Perth, January 14, 2026 – Patrick Eddy, just 23, delivered a stunning upset at the Australian Road Race Championships on Sunday, claiming the elite men’s title adn signaling a remarkable turnaround in his cycling career. The victory came only 11 days into his return to racing Down Under after a contract dispute led him away from the WorldTour.

A New Chapter Down Under

Eddy’s win marks his first national title since his junior championship in 2019 and a potent statement after a challenging period in Europe.

  • Key Result – Eddy’s win came against a strong field including Luke Plapp and the entire Jayco AlUla team.
  • First Title in Years – The victory is his first since winning the junior national championship in 2019.
  • New Team – Eddy joined Team Brennan after his contract with Picnic PostNL wasn’t renewed for 2026.
  • Rediscovered Passion – He felt he had “lost himself as a rider” in recent years but believes he’s rediscovered his passion.

Eddy bested Luke Plapp and the formidable Jayco AlUla squad in a thrilling finish. The race unfolded with a dramatic shift in momentum when a 14-rider breakaway gained a significant five-minute lead. Though Eddy wasn’t initially part of the move – two of his Team Brennan teammates were – a persistent chase by the peloton, spearheaded by Team Brennan, brought the leaders back within reach. Eddy and Plapp ultimately caught solo leader Luke Durbridge before battling for the win.

What does it take to rebuild a cycling career after setbacks? Eddy’s story demonstrates the power of returning to one’s roots and finding a supportive team environment to reignite passion and achieve success.

Eddy’s departure from the WorldTour followed the non-renewal of his contract with Picnic PostNL for the 2026 season. he raced with Picnic PostNL’s development team and then their WorldTour squad from 2022 to 2025, but his European career was largely defined by near-misses, with only a handful of top-five finishes in lower-level races. He even made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España in 2025, but a lack of consistent results left him without a contract.

“This means everything.I have pretty much won nothing since I won junior nationals.I lost myself as a rider for the last few years. I think I’ve found myself again,” Eddy said immediately after the race,visibly moved by the victory.

“I haven’t won anything since 2019, I started to forget what it was like to win a bike race, this is what I fell in love with. It’s good to be back, it means everything.”

Returning to Australia, Eddy found a home with Team Brennan, and quickly proved his worth. He emphasized the crucial role his teammates, Oliver Bleddyn and Tristan Saunders, played in the race, with Bleddyn contributing to the early breakaway and then assisting Eddy in the final kilometers. He also lauded the supportive environment created by Team Brennan founder Tim Decker.

“We’re definitely the new kids on the block,” Eddy acknowledged.

the win for Team Brennan, a relatively new team on the Australian cycling scene, was a significant achievement, surpassing even the expectations of beating out numerous WorldTour riders. While Eddy’s future with Team Brennan remains uncertain, the victory has undoubtedly opened doors and could perhaps lead to a return to the European peloton during a disrupted transfer season.

“I feel like most of the cycling world gave up on me. There was just a handful of people around me, kept believing in me and told me to keep hustling,” Eddy said. “This is for them.”