Road and track cyclist Elsie Apps has already raced across Europe, represented Australia and collected several national titles. Now, she’s heading to the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games – an opportunity she almost didn’t apply for.

The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete was in Belgium with the Australian Cycling Academy (ACA) when the phone rang.

“I was a bit shocked to find out,” Apps said. “I wasn’t going to apply for it, and then they told me it would be flat. I was like, ‘Oh, I may as well just put in and see what happens.’
“I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’m really excited and looking forward to it.”

At just 17 years old – and currently completing her HSC exams – that unexpected selection is characteristic of how Apps describes much of her young career: a surprise.

“I always say to Mum, ‘When you first put me in cycling, were you expecting me to have already travelled the world?’” she said. “And she’s like, ‘I knew you were going to be good at it.’ But I don’t think she was fully expecting this much so young.”

Growing up in Goulburn, Apps tried everything from touch football to rugby. She was even asked to join a cheerleading team – an offer she politely declined.

Photo by ZW Photography

Introduced to cycling by her parents at age nine, Apps began riding through Goulburn Cycle Club. Of all the sports she tried, cycling was the one that stuck.

Now competing across both road and track, Apps enjoys the differences each discipline brings.

“Track is good fun, it’s very strategic racing,” she said. “You’ve got to think about how you can be smart because of how short and fast the racing is.

“And I like road because it’s longer and it’s a different sort of effort. It’s just endurance – you just keep riding, keep going, and you just hit flow state.”

In 2025, Apps joined the ACA team, further developing across road and track and travelling to Belgium, where she gained her first taste of European road racing.

“It was a really good experience to get to do. Not everyone gets to do that, and I’ve already been able to do it and I’m 17,” Apps said.

“It was a big learning curve the first year because I went not knowing what to expect. But my DS [Sporting Director], Haylee Fuller [former NSWIS athlete], was really helpful because she’s experienced it before.”

She also credits senior athletes, including fellow NSWIS athlete and 2025 Junior World Champion Anna Dubier, with helping the younger riders navigate racing in Europe.

Apps returned to Belgium for a second season this year with a much better understanding of what to expect – and found the results came earlier, including a win at the Arendonk one-day race and three silver medals across other one-day races.

“It was a very big reassurance that I am able to do it, and it helps you be able to back yourself,” she said.

Before her four-medal campaign in Belgium, Apps had already started the season strongly, winning the U19 Criterium Australian Championship before claiming six medals, including three gold, at Track Nationals.

“I wasn’t expecting to go that well at Track Nationals because I didn’t do track last year,” she said.

“It was a bit of a ‘just see what happens’ kind of experience, but it worked really well in the end.”

With all she has already achieved, Apps remains remarkably relaxed. For her, just seeing what happens is part of the process.

“I do like to go with the flow and be chill about some situations because there’s no point stressing about it and wasting energy,” she said.

That calm approach extends to racing – although the nerves still arrive before the start.

“Normally at the start, I’m very nervous. I get butterflies, and then we start and I’m thinking about positioning myself well,” Apps said.

“And then if I get a bit bored, I’ll sing to myself.”

Photo by Con Choris

Her songs of choice?

“‘Unwritten’ [Natasha Bedingfield] is a good one, and ‘The Days’ [Chrystal – NOTION Remix]. I think it calms me down a bit. It stops me from overthinking what’s happening in the race.”

But Apps’ laidback approach shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of ambition.

“I’d like to get a top-10 or top-five in a race,” she said.

“But mainly I’m really looking forward to the road race itself. The flatness suits me really well.

“I really want to win races, but I also just enjoy cycling in general. I don’t want to put too much pressure on ‘doing good’, but I definitely want to be up there.”

Beyond Dakar, Apps already has the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games in her sights.

“I really want to try and make it to that one,” she said. “So, this is a good way to slowly get there.”

For now, she’s hopeful things will go her way in Dakar but, perfectly in character: “We’ll just see what happens.”

Words: Rachel Tingey, NSWIS

Tags Elsie Apps
RECOMMENDED LINKS

Recommended Articles