EMILY DIXON LEVELS UP TO WORLDTOUR WITH CANYON//SRAM IN 2027

When asked in February about her specific targets for a second season with CANYON//SRAM Generation – also her second year out of the junior ranks – Emily Dixon was characteristically cheery, but modest.

“Of course, I’d like to get some kind of result for myself – maybe a UCI podium…. I’m just going to put it out there because you’ve got to dream big. But for sure, that would be really awesome. Or to be a part of someone else achieving that.”

A few months later, Emily had well and truly smashed that goal, scoring her first professional victory at April’s Gracia Orlová, a UCI 2.1 race in Czechia. It was the first victory that the Australian could truly remember on a bike – unless we count the 2024 Zwift Academy, of course! She didn’t stop there, doubling up with another great win the very next day.

Fast-forward to June, and Emily tied up the remaining loose end by scoring that missing UCI podium, producing a sensational ride to take third on the queen stage of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées. Conquering none other than the mighty Col du Tourmalet along the way, she finished behind the elite UAE-ADQ duo of Włodarczyk and Blasi in one of the biggest rides of her very young career.

Those results more than confirmed the still only 19-year-old as the latest success story to emerge from the Zwift Academy pathway. But, returning to that February interview, recorded after a strong Australian Road Nationals and her 2026 European debut with the WorldTeam, there was one goal Emily hadn’t mentioned, perhaps because she hadn’t yet considered it a realistic possibility: making the WorldTeam her permanent home in 2027.

Sometimes, though, things work out in ways that you could never have imagined. After being announced in early 2025 as the winner of a UCI Continental contract with CANYON//SRAM Generation, beating more than 100,000 others to the highly coveted prize, Emily is now set to join the CANYON//SRAM WorldTeam on a two-year contract until 2028.

“They say ‘never stop dreaming’, and one dream was to be in Europe racing for a pretty cool team like CANYON//SRAM. Now, it’s another dream coming true to race for the WorldTeam. I didn’t think this would be possible before turning 20, so I think my younger self would be very proud.”

It’s a rise almost as impressive as the rate at which the young Melburnian chews through elevation on a climb, but one that has brought with it plenty of emotions, too.

“I’m very excited. It feels very surreal and like a full-circle moment. It’s so cool to do it with Zwift by my side, and I’m really proud to be a part of CANYON//SRAM through them.”

Emily elaborates:

“I knew when signing with Generation that WorldTour was what I wanted, but I wasn’t so satisfied with my 2025 season and didn’t quite expect to make the jump I have this year. So, in a way, I’ve surprised myself, and that’s why I’m a bit like, ‘Whoa, I’m signing WorldTour.’ I’m really happy with my progression.”

Generation Team Manager and Sports Director Gosia Jasinska has had a front-row seat to that progression:

“Last year, I met a young girl who didn’t know so much about true cycling, but who was very open and ready to learn. From the start of this year, I already saw a rider who’d taken huge steps in both her cycling and general life. She now has much greater knowledge about both. 

Sometimes, when we discuss a topic, in the first moment, she doesn’t agree with me. But, after a bit of time, I hear her repeat my words; it’s encouraging to hear and see how open she is to new ideas. She has already changed so much in a positive way, but still wants to keep progressing. Now, maybe she’s not quite 100% ready, but she’s definitely prepared and willing to keep developing.

The team recognises that she’s a young rider, and I believe it’s good that she will be moving to WorldTour level in the same organisation. I’ve already talked with the WorldTeam sport directors, and they’ve also worked with her already, so they know it’s not necessary to put pressure on her shoulders because she’s the kind of person who is already hard on herself. 

In her first year at least, it will be a big step to ride in the WorldTour, but I think racing amongst the top names and for strong leaders will be a pleasure and very fun for her. Still, I think she could definitely find some opportunities for herself. 

What I would truly like for Emily is that she enjoys professional cycling, gets to race with the very best, and has fun without the unnecessary pressure. When it’s like that, I believe that she will keep growing and, in a few years, be winning big races – I hope next year, but I don’t want her to already have high-level goals! She can take it step-by-step, fired by the passion in her heart that she has for cycling, her own personal belief, and the good memories that she’ll collect along the way.”

Jonas Möslein, Business Director at CANYON//SRAM, explains that Emily’s development means a lot for the team:

“It’s a really special moment for us. Emily came to us through Zwift Academy, took her first big steps with our Generation Team, and has now earned her place in the WorldTeam. Seeing that full journey happen within our structure makes us incredibly proud. We’ve believed in Emily’s potential from the beginning, and we’re very excited to see where the next chapter takes her.”

He also believes that it underscores the importance of Generation.

“Emily’s story is exactly why the Generation Team exists. It’s about finding young talent, giving them the right environment, time and support to develop, and ultimately preparing them for the WorldTour. When a rider makes that step with us, it shows that the pathway works, and that’s something we’re extremely proud of.”

Having earned her step up to the WorldTeam – or ‘levelled up’ in familiar Zwift terminology – what does Emily believe has made the biggest difference to her racing?

“I think what’s changed has been my mindset. And that seems really cliché, but I think for the road race at nationals, I really focused on my mentality as I realised how much my mind would affect my racing. That road race proved it to me and kind of unlocked the power of my mind, which has really helped me this year, especially with positioning.

She continued:

“When you get to the start line, you have to genuinely believe that you are the best person there. You just have to make yourself think that. The self-belief and realisation that pressure is a privilege, and just embracing that, has really helped me.”

But, while individual belief has played its part, Emily is equally quick to credit the people around her for helping to unlock her best this year.

“We’ve had a really great team environment in Generation. That’s obviously helped so much because the girls and I have worked really well together as a team, and I’ve had a lot of opportunities, which I’m so grateful for. I’m really glad that we could pull off strong results, and that they also believed in me. I say we because it’s been a team effort. This year, we’ve really been able to show who we are, and get results because of how we work as a team. We get along off the bike as well, and have great staff which also impacts how we feel.” 

That sense of togetherness will be just as important as Emily moves up to the WorldTeam. Her aspirations for 2027 reflect that:

“I want to be a really good teammate – that sounds a little bit stupid, but I really want to be there for the team. I want to go to the races and do exactly what I’ve been asked to do. I also want to be in a team that succeeds, and CANYON//SRAM does that very well, so I’d love to be part of that atmosphere while learning from everyone much more experienced than me.”

Before any of that however, there’s one milestone she’s particularly excited to tick off.

“I’m very keen to put on the WorldTeam jersey and for it to actually be mine – that’s so cool! It will say WorldTour, and that’s been my dream, and it’s actually going to be real.”

From virtual ambitions to dreaming of a very real WorldTour jersey, Emily’s next level is about to begin.