NSWIS cycling team ready for North American tour

The Subaru NSWIS & MS Development cycling team will this week embark on their first ever international tour, taking on a seven week schedule in the USA and Canada with hope of raising the experience and exposure of riders. 

Since the inception of this NSWIS supporting cycling team, which is aimed at providing opportunities and expanding options for up-and-coming cyclists, there have already been two standout students in the form of Caleb Ewan and Rachel Neylan. While the former is now a grand tour stage winner, the latter last week pieced together a thrilling win in the Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan. 

With the Australian season entering a quiet period throughout June and July before the National Road Series (NRS) fires back into life in August, team manager Ben Kersten said that this North American tour is a big step forward for NSWIS, and that the riders will all go with clear objectives.

“This is the first time we have done an overseas tour and it is a big thing for the NSW Institute of Sport,” Kersten said.  

“This really shows that NSWIS is taking a significant step forward and with the break in the Australian season it was in the best interests of the riders to do this. All the riders have results-based KPIs, they will all get a lot of experience and hopefully some interests from larger teams.” 

While performing well for NSWIS is one goal, it is showcasing the riders to larger teams is also a key component of the trip. Kersten highlighted the importance of this tour for experience, but also for what the younger riders will learn off captain Jacob Kauffmann. 

“Our aim is to develop our riders and move them on to better teams inline with their development, but it can be hard to do that if their CV only has domestic racing on it,” he said. 

“This trip will have a really high standard of racing, and we will also be taking part in two UCI races which will have some pro-tour riders in it, longer distances than what the team are used to at home and lots of climbing. 

“Jake Kauffmann will captain this team, and after racing for continental teams Garneau-Québecor and Team Budget Forklifts the past two few seasons he will provide plenty of experience and help direct the other riders.”  

Packed into the seven-week trip are a number of races including the ‘Tulsa Tough’, the five-stage ‘North Star Grand Prix’ in Minnesota and also the ‘Tour of America’s Dairyland’, which is a two-week criterium series in Milwaukee. 

However the key races will come at the ‘White Spot/Delta Road Race’ in Canada, which is part of British Columbia’s ‘Superweek’, the Tour de Delta event also being one of two UCI points races the team will contest. The other UCI event will be Oregon’s ‘Cascade Classic’, a gruelling five-stage event. 

The Subaru NSWIS & MS Development cycling team begin racing this Friday, June 10 at the Tulsa Tough.  

Cyclists on tour: Jacob Kaufmann (captain), Nathan Bradshaw, Ayden Toovey, Jackson Law, Scott Law and Liam Magennis.