Mullens, the reigning Australian cross-country marathon champion and the 2015 road race champion, will join Roxsolt’s five development riders from Australia and New Zealand for the UCI 2.2 Tour De Feminin and UCI 2.2 BeNe Tour in Europe for a seven-day racing block this July.
The versatile 28-year-old, who raced with Wiggle Honda in 2014 and 2015, will first compete at the cross-country and marathon mountain bike world championships.
Mullens will then join Roxsolt Ladies team members Georgia Catterick (Under 23 Oceania time trial champion), Ruby Livingstone, Ella Scanlan-Bloor, Abby Sneddon and Josephine Meldgaard in the Czech Republic.
The July race block marks the debut of the Roxsolt team racing in Europe and will be the team’s third and fourth UCI races of the 2016 season.
“For 2016 our focus was to be able to race four UCI races,” said team owner and manager, Kelvin Rundle.
“Of course, nearly every rider dreams of racing in Europe. Our initial plan was for 2016 to focus on UCI races in Asia and perhaps the USA and to look to Europe for 2017. Gaining an invite this year was unexpected but the team is all about taking every opportunity.”
The announcement follows the recent success of the team at the Canberra Women's Tour last weekend where Sneddon won Stage 3 after working in a breakaway from 10 kilometres into the 51 kilometre stage.
The team will use the block as an introduction to the European peloton and the leadership and experience of Mullens will be invaluable.
The European racing block comes during the winter break of the Subaru National Road Series. The races are designed as part of the Roxsolt program as a development opportunity for Australian and New Zealand female riders who are wanting to progress to racing as part of a UCI Elite Women’s Team.
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No MTB compromise for Peta Mullens
Due to poor levels of funding for mountain biking in Australia, Mullens is self-funding her international mountain bike racing. Contributions to her expenses can be made via a page the athlete set up in order to compete with the two world championship teams she has been selected to compete with.
The Roxsolt Ladies riders are self-funding their international race expenses. Contributions can be made via the Roxsolt .
