Amanda Spratt, one of the most recognisable faces in the women's peloton, has announced the end of her career as a professional cyclist. The 38-year-old Australian will enter her final season in 2026, at the end of which she intends to step off the racing saddle. This was announced by her current team Lidl-Trek in a press release.
"I wanted to decide the end of my career myself," says Spratt about her decision. "Spratty", as the racer is known in the peloton, started racing BMX as a nine-year-old, then switched to the track and won the World Championship title in the points race at 17. Back in 2004, she won world championship bronze in the junior individual time trial. The Australian witnessed the upswing in women's cycling. "In the early years, I earned nothing as a racer," she recalls. She also struggled to continue her career after injuries in 2008 and 2009.
World Championship silver medal in 2018
Spratt can already look back on a successful career. The 38-year-old from the state of New South Wales has celebrated 21 professional victories to date, including overall success at Emakumeen Bira (women's Tour of the Basque Country) and three times at the Tour Down Under. She also won the silver medal in the road race at the 2018 Road World Championships in Innsbruck. The following year, she won bronze in Harrogate, Great Britain. The lightweight climbing specialist also won a stage in the women's Giro d'Italia and twice finished third overall in the Tour of Italy. Most recently, she became world champion in the mixed relay in Kigali/Rwanda with the Australian team. From 2012 to 2022, she raced in the jersey of the best team in her home country, which was initially called Orica-AIS and later traded under the names Mitchelton-Scott and BikeExchange. Since 2023, she has been under contract with Lidl-Trek, which is racing under the German flag for the first time this season.
Start at the Tour Down Under on 17 January
She hasn't had enough of racing yet. The Australian, who comes from near the 2022 World Championships venue of Wollongong, will start her last season in the saddle on 17 January 2026 in her home country at the Tour Down Under, a three-day stage race in the Australian state of South Australia. "I'm still motivated and training hard ahead of the 2026 season. I don't want my career to end just like that. Of course, I'd love to win a race, which I haven't done for a long time," says Spratt according to the team statement. Her last victory was six years ago. It was on stage 2 of the Tour Down Under on 17 January 2020.
Andreas Kublik
Editor
