Australian summer racing is never gentle. It’s hot, fast, chaotic, and unforgiving. Exactly what is needed for an elite U/19 cycling team. For ARA Skip Capital, this block of racing, from Road Nationals through to ProVelo SA Kick It, isn’t about easing into a season. It’s about pressure. Learning how to race across disciplines, recover quickly, make decisions under fatigue, and show up again the next day when it’s even worse.

This is where development becomes visible.

A Road Nationals to remember

Road Nationals always carry weight. Jerseys are on the line, expectations are high, and the racing rarely unfolds as planned. Once again, ARA Skip Capital’s U19 women set the benchmark, sweeping the National Championship jerseys and reinforcing the depth that has become a hallmark of the program.

Neve Parslow led the charge, taking the U19 road race title and backing it up with an extraordinary Nationals campaign that included two gold medals, one silver medal, and two national jerseys. Around her, the strength of the group was undeniable. Coco Bowen finished second in the road race, with Lucy Allen, Elsie Apps, Megan Moore, Annie Kleywegt, and Sienna Monteith all featuring strongly inside the top twenty.

In the criterium, Elsie Apps claimed the National Championship title with a perfectly timed sprint, while Neve Parslow added another medal with second place. The result wasn’t just a win, it was a demonstration of race craft and composure under pressure.
The U19 men faced a blisteringly fast criterium, where Lucas Soegaard finished just off the podium in fourth, with Billy close behind in sixth. Tight margins, high speed, and lessons learned the hard way.

A baptism of fire at ProVelo SA Kick It

If Road Nationals are about taking opportunities, ProVelo SA Kick It is about getting thrown in the deep end.

Extreme heat, stacked senior fields, and relentless racing. From time trials to sprint finishes and aggressive breakaways, the team was tested across every discipline.

Neve Parslow once again delivered, taking the U19 leader’s jersey, winning the U19 category outright, and finishing an impressive 15th on general classification while leading the overall U19 league standings. Ava Robbins produced a standout weekend, winning the PSL17s time trial, claiming the criterium victory in a nail-biting sprint, and emerging as the GC leader after stage one.

Elsie Apps recorded a top ten finish on stage two, Porter White placed 13th in the road race, and Harry Shannon delivered a strong U19 performance, finishing seventh just fourteen seconds off the win. Across the board, the team showed clear communication, resilience, and an ability to push through uncomfortable conditions.

What Comes Next

The summer doesn’t stop here.

Following SA Kick It, the team rolls into a full ProVelo Super League campaign. The Melbourne to Warny has just been postponed due to the devastating fires in Victoria, so that is currently up in the air. Regardless, it will then be onto the Tour of Tasmania, Harbour City GP, Grafton to Inverell, and Q Tour back here in our home town of Brisbane. From there, it’s three months of racing in Europe, where the pace is higher, the margins tighter, and the lessons sharper. This is how riders learn what it actually takes.

A bright future

This summer of cycling isn’t about celebrating outcomes. It’s about recognising the work that shapes them. We are so devoted to our Future Project, and being able to be part of the development of these incredible young athletes. Bring on the rest of 2026.