The elite women’s cycling team known as Sydney Uni – Staminade will disband following its subsequent International and National successes from its high-performance cyclists.
Originally a joint venture between Sydney University Sport and Fitness (SUSF) and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS), the Sydney Uni – Staminade Women’s Cycling Team first competed under the exclusive ownership of SUSF in 2018. Initially managed by David Jordan, Tegan Cox and Nate Bonarius, it was an elite squad initiative, kindly sponsored by Staminade and Sydney University Velo Club, to foster women’s cycling with the goal of bringing on a national coach to train them. The NRS (National Road Series) squad created a development pathway for high-performance female cyclists coming from the University of Sydney and Sydney University Velo Club to compete at a national semi-professional level.
Over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022, the squad has had multiple wins in the National Road Series, two national titles, and multiple medals at the national championships across different disciplines including road, track, and gravel. The squad has had two Zwift Academy winners, riders representing Australia in national teams, and four riders progress to World Tour contracts and many local wins in the Sydney race scene. Sydney Uni Staminade’ own Alyssa Polites competed at Commonwealth Games in Birmingham earlier in the year, placing 18th in the Women’s Scratch Race.
When the squad was created, its primary objective lay with fostering Sydney Uni students with the backing of SUSF’s Elite Athlete Program. The initiative has seen many riders achieve excellence not just in cycling, but in their studies and professional careers too. SUSF and Sydney University Velo Club congratulate its former cyclist’s progress with some of them joining the Continental or World Tour level teams next year. As natural progressions go, the squad achieved its goal of bringing many female elite cyclists to the international stage.
Ed Smith, CEO of SUSF said,
‘Sydney Uni – Staminade has been a great partner throughout the life of this program, and it is nice to see the program finish on such a high. It has achieved what we set out to do for the University of Sydney students – that is to provide a pathway that has enabled our students to become the best they can be in their chosen field of women’s elite cycling in Australia.’
SUSF extends its sincere gratitude to all who led the administration and operation of Sydney Uni – Staminade over the last five years, particularly David Jordan, Nathan Bonarius and Tegan Cox. We also kindly thank team staff, including Donna Rae-Szalinski and Vicki Whitelaw who have been critical to the performance and development of the riders, as well as Staminade and Sydney University Velo Club for their generous sponsorship of the team throughout. Lastly, thank you to all the wonderful riders who have each contributed terrifically to the success of the team and the joint objectives set out by all parties involved.
