Fostering the Next Generation

ARA | Skip Capital

By Black Sheep Cycling

December 29^th, 2022

This article is written by Brie Thomas, Key Partnerships Manager, Black Sheep Cycling.

The Australian Cycling Academy (ACA) is an elite cycling and education program located at the University of Sunshine Coast. Established in 2018 by former pro riders Ben Kersten and Matt Wilson, ACA includes ARA | Skip Capital, a UCI Continental Professional cycling team and, as of 2023, a UCI Women's Continental Professional team.

UCI Continental sits just below Pro Tour and Pro Continental, the teams that go to the biggest races in the world, including all Grand Tours.

For those new to the game, a UCI Continental Team or UCI Women’s Continental Team sits just below Pro Tour and Pro Continental, the teams that go to the biggest races in the world, including all Grand Tours. Digging a little deeper...

UCI Continental or UCI Women's Continental teams may consist of riders who are either professional or amateur and who may compete in the elite or under-23 categories.
UCI Continental teams must have at least 10 riders, while UCI Women's Continental teams must have at least 8 riders. Both categories have a maximum of 16 riders.
UCI Continental teams are allowed to add up to four riders who specialize in other endurance cycling disciplines, such as cyclo-cross, mountain biking (cross country), and track events (points race, scratch, pursuit, omnium), as long as these riders are ranked within the top 150 of the latest UCI individual classification.

With plans to head to Europe again in 2023, we can't wait to follow the teams' journey across the world, creating further opportunities for riders to gain selection onto European, US and Pro teams.

ACA continue to foster the next generation by being dedicated ‘creating a better future for Australian cyclists, on and off the bike’ which aligns with our own initiative, Future Project.

2023 Roster.

In 2022 the team has seen four of their riders graduate to the next stage of their careers, indicating the huge potential this team has in developing the next generation of Australian cyclists.

Mauve Plouffe now riding for Team DSM on a 2 year contract
Anya Louw now riding for NXTG on a 2 year contract
Cameron Scott now riding for Bahrain Victorious on a 2 year contract
Dani De Francesco now riding for ZAAF

Next year we will see many of the 2022 team return, however a few new young faces will be joining the roster.

Hamish McKenzie and Isabelle Carnes extend their contracts and were crowned AusCycling Junior Road Cyclists of the Year for 2022.
Bronte Stewart, Lauren Bates, Alex Eaves, Noah Blannin and Will Holmes are joining the team. All U19 riders with huge potential on and off the bike.

2023 Race Schedule.

Key races and plan for ARA Skip Capital in 2023.

January

1st - Bay Crits, Melbourne
6th -10th - Australian Road Championships, Ballarat
11th- 15th - Men at New Zealand Cycle Classic, Wellington
13th - 22nd - Women at Tour Down Under, Adelaide
27th-29th - Women at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Victoria

February

4th-5th - Melbourne to Warrnambool, Victoria

March

15th-19th - Australian Track Nationals, Brisbane

April

1st-2nd - Tour de Brisbane (Oceania Championships), Brisbane
29th - Grafton to Inverell, New South Wales
Team depart to Europe and race overseas during May and June

July

Team return from Europe
28th-30th - Tour of the Tropics, Queensland
29th-30th - Noosa Enduro, Queensland

August

24th -27th - Tour of Gippsland, Victoria
29th - 3rd Sept - Tour of the Great South Coast, Victoria/ South Australia

September

21st-24th - National Junior Road Championships, Victoria

October

13th- 15th - Battle of the Border, Northern New South Wales
19th- 22nd - Cycle Sunshine Coast, Queensland

November

8th- 12th - Tour of Tasmania, Tasmania

Other - UCI Pro Continental Invitational Races

Tour de Taiwan, Taipei
Tour of Hainan, China
Tour of Thailand, Thailand
Le Tour de Langkawi, Malaysia
Tour of Taihu Lake, China
Tour of Singkarak, Indonesia
Tour de Hokkaido, Japan
Tour de Xingtai, China
Tour of Xingtai, China
Tour of Qinghai Lake, China
Tour of Utah, USA
Tour of Japan, Japan

2023 Sponsors.

As the offical apparel partner, we now head into our third year kitting out the team and it's a privilege to work alongside the ACA program and a team who are paving the way for the next generation of Australian cyclists. We have taken on immense feedback from the riders to curate a team kit that is functional and stands out in the peloton. Find out more about the 2023 team kit here.

2023 Principal Partners

ARA Group | Skip Capital | Sunshine Coast Council | University of the Sunshine Coast | Australian Cycling Academy

2023 Official Partners

2023 Official Suppliers

Peak into the Future.

Throughout the month of January, we celebrate the future of cycling. The riders and teams that are the future of our sport. The young women and men that drive for excellence in the peloton, and drive brands like us to pick up our game and keep innovating. From National Championships to the World Tour, it’s a month that defines what is truly important in our sport. It’s the most important time of year for Black Sheep.