Some of the world’s best cyclists are getting ready for the 25th year of the tour down under – in South Australia. This weekend also marks the start of a new domestic cycling league, with the men’s and women’s winners earning a professional contract.
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00:00Ali Anderson has always wanted to be a professional cyclist, her dream could soon become reality
00:08with the under 23 men and women's winner of the Provelo Super League earning a professional
00:14contract with the Australian team, Jaco Alula and Liv Alula Jaco.
00:19There needs to be a launch pad to get out of Australia, you can't make money really
00:24here and if you want to make it your career you need to get overseas.
00:28The new domestic league was set up by Matt Wilson and Aaron Flanagan who wanted to be
00:33that launch pad for young riders.
00:35This is all about supporting Australia's emerging talent to get to the world tour and to hopefully
00:41one day wear a green and gold jersey for our country, so we've got a real focus on development.
00:46People underestimate how hard it is getting noticed and being seen, so yeah to have people
00:53believing in us is really cool.
00:55This opportunity is not often seen in the world of road cycling, Jaco Alula says it
01:00was the visionary of cycling philanthropist Gerry Ryan.
01:04In cycling in our days it's the only way to look for riders, it's great for the athletes,
01:10it's great for us, it's great for the organisation.
01:12As for the pressure that the men and women will be under.
01:15I think it's a pressure that athletes drive off and it's something that gives them that
01:21extra drive and extra motivation because if they have that opportunity of coming to Green
01:26Edge and riding as a stage hero or getting a contract, I think it's going to make the
01:31racing even that much more exciting.
01:34This year's Provelo series will take place across six rounds in five different states
01:39with growth from next year.
01:41And what will it mean to win?
01:42Life changing, that's always been the dream.