Teen cyclist taking elite titles on-track

FOLLOWING in the tyre tracks of her grandfather, sixteen-year-old cyclist Shannon Craggill is making her mark in the elite ranks of Australian women’s cycling.

Jumping on a bike at the Ballarat Sebastopol Velodrome, Craggill first tried track cycling when she was 12, falling in love with the sport alongside road cycling.

The Damascus College year 11 student then gave fixed-gear road racing a go in late 2018, when the sport was brand new to Australia.

“There’s a lot of freedom in cycling. It’s a really fun and enjoyable sport because the community is great, and there are a lot of opportunities,” she said.

Offered the chance to race at many small club events, state and Australian-level competitions in the velodrome or on the road, Craggill was a contender at her first national meet at the age of 13, before nabbing a top title a few years later.

“I’ve just become old enough to do the Road Nationals in Ballarat, so 2021 was my first year participating in the elite women’s fixed-gear criterium race, which I won.

“Winning that race means I get to wear the Australian colours, and because fixed-gear racing is still reasonably new to Australia, winning in one of its first years is an honour,” she said.

“Sometimes fixed-gear races are based on time, but the one at the Road Nationals was 12 laps of Sturt Street. It’s definitely one of my favourite events.”

On Good Friday, Craggill competed in a fundraising criterium in Hawthorn, where she placed third in the A grade section of elite women.

For the second year in a row, she is part of junior developmental team, R.A.C.E VMG. She is an ambassador for Cycles Galleria, and a member of the FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport.

Later in the month, Craggill will be part of a two-day road racing event in Casterton, but is already looking ahead to the 2022 calendar.

“One of my goals for next year is to win the Australian jersey again at the Road Nationals.

“This year, I’ll be training so I can get into more fixed gear racing, achieve good results, and keep my title,” Craggill said.

“I’d like to do more fixed-gear racing overseas.”