Emily Dixon’s path in cycling so far has been one of steady development and opportunity.

Growing up in an active family, sports and bikes were always part of her life. Living in New Zealand for a few years as a child introduced her to mountain biking through classic weekend trail rides – though it wasn’t love at first sight. When the 2020 pandemic lockdown put all other sports on hold, Emily finally gave cycling a fair chance, riding her dad’s oversized old bike on Zwift and challenging herself to train daily.

She made her foray into road racing during 2021 and joined the 99 Bike Women’s Academy in 2022 as an U17, also remaining with the programme through her U19 years. In 2024, she claimed two podiums at the Australian National Road Championships before embarking on a month-long junior development trip in Europe with the ARA Australian Cycling Team. Racing in Belgian kermesses and UCI Junior Nations Cups gave her valuable exposure to the European standard of racing, and the global epicentres of the sport.

A turning point came on a dreary Melbourne winter’s day when a club race was cancelled, prompting her to spontaneously go indoors and race a Zwift Academy event instead. Despite initially believe she was too young for the programme, that decision proved defining, setting her on off on a months-long quest of rigorous testing – ultimately earning her a place at the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto winter training camp in Portugal.

Against three other Zwift Academy finalists, Emily distinguished herself by combining strong power numbers, first-class riding technique, and experience beyond her age. Tackling every challenge with a calm and collected spirit, her focus was on proving her talent and not let competitor performances affect her – an approach that impressed the judges. The 18-year-old consistently rose to every challenge, including lung-busting 8-minute hill climb tests and furious efforts around a technical go-kart track. The rest is history, although she’s only just begun writing it, inking her name as the ninth Zwift Academy victor.

Although unsure on the type of rider that she exactly is, it is undeniable that Emily thrives on hillier terrain. She finished 23rd at the 2024 UCI Junior Road World Championships and claiming 2nd in the Youth Classification at the 2025 Tour Down Under, achieved through a storming ride up the famed Willunga Hill. Impressively, this was her very first World Tour race, and she was the youngest rider in the event.

Remarkably young for even her category, Emily’s December 29th birthdate means she is just three days away from remaining a junior in 2025 – making her progress all the more commendable. When talking to Emily, it’s immediately evident that the despite her youth, the time is now, and she’s ready to tackle the year to come with excitement and enthusiasm.