Nat Bromhead
Australian elite road racing is set to enter a new era with the introduction of the all-new ProVelo Super League in early 2025.
Organisers say a major focus of the domestic road series will be ‘broadcast innovation, fan-friendly locations and a compact calendar of new and iconic events’.
The new race series has been financially backed by none other than Gerry Ryan of Jayco / GreenEdge fame, and the founders are Matt Wilson and Aaron Flanagan. BA columnist Lee ‘Hollywood’ Turner has interviewed Wilson with his exclusive insights into the League featuring in the July/ August edition of Bicycling Australia.
With just over 6-months until launch, organisers say planning for the fresh race series will accelerate over coming months. At this stage the details we know are –
- An early 2025 launch
- A compact 10 to 12 week calendar
- Five tours and two classic one-day races
- Races spread around Australian states
- A minimum of 25 teams in the first season
The co-founders Matt Wilson and Aaron Flanagan said the league would combine the tradition of iconic road races such as the Melbourne to Warrnambool and Grafton to Inverell while establishing new events in major cities.
They both paid tribute to major backer Gerry Ryan, saying the support of Australia’s greatest cycling benefactor had been crucial.
“The ProVelo Super League aims to provide a compact and exciting road racing product that will not only capture the attention of fans but provide a critical pathway for young cyclists in this country,” Wilson said.
“The close collaboration between the PSL and AusCycling via a partnership agreement ensures that the objectives between the PSL and the sport’s governing body are aligned.
“Thanks to Gerry Ryan, whose contribution to Australian cycling over the past 30 years has been immense, his ongoing commitment to sport now solidifies this pathway and ensures the next generation of emerging young road cyclists have the opportunity to discover the sport and develop on home soil.”
Flanagan said the new league was designed to drive both fandom and the injection of new funds through private investment.
“The primary driver of the ProVelo Super League business model is to unlock the value of private equity to invest in key strategic pillars that can support the future of elite road cycling in Australia and stimulate growth,” he said.
“Investing in the delivery of events to optimise the potential for spectator engagement and scheduling that works with live broadcast audiences are critical levers to growing commercial value. It further enables us to invest in a fresh approach to broadcasting the sport whilst supporting events and teams through our content strategy and investments in marketing.”
Backed By AusCycling
Australia’s peak riding and cycling body, AusCycling, has backed the new league and will sanction events and provide support through appointment of officials, alignment within the calendars, PSL Stakeholder Group representation and more.
“We look forward to working with the PSL to ensure a vibrant and sustainable competition that both showcases the sport and provides support for the developmental pathways of our riders,” AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said.
“We’re confident this competition will respect the long heritage of the National Road Series, which nurtured world-class talents such as Richie Porte, Jay Vine, Grace Brown, Chris Harper and many more.”
For more on the new race series read Lee ‘Hollywood’ Turner’s Bang BANG column in the next edition of Bicycling Australia.
