New Sunshine Coast women’s cycling team Solaris Racing is launched

A new women’s cycling team has rolled onto Coast roads with hopes of not only enhancing elite pathways but providing opportunities for others.

A new women's cycling team, Solaris Racing, has been launched by the Sunshine Coast Cycling Club.

A new women’s cycling team has rolled onto Coast roads with hopes of not only enhancing elite pathways but providing opportunities for those looking to embrace their competitive side.

Solaris Racing, an initiative of the Sunshine Coast Cycling Club, was proudly launched on Sunday with aims to support Coast women who want to participate in cycling events from club to national level.

Team manager Dr Deborah Latouf, who has overseen the national talent identification program at the Australian Institute of Sport, was excited for the team to be formed.

“I love coaching and I love coaching women and working with women so to be able to get this off the ground is amazing and the response has been great,” she said.

“We are excited about providing local women the opportunity to discover and fulfil their athletic potential by creating stepping stones to the highest levels of competition in Australia.”

A new women's cycling team, Solaris Racing, has been launched by the Sunshine Coast Cycling Club.

In a bid to cover a wide spectrum of talents, ages and goals, the team has been split into two squads.

The Queensland Road Teams Series squad, which involves 10 riders, is positioned as a talent identification pathway to provide a link between club, state and national competition.

Meanwhile, Solaris Racing also comprises of a 20-strong road development squad whose aim is to help women move from recreational to competitive cycling.

“We have many masters aged women that want to race that don’t know how to race,” Latouf said.

“Cycling can be an intimidating sport for women and through coaching racing skills we can give them the confidence to make the step from community stuff through to actually competing.

“There’s a lot of older women here that are talented and can be competitive at the masters level but they’re simply not aware of that.”

It’s hoped Solaris Racing will get their first major taste of competition on home roads, as the National Masters Road Championships descend on the Sunshine Coast from October 7-10.

“We obviously want to try and get as many local men and women racing at the event because it’s local,” Latouf said.

Originally published as New Sunshine Coast women’s cycling team Solaris Racing is launched