Young Griffith cyclist excels at Tour de Riverina, eyes world championship

The baby of Griffith Cycle Club has become its latest superstar after taking out the female division of the Tour de Riverina, a multi-event series that takes place over several months and towns.

Mia Stockwell, 21, is enjoying a dream season – having also won the male-dominated Griffith club series, the Bertoldo’s Cup.

Her achievements are even more remarkable considering she is comfortably the youngest member of her club and has only ridden for the past four years, having taken up the sport in year 12.

“I spend a lot of time on screens. Riding is a way for me to get outside and get off the devices,” she said. “I don’t listen to music or podcasts; when I pedal, I appreciate my surroundings.

“I played other sports like soccer when I was growing up, but I was never very good at it. In cycling, I’ve found something I love.”

Dad and role model Peter Stockwell says there’s a lesson for us all in Mia’s success.

“If you like sport but you’re hopeless at something, try and find something you excel at. You’ll eventually find it,” Peter said.

Mia said the Tour de Riverina was a challenge this year.

“Some weeks we had terrible headwinds, some courses were more hilly than others, we started in the summer and the final races were in the winter, so we had to race through all seasons,” she said.

“The series has races in Wagga, Albury, Wodonga, Griffith and other towns.”

Her next race is a 122 km Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo, which was established in 2011 in honour of Amy Gillett, an elite cyclist who lost her life while training with the Australian women’s cycling team in Germany.

“It’s along the coastline and is a qualifier event for the world championships. If you cross the line in the top 25 per cent of your age, you qualify for it … that’s my goal,” Mia said.

Mia works as an account and marketing executive at Griffith business Flavourtech. She is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce degree through Deakin University, which she did remotely via the Country Universities Centre.

“I’ve had a strong season despite being really busy with work and studying,” she said. ”I’ve been able to turn up and participate on the day and get the results.”

Most of her peers at Griffith Cycle Club are twice, three or even four times her age, but she’s found them supportive and encourages others to join.

“It’s both a social and racing group; most people just ride socially,” she said.

”Our club has so many riders who will help you out in terms of your bike equipment, what to wear and how to be safe when riding. We’re also very social, we always finish with a coffee.”

Despite having already achieved so much, she has one more mountain to conquer.

“I’m not fast enough to beat my dad. I can get him on the sprints, but my goal is to finally knock him off over a longer distance.”