Racing in 2025 begins January 24 in South Australia for Melisa Rollins, and with it, a “fully new all the things” because the US rider makes the bounce from Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 to a person set-up for gravel and off-road pursuits.
She debuts her full makeover as a part of Liv Racing Collective in McLaren Vale on the 112km blue route on Friday. Embracing the privateer path, she additionally has help from SRAM, ZIPP, ASSOS, The Feed and Kenda to remain on the prime of her sport and add “extra work” by securing her personal sponsorships and changing into her personal communications specialist. A victory eventually yr’s Leadville Trail 100 MTB confirmed she was certainly on the prime.
“Winning Leadville was life-changing,” the Alpine, Utah native advised Cyclingnews earlier than she landed in Australia. She used that victory and a second place at Big Sugar Gravel to seal a second place total within the elite ladies’s division of the Life Time Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old conquered the Leadville altitude and stacked competitor begin record in her seventh strive. She stated she has a little bit of a bonus dwelling within the mountain slopes of Salt Lake City, with an elevation of near 4,500 ft above sea stage, so the altitude of 10,154 ft for the beginning of the race would not fully trigger chaos.
“I really like that race. At Leadville, that is a singular one. When you take a look at the outcomes of Leadville, individuals who dwell at altitude sometimes do higher there. I’ve type of an higher hand having identified the course, I’ve finished it so many occasions. This yr I used to be match and robust. There’s a side to realizing that race and the way it performs out that provides to ending it.”
The love for Leadville runs deep in her household as properly. Her stepfather Elden Nelson has completed the race 27 occasions, whereas her mom Lisa has taken on 20 editions. Both had been there in 2024 and celebrated on the end line with their daughter on her signature victory.
The US Continental racing workforce Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 has been Rollins’ racing household for 3 years. She labored as a full-time chemist for a medical pathology lab in Salt Lake City earlier than incomes a dwelling as knowledgeable bike owner.
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She joined VBR in 2022, which supplied full help for gravel. She then raced a heavy highway schedule in 2023 and 2024, final yr incomes prime 10s on levels at Tucson Bicycle Classic and Redlands Bicycle Classic, ending fourth within the mountains classification at UCI-level Tour of the Gila and taking sixth place at US Pro Road Nationals within the ITT. Rollins nonetheless managed to compete in 5 of the six occasions within the Life Time Grand Prix, and win Iceman Cometh Challenge on the finish of the season.
“Because highway racing was a precedence on that workforce, I used to be required to do some highway stage races with the workforce. Outside of that, I bought to take a schedule that I needed, which was actually cool as a result of going into this yr I did not essentially have a number of deal with the Life Time Grand Prix. I did deal with Leadville, my ‘A’ race.”
“Nicola Cranmer [team owner and manager] is actually good at serving to determine her athletes’ objectives after which serving to create a schedule or a approach, they will obtain them. So for me, personally, I recognized my aim being Leadville. I spent 2023 stepping away from gravel and specializing in highway racing, which was what we recognized as a solution to work on my weaknesses – I did not have a number of top-end pace. We targeted on that. Then we got here again in 2024 with a schedule that included highway racing so I might compete properly at Leadville, which paid off for me.
“I cherished my time racing on the highway and actually consider it has formed me into the rider I’m at this time. While I could also be pursuing a distinct path in 2025, I’ll always remember the one which bought me right here.”
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The US Continental squad has supported multi-discipline athletes, from monitor, mountain bike and gravel, since their inception by Cranmer 20 years in the past.
“While managing a number of disciplines can current finances and logistical challenges, the advantages far outweigh the obstacles. I consider it fosters extra well-rounded growth, notably for youthful athletes,” Cranmer advised Cyclingnews.
“Take Mel, for instance, when she joined us, she was sturdy however lacked top-end and explosive energy. By encouraging her to race throughout disciplines, she grew right into a extra dynamic and versatile athlete.
“Separate begins for women and men in gravel races spotlight the distinctive strengths of girls within the sport. Shorter gravel races present wonderful preparation for stage racing, when there’s such an absence of highway racing within the U.S., and vice versa – they complement one another superbly in constructing endurance and tactical sharpness.”
Her former workforce booked her flights and lodging plus provided mechanic help. Now the logistics are on her shoulders, however she calls the swap to privateering an “funding”. While privateering “could also be extra work” in her evaluation, she stated it opens extra alternatives to create relationships with companies in addition to shoppers and particular person supporters.
“I feel that I’m virtually as aggressive with sponsorships as a few of the different athletes due to my outcomes. I do not have already got a very sturdy following on social content material, however nonetheless, I do not really feel like I’m having sponsors flip me away due to that. I’m actually excited for having the ability to create relationships with companions and [fans].
“Actually, my fundamental sponsor could be very inquisitive about permitting me to do no matter I need to do, which is actually cool. So no matter I’m inquisitive about, that’s what they need to see me doing. Luckily for them, that aligns with me desirous to do the Life Time Grand Prix.”
After RADL GRVL she expects to journey to Nebraska for The Mid South and was desperate to discover extra races now that she was not a part of a highway workforce, together with mountain bike occasions
“Oh, Leadville was loopy. Winning Iceman was actually cool,” Rollins stated. “Personally, I assumed that one, Iceman, was actually superb and enjoyable. Leadville for positive was 100% extra impactful for my profession.
“From an outdoor perspective, I feel the truth that the Life Time sequence occurred to have made a piece on me two weeks earlier than [Leadville], I feel it helped inform my story, which is clearly a very large piece in type of having a fandom. Developing a narrative actually helps folks need to comply with alongside. And I assumed it was actually good timing.
“I’ve an interior dialogue of being an underdog at all the things. I do not know when that script goes to vary for me, as a result of it in all probability ought to have at this level. I need to stroll right into a race feeling like I’m a competitor for the win.”