Melbourne native secures spot with Canyon–SRAM Zondacrypto Development Team
Emily Dixon, an 18-year-old from Melbourne, has described winning the Zwift Academy competition as “life-changing” after securing a place on the Canyon–SRAM Zondacrypto development team. The victory holds special significance for Dixon, who explained that young riders in Australia face limited racing opportunities.
Dixon, who was crowned the winner of the competition during a live broadcast on GCN, shared her excitement in an interview with Cycling Weekly. She expressed her disbelief at the chance to move to Europe and pursue her cycling goals.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I still can’t really put it into words,” Dixon said when asked what the win meant to her. “But it’s pretty fricking cool; it’s life-changing. The opportunities for riders outside of Europe are very slim. I don’t know if it’s always been like that, but especially in Australia, the racing scene is kind of dying. So to have the Zwift Academy as an opportunity to jump over to Europe and be financially supported is massive. I can’t emphasise how important that is and how lucky I am.”
A newcomer to road cycling, Dixon explained that her preference for Zwifting over outdoor riding stems from her busy urban lifestyle in Melbourne. She credited her father for introducing her to the sport during the pandemic, when Covid lockdowns prevented outdoor activities in Australia.
“I’ve always been active and sporty, but during the pandemic, Melbourne was hit hard with lockdowns,” Dixon said. “All my favourite sports, like netball, were cancelled, and I was looking for something to do. My dad got into Zwifting, and I decided to join in. Since we were restricted to a 5km radius from home, Zwift was a great way to stay active when I couldn’t ride outside. It gave me an outlet to burn energy and stay physically engaged.”
Now, with the opportunity to turn professional ahead of her, Dixon reflected on the guidance and advice she received throughout the Zwift Academy competition. She noted that she plans to apply the lessons learned, particularly from top riders like Zoe Bäckstedt, as she advances in her career.
“I learned that you can always push yourself a little bit more,” Dixon said. “That’s something I’ve always believed, but the competition proved that there’s always more you can do. When there’s motivation, like winning a contract, you can always find that extra 2% more watts.”
Dixon also stressed the importance of self-belief and staying mentally strong in the sport. “I learned how crucial it is to believe in yourself and not compare yourself to others,” she explained. “You can’t sit there thinking, ‘She can produce more watts than me,’ or ‘I don’t know how I stack up against the others.’ If you question yourself too much, it can really affect your mindset. It shows how mentally tough you have to be in this sport.”
Additionally, Dixon emphasized the value of taking in feedback from coaches and asking questions. “It’s essential to stay open to learning,” she said. “Asking questions is how you improve.”
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