles Network Australia.

The problem with poor lenses is that your eyes and brain do a good job of correcting these flaws. Distortion in the lenses and inconsistent magnification can be virtually invisible to the naked eye, unless you are looking for them. When wearing bad sunnies, it is a matter of time before I start getting a headache and notice my eyes are fatigued. I started doing a few quick tests when handed a pair of sunnies and could usually tell the good from the bad.

Lens quality is a fundamental requirement, the other questions I need to ask regarding the lens type, the fit and the look have a lot to do with preference so will differ from person to person.

For the pros, the team supplier for sunglasses usually have a variety of styles available. Most riders in the World Tour wear the super large, single lens style sunnies. These look good, they match the current ideal of a ‘pro look’, but there are also a few practical benefits for these sunnies. Smaller format glasses reduce the peripheral field of view. Glancing your eyes down at the data on the bike computer is easier than tilting your head every time. The big lenses often provide better protection from wind and make it harder for wind to slip through and tickle your eyes.

Style aside, choose a lens suitable for your riding conditions and make sure they fit comfortably. Let’s look at the Scicon Aeroshade and Aerowings

Aeroshade Kunken Monogram

The printed logo is an eye catcher and is completely see-through. I thought the branding opportunities were really interesting when this was released and assumed other brands would have quickly followed suit, though this has not yet been the case.

The angular design gives me 80’s throwback vibes but is still a modern design. The air gaps at the top of the lenses are smart and work well to help prevent fogging. On the left and right sides there are also vents, I can’t really say they have a purpose but they don’t distract either. The arms are sleek and initially feel comfortable – but as a full-plastic piece (with rubber on the ends) they can’t be bent or adjusted – I would prefer a looser fit.

I like the look, however the fit was a problem for me, the nose piece just doesn’t fit. Even though the nose piece is adjustable, my nose and face didn’t give me a suitable fit until I entirely removed the rubber nose piece. I could then comfortably wear them and the Scicon Kunkens have been an easy ‘goto’ sunglasses for all conditions.

Worn with a helmet they fit my face well and there is a good gap between the glasses and my Kask helmet. The photochromatic lens works very well and adjusts seamlessly for riding in bright and dark conditions.

Aerowing Lamon

The design of the Aerowing Lamon’s are a contrast, the curvy style and an extremely wide cutaway around the nose is hard to miss. Many of the traits of these are similar to the Kunken’s such as the lens coverage, the arms and anti-fogging. It is a single lens though the construction connects the nose piece with the bridge of the frame.

The fit around the nose is notably wider than the Kunkens so was a better fit though the Scicon models appear to be better suited to people with narrower noses. The nose piece allows for some adjustments, but it felt like it was just not enough. The Scicon Aerotech sunnies I have reviewed previously provided the most natural fit.

Styling is a personal preference and in my case, I liked the gold foil colour but never warmed up to the massive cutaway around the nose.

Aeroshade Kunken, Aerowing Lamon or the Aerowatt?

If Kunken or Lamon are not quite perfect, do I have to try the aerowatt? In terms of the design it appears to be complex. I am confident the lens quality is good and there are a good range of lens options. Even though they check some of the boxes, ultimately it comes down to trying them on to see if they fit well and give me that winning look.

See Scicon eyewear at asgthestore

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