Former WorldTour pro Patrick Eddy playfully dedicated his victory at the Australian National Road Championships on Sunday to the Picnic PostNL team boss who he said “gave him the flick” at the end of last season.
Eddy, who now rides for Australian Continental squad Team Brennan, spent the last four years of his career with the Dutch team, riding for their WorldTour set-up in 2024 and 2025. The 23-year-old’s contract was not renewed at the end of last season.
“A few months ago, I felt like most of the cycling world gave up on me. But there was just those handful of people around me who just kept believing in me, kept telling me to keep at it, keep hustling. This is for them,” Eddy told Australian broadcaster SBS.
The 23-year-old also made a tongue-in-cheek dedication to his former head coach at Picnic PostNL. “I told Rudi Kemna I’d make him look a bit silly when he gave me the flick, so that one’s for you, mate,” he said, winking to the camera.
His new national crown comes seven years after he won both the junior road race and time trial titles. His latest win, he told SBS, “means everything”.
“I’ve pretty much won nothing since I won the junior nationals. I lost myself as a rider for the last few years, and just saw this as an opportunity to get back to racing aggressive, having fun,” he said. “I think I’ve found myself again.”
Plapp, the race’s runner-up, said Eddy was a “true champion” who had “gone through a lot”.
Likewise, on Instagram, Eddy’s partner, British Continental rider Libby Smithson, paid tribute to the new Australian champion, who she explained had had a sleepless night during the week caring for her after she was struck by a car driver.
“I have no words for how proud I am,” Smithson wrote. “On Tuesday night Pat slept in the hospital with me and got zero sleep even though his biggest goal of the year was in a few days.
“This is just one example of all the selfless things he does for me and everyone in his life. He’s been through so much this year, but he’s never stopped showing up for everyone else. No one deserves it more I wish I could properly put into words how f****ing amazing you are.”
Decathlon CMA CGM rider Oscar Chamberlain finished third in the men’s race at the Australian National Championships.
