Courtney Sherwell has a formidable checklist of gravel victories in Australia, with a Soiled Warrny win in 2022, victory on the UCI Gravel World Collection in Beechworth, Gravelista, in 2023 and this 12 months a win on the new Uncorked Gravel race, however now its time to department out into the hub of the worldwide gravel racing scene, america.
The 35-year-old rider from Bendigo is about to tackle her first race of the Belgian Waffle Journey’s Tripel Crown, a part of the rising stream of Australians abroad to up the ante by taking over a brand new group of races and rivals that embody these recognised among the many world’s greatest within the self-discipline.
“They’re main the way in which with gravel occasions within the U.S., and it was simply one thing that, as a result of I really like gravel a lot and it fits me, I wished to expertise,” Sherwell instructed Cyclingnews after a house gravel race, Sutton Grange Vineyard -Uncorked, close to Bendigo final month which she received.
“There’s a lot participation within the US, and even simply the spectators there as properly so, I feel it would be actually good to get the vibe and expertise … and hopefully additionally get some good outcomes too.”
Sherwell, is amongst a bunch of Australians lining up on Saturday March 2 on the first BWR of the Tripel Crown in Arizona. Additionally venturing over to the occasion are the nation’s gravel champion Connor Sens in addition to Gravelista and Seven podium placer Cassia Boglio. It’s clear that because the lure of gravel racing is rising in Australia, so is the lure to the highest gamers of testing themselves on a bigger stage.
The LifeTime GrandPrix collection has been a pathway for some, with the likes of Brendan Johnston, Tasman Nankervis and Ella Bloor having collaborating final 12 months whereas Johnston, Peta Mullens and the Australian-based rider from New Zealand Samara Sheppard made it into the collection in 2024. Although, the mix of it being troublesome to get a spot, and in addition requiring an extended – to not point out costly – interval away nevertheless have meant that a variety of riders from the nation have adopted a distinct route, Sherwell included.
“So, I did apply for the Lifetime Grand Prix and I did wish to be accepted, however sadly I wasn’t. However that is kind of reshuffled my focus a bit bit,” mentioned Sherwell who on reflection was comfortable to go for the shorter stint required from the dedication to the Tripel Crown. BWR Utah will probably be held in Cedar Metropolis on April 6, and BWR California will full the set on April 28, with the highest professional women and men sharing equally from the minimal prize purse set at $30,000.
On prime of the Tripel Crown, Sherwell additionally plans to trip the True Grit Gravel Epic in Utah and Sea Otter Gravel in California earlier than returning to Australia on the finish of April. Although that actually is not the extent of the worldwide ambitions for the rider, who can be at dwelling on the street and mountain bike, because it appears she has gone all in on gravel.
The outcomes rapidly began flowing for the rider as soon as she ventured into the self-discipline, as even in these races she did not win, Sherwell has been remarkably constant in her capability to ship close to the highest of the outcomes sheet. On prime of profitable the 2022 opening version of the 246km Soiled Warrny she additionally got here second in 2023 – demonstrating a dependable capability to excel because the distances stretch which is an element that can seemingly maintain her in good stead within the US.
Sherwell additionally has proved herself repeatedly within the UCI Gravel World Collection, taking to the rostrum in any respect three of the Australian occasions within the collection she competed in. These World Collection rounds act as qualifiers for the UCI Gravel World Championships, to be held in Belgium this 12 months, and the Victorian who claimed victory at the primary 2024 qualifier in Beechworth hopes to be representing Australia within the elite class on the rainbow jersey race in October.
Then, all going properly, the gravel journey ought to proceed into 2025, with Sherwell hoping to return to america as soon as once more and check out an entire new set of occasions. The plan is to tackle among the key races that she had beforehand been eyeing off when she lodged her Life Time Grand Prix software, however with the good thing about the flexibleness to select and select which of them.
“I want to do among the races inside the collection, so Unbound and probably Leadville and Large Sugar appears to be like like a whole lot of enjoyable as properly,” mentioned Sherwell. “So perhaps it will likely be a matter of going into the lottery and hopefully doing these subsequent 12 months – specializing in a distinct kind of race plan.”
One, that’s certain to maintain the journey alive and hopefully additionally the outcomes rolling.
