From unknown to hot property
Portland-based cyclist Tim Cutler (CCS Cycling) came into the Melbourne to Warrnambool without much profile, no team, and off a bout of glandular fever, but the 26-year-old surprised everyone with the strength of his ride within the main break of the day, a 180-kilometre effort after the riders escaped at the 70 kilometre mark.
Cutler was the second to last caught from the move, with only the highly credentialled Cyrus Monk (CycleHouse) attacking late to slightly distance Cutler before both were caught by the peloton. Monk later said in a social media post that Cutler was pulling the hardest turns in the breakaway, impressive from a rider that wasn't on many people's radar and had a heavily disrupted preparation.
"I missed nationals and the Tour Down Under with glandular fever," said Cutler. "I actually didn't start training for the Warrny until five weeks ago. I had to work pretty hard coming back from essentially nothing, 22 hour weeks."
His role in the race was initially to get in the early move to help out team leader Ben Hill if an attack midway during the race was to make its way over to the breakaway, but it quickly became clear that the breakaway had been given enough leash to almost make it all the way to the finish.
"I really thought we had a chance of going all the way there,' said Cutler, "especially with the tailwind, turned out to not quite be enough legs in the move or not enough tailwind!"
The 26-year-old didn't actually start racing until he was 23, getting into the sport not through friends or family who race, but through watching the Tour de France on SBS and getting the itch to ride.
"I was up late watching the Tour de France and got hooked," said Cutler. "I started riding a mountain bike during the day and eventually got a road bike.
"I didn't do any races until I was 23, I missed out on juniors and under-23s. I pinned a number on at a local race, went ok, and haven't stopped since."
Cutler also rides regularly on Australian Zwift racing team AERO, that being his entry into the CCS Cycling team, with whom he was guest riding during the Warrny after being vouched for by fellow AERO teammate and CCS Cycling rider Ben Hill.
"Zwift is a big part of my training as I'm so far away from quality racing," said Cutler. "I've been doing a lot on the AERO team on Zwift."
Cutler may have entered the public consciousness a bit earlier, but a crash during the 2021 national time trial saw a top-tier result taken away.
"Last year, I probably should have come fifth in the nationals time trial," said Cutler, "but I crashed on the final corner, lost a minute and came 14th, I would have been the fastest non-pro."
CCS Cycling manager Matt Darling said the team were in talks to get Cutler to more races in the future as a member of the squad, the 'guest' status removed as it's now clear that the Portland local has arrived on the national scene.
Armitage a new honorary Aussie?
Australia has a bit of a history of claiming favourites from other countries. From Pharlap to 'Aussie Kim' Clijsters, cycling is far from immune from the desire to claim overseas athletes as honorary Aussies, with some even going on to make the relationship official.
Valentina Scandolara is the most prominent example of recent years, with the Tour Down Under and two-time Bay Crits winner amassing an impressive Australian palmares and cementing the relationship by becoming a permanent resident.
Perhaps our next candidate for poaching will be Irish national Megan Armitage (IBCT), who rode as an individual during the Women's Warrny with distinction, making the elite final break of some of the best riders in Australia, finishing fourth on the day.
"It was amazing," said Armitage at the finish. "I think it was just that I was there when the break went and I was able to get on. They're a strong bunch of girls, I felt bad just sitting on at the back there and trying not to burn too many matches.
"I had to just be smart I guess, and I knew the girls in the group were super fast and the only way I could win was if I attacked from further out. I tried a few times, got caught, then got fourth. I didn't expect that!"
Armitage rides with Belgian-based, Irish-registered UCI team IBCT, the former runner partnered with Australian U23 national road race winner Cyrus Monk, meeting him while he rode for Irish continental squad EvoPro.
"Yeah, literally during lockdown was when we met," said Armitage, "the one good thing to come out of COVID. That's why I'm here!
"I only started cycling a year and a half ago, I'm still new to it, still learning and making a lot of mistakes. I was really lucky to be able to come out here over Christmas, the borders opened and two days later I was out here. I'm still here, don't want to go home, I'm loving it!"
The relative newness of the sport for Armitage hasn't prevented her from reaching some giddy heights quickly, finishing second at the Irish national championships and racing over in Europe in 2021.
"I was really lucky that I was able to get over to Belgium and get a ride once borders opened up," said Armitage. "I'm racing again with them this year, I'll be heading over soon enough to start what will be my first full season."
When asked if local cycling fans can start claiming her as an honorary Australian, Armitage was full of enthusiasm.
"God, I hope so, I just need to get the accent dialled in, I'm pretty bad at it!"
Catch up with all the action from the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Festival on SBS On Demand, with replays and highlights from the racing available there.
