The Best Cyclist Stories to Follow in 2024
Meet seven women and seven men to follow in the 2024 cycling season. As Australia's 'summer of cycling' wraps up and training blocks conclude, the real racing is about to kick off. Whether you're following all races, the big classics, or the Tour de France, here’s your guide to the athletes worth watching in 2024.
We've curated this list of fourteen standout riders—seven men and seven women. Follow their Instagram accounts (linked below) to stay updated, and check us out on Instagram for more updates!
1. Sam Welsford
Welsford is a multiple track world champion and former Men's Team Pursuit World Record holder. After transitioning to the road with Team DSM in 2022, he won five Pro races in his first two seasons. In 2024, riding with BORA-Hansgrohe, Welsford has already claimed three World-Tour stage victories by the end of January. A standout Australian rider to follow this season.
2. Nienke Vinke
Vinke dominated Dutch junior cycling in 2022, winning both the national road race and time trial, and took third in the U23 World Championships in Wollongong. In 2023, she joined Team DSM-Firmenich, placing seventh in the Tour of the Future and second in the young rider classification. 2024 has seen her shine again with a second-place overall at the Tour Down Under and victory in the young rider classification. Keep an eye on Vinke as she develops into a grand stage contender.
3. Laurence Pithie
Pithie claimed dual gold medals in Madison and Omnium at the UCI Junior World Championships at 17. He made his professional debut in 2023 with a victory in his first season, and in 2024, the 21-year-old has already notched a World-Tour win at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. A rising star in the Southern Hemisphere to watch closely.
4. Sarah Gigante
Gigante made her mark by winning multiple national junior titles and a silver at the Junior World Track Championships in 2018. Australian Elite Women's Champion in 2019, she earned her first European win in 2022 at Emakumeen Nafarroako Klasikoa. Now with AG Insurance–Soudal, she secured her first World-Tour win at the 2024 Women's Tour Down Under, proving her potential as a top contender.
5. Isaac del Toro
Del Toro won the Youth, Mountains, Points, and General Classification at the 2023 Tour de l’Avenir at just 19. In 2024, UAE Team Emirates is testing his talent. After a successful Australian Summer of Cycling, he leaves with his first World-Tour victory and hopes to secure spots in Classics races.
6. Rosita Reijnhout
At 19, Reijnhout claimed her first professional win at the 2024 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Known for her fearless racing style and hailing from the Netherlands, she represents the next generation of Dutch cycling talent. Follow her journey with Visma-Lease a Bike (Jumbo) in her second pro season.
7. Mattias Skjelmose
The Danish powerhouse rides for UCI WorldTeam Lidl–Trek. Since joining Trek-Segafredo in 2021, Skjelmose has consistently impressed with podiums in La Flèche Wallonne and the Tour de Suisse, plus a victory in the Tour de Luxembourg. A rider with both grit and speed to watch in 2024.
8. Ally Wollaston
Wollaston dominated the opening stage of the 2024 Tour Down Under with a sprint victory and later swept three golds at the UCI Nations Cup on track for New Zealand. At 23 and in her fourth season with AG Insurance–Soudal, Wollaston is on the verge of global success on both road and track.
That's it. If you want someone to follow in races beyond the usual names, pick someone from this list—you won’t be disappointed. Great characters, extremely talented, plenty to prove. Support the up-and-comers.