The Australian Cyclocross Mission
While most cyclocross riders only started their season in October, many riders in Australia are already riding through the mud in April. During last Australian Winter, Sophie Sutton set a determining result. At the end of the season, she crowned herself as the national champion by winning the U23 nationals. Her result convinced the national federation to select her to represent Australia abroad. An honour that she accepted with both hands. The 19 years old rider from the Gold Coast will have her first European campaign this Winter. An adventure where she both wants to have an impact on & off the bike.
She discovered the bike at the age of eight. He father was a volunteering at the local mountainbike events, and little Sophie was joining him. This happening sparked interest by her and made her ask him : Can I have a go and race too? It was the start of a journey that brought her so many new friendships and beautiful memories.
In 2018, she also discovered the local Australian cyclocross scene. The pumping music, the cheerful spectators and the courses itself attracted her to the sport. In Australia, the cyclocross season runs from April to August with the national championships as highlight. This year, she would also like to compete in the European Winter season. She will take part at the Worlds in Czechia and aims to test herself at a few World Cups in the weeks before.
Her participation is more then just racing itself. Encouraging others and make the sport as inclusive as possible are also very important to her. Her personal idol is Anna Maeres, an Australian track cyclist that is known for her will power. The way that she was inspired by her, she also wants to inspire others that anything is possible.
As every young cyclist, from Down Under, the sport and getting to races is unfortunatly also practically callenging to her. Especially in an Euro centred sport like cyclocross and without Olympic status, it's very hard for Australian cyclists to receive financial support by the national federation and it's hard to organise training and race support as a solo rider. The same situation applies to Sophie. Her friend Justin set up a fundraising to bring her the necessary finally support to be able to live her cyclocross dream and shine at the World stage.
Personally, she hopes that her Worlds participation can keep opening new opportunities for her in the sport that she loves to do. As a second year U23 rider, she hopes to wear the Australian colours in the coming years as well and to represent the green & yellow at home and abroad. Apart from just the sportive aspect, Sophie Sutton is in the first place a young motivated girl that wants to improve herself both on & off the bike, that wants to develop mental strenght and feel self wellbeing, as an athlete as a human. Let the coming Worlds be the start of an incredible life journey.
You can support Sophie's dream through this funding :
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