Albany cycling star Danica Wiggins set to mix it with the best in Australia at the Santos Festival of Cycling

Albany’s Danica Wiggins will take a big step in her cycling career when she competes in Australia’s largest cycling race that starts in Adelaide today. The 18-year-old will tackle a host of Australia’s strongest UCI Continental, National Road Series and wildcard teams at the Santos Festival of Cycling consisting of a four-stage NRS Tour for both men and women from January 21-24. Danica will ride for Velofit Australian Racing Team and will be joined by older brother Craig at the event who will ride for his Queensland-based team, Australian Cycling Academy. The National Road Series is part of the Santos Festival of Cycling, presented by Santos Tour Down Under. The Velofit team will be made up of Danica Wiggins, Kate Bonner, Darcie Richards, Cassia Boglio, Jessica Lawler, Tori Barry and Erin Bertram. Danica was thrilled to get the opportunity to ride at the event. “I’m feeling very excited about getting the chance to race with Velofit Australia,” she said. “This is by far the biggest race I’ve ever done, I’m feeling very excited and thankful for the opportunity. “I’ll learn lots from racing against the best riders around Australia. “Hopefully, some last-minute trips to Perth with the girls were beneficial to helping my body prepare for the event.” The race will be split up into four stages, with one stage on each day and Danica hoped to bring her sprinting strength to the team. “I’m looking to help my team where I’m able to but hopefully have a good sprint on the sprinting stages,” she said. “I cannot thank my coach Stuart Passmore enough for all his help, including letting me ride his bike, and the team at Passmore cycles Stuart, Beau LeFort and Blyth Andrews who go above and beyond. “Also thanks to my family and I’m looking forward to waving at Craig, who has recently relocated over east, at a distance.” Craig will ride for his new team after making a mid-season transfer last year from St George Continental team to the ACA. The race will be live streamed on 7Plus.