In February 2023, Randwick Cycling awarded grants to both Brayden Bloch and Hugh Harvey to further develop their cycling careers in Europe. These once-off grants follow on from the support that the club provided to Kaide Morrissey in 2022 to participate in the Team NovoNordisk Talent ID Camp in Florence, Italy; and Antoine Gizardin-Pradeau, who was supported to race in Belgium and France in 2018 and 2019.
Brayden writes:
If you don’t know me, I’m Brayden Bloch. I'm a 19 year-old who has been cycling with Randwick Cycling since I was a kid. I went through the Heffron Park Junior Cycling Academy training program that Andrew Logan ran on a Saturday afternoon when I was younger. It was a great way for me to learn and start racing.
I’ve been racing on Saturdays ever since. I went from Heffron racing to doing Junior state-wide racing on to Nationals over the years to where I am today.
“This year I have decided to take my cycling to the next level, so I have moved to Girona, in Spain and I’m currently racing on a Spanish team called Equipo Oleka. ”
The team is a great team to be a part of because everyone is super friendly and has great atmosphere to be part of on and off the bike. This year, one of the team’s objectives is to support and develop U23 riders which means I get a lot of race days and the older riders are willing to teach me how to race in Europe. Being in Girona also gives me opportunities to train and spend time with many world tour riders as well.
My first race was Vuelta Guadalentin which was a three-stage race, and it was great tour to start off my racing here in Spain. Last weekend I raced Trofeo LoLo Sanroma which was a two-stage race. This had several of the best Spanish teams which use the race to test their riders for the upcoming Spanish cup events. The first stage was 123km; I raced well trying to get away in the last couple kilometres, but the pace was too high so just finished in the bunch. The second stage was 166km, there was 20-km section of super narrow roads with mostly dirt and rocks. The hardest part was that every corner of that section we were doing 800-1000 watts out of them. At the end of that road, we got to the bottom of the KOM (7km at 6.8%) when I made a select group of 20 riders over the top of the climb. We then rode hard all the way to finish with only a few riders that were able to get back on after the KOM. I finished 8th on the stage and 3rd U23 so I was super happy with this result.
“If all goes well next year, I will make my way up the ladder into a bigger team and return to Europe. Thanks to Randwick for all their support in the past and currently giving me!
”
Hugh, aged 18, last week signed with Gepla-Watersley R+D Road Team, one of the leading amateur U19 development teams in Europe with a proven track record of developing fantastic riders on and off the bike.
Hugh arrived at the awesome Watersley Sports & Talentpark facility, located just outside of Sittard in The Netherlands, where they provide everything that a young sportsperson needs to develop and grow as an athlete and individual.
Whilst his racing program is not yet finalised, he expects to be busy. His first race is Omloop van Schijndel on March 5. Hugh shared that he’s looking at being one of the sprinters in the team, that are pictured above, second from right.
He plans to be overseas until October and is using this experience to develop his skills and experience as a bike racer.
We wish both Brayden and Hugh the very best over the coming European summer and look forward to hearing news of their progress.