Australian cycling legend Annette Edmondson saying goodbye to her adoring fans is the perfect way to start the second Santos Festival of Cycling at the SuperDrome tonight.
Edmondson, 30, will be farewelled at her old stomping ground in the UCI endorsed Adelaide Track League after retiring from the sport last month.
Edmondson, however, will not be lost to cycling before two jam-packed nights at Gepps Cross becomes a superb curtain-raiser for several cycling disciplines over the next eight days.
She revealed a new career in sports management with Paradigm Shift Sports on her website http://annetteedmondson.com
Edmondson’s new aim is “to help raise the salaries of the entire women’s peloton through athlete representation and mentorship.”
“After 17 years of bike riding, 15 years since first ‘donning’ the green and gold, and 10 years representing Australia on the world stage, the time has come for me to officially ‘hang up’ the bike,’’ she posted on Instagram.
“I have had one hell of a ride since that 12-year-old first walked into the Adelaide Superdrome, but the mind is tired and I’m now ready for a new adventure.”
In an incredible track career, Edmondson has featured for Australia in Olympic Games earning a bronze, won two Commonwealth gold medals, claimed three world titles, a world record and 16 national titles.
On the road, she raced for Orica-AIS women’s team for two years prior to four seasons with Wiggle High 5.
With Edmondson bound to receive a standing ovation for her incredible cycling career, Tokyo 2020 Olympians Mauve Plouffe, Georgia Baker, Alexandra Manly, Matthew Glaetzer and Matthew Richardson are expected to light up the boards.
And after a battle with COVID-19 testing positive just before the Australian road nationals last weekend Plouffe is destined to overcome her disappointment.
“I got COVID,’’ she posted on Instagram.
“I’m not going to lie; I’ve been feeling pretty bummed about it.
“Over the last few months, I‘ve really put my heart into training for the national TT (time trial) and was seeing progress.
“I hated feeling like I lost that.”
With Plouffe eager to bounce back before road duties from Sunday for ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast, the SuperDrome showcases an incredible 36 events in the Adelaide Track League series.
From the classical sprint, omnium, keirin, para wheel-race, elimination race, tandem sprint, all-in para scratch race to the fashionable para Italian pursuit where each team drops a rider at the completion of every lap until one rider per team is left to race in the final lap.
