RADL GRVL Presented by Quad Lock Crowns Inaugural Oceania Gravel Champions at 2026 Santos Tour Down Under

January 23, 2026

Nicole Frain and Romain Bardet (both racing for Factor Racing Team) take line honours in the Elite Women's and Elite Men’s race

Adelaide, Australia (January 23, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ –  International eyes were drawn to the warm and sunny McLaren Vale, South Australia this morning as the 2026 gravel season was opened with a star-studded lineup at the third edition of RADL GRVL p/b Quad Lock.

2025 UCI Gravel Champion Frain secured a dominant victory by over 3 minutes, claiming both the overall win and the Oceania Championship title after a daring solo breakaway on Kings Hill Road/Wahoo Bang on Average Climb less than 15km into the race.

In the Men’s race, recently retired World Tour professional and four-time Tour de France stage winner Frenchman Romain Bardet secured a decisive victory after attacking continuously in the final stages of the race. While Bardet took line honours, it was New Zealander Cameron Jones who claimed the Oceania Championship title. Jones mounted an epic pursuit to finish second overall, fighting back from two punctures in the first 60km of racing.

Pro Women’s Podium

1. Nicole FRAIN (AUS) 4:02:32
2. Melisa ROLLINS (USA) 4:05:36
3. Tiffany CROMWELL (AUS) 4:13:34

Pro Men’s Podium

1. Romain BARDET (FRA) 3:30:07
2. Cameron JONES (NZL) 3:31:01
3. Alexey VERMEULEN (USA) 3:31:49

Over 700 local and international riders descended on McLaren Vale, South Australia to compete in the third edition of RADL GRVL presented by Quad Lock, offering a coveted Pro prize purse of $7,000 AUD.

The top steps of the podium featured a mix of international star power and local dominance. French cycling star Romain Bardet (Factor Racing CC) took glory in the Elite Men’s race, while Australia’s Nicole Frain (Factor Racing CC) secured a decisive victory in the Elite Women’s field.

Frain stayed away all day after a daring solo break in the first 15km of the race, finishing 3 minutes ahead of American Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective).

In the men’s field, New Zealander Cameron Jones (Scott Sports USA) finished 54 seconds behind Bardet to secure second place and the Oceania title, finishing ahead of a fractured chase group that included American Alexey Vermueulen (3rd), and local talents; reigning AusCycling Gravel National Champion Mark O’Brien (4th), and Brent Rees (5th).

Gravel Racers from 13 Countries Descend on Adelaide in Search of Glory

RADL GRVL p/b Quad Lock kicked off on Thursday in the City of Adelaide with the Quad Lock Budgy Beach Ride, where a large peloton of riders clad in little more than Budgy Smugglers rode from the Santos Tour Down Under Village to Glenelg Beach for a pre-race recovery dip in the ocean. In the afternoon, a star studded Pro Panel event on the Santos Tour Down Under Village Main Stage provided entertainment for those attending the pre-event briefing.Twelve professional gravel racers and sporting personalities joined the panel, competing in a series of unconventional challenges designed to test their skills off the bike, with co-founder Tiffany Cromwell and visiting American Dylan Johnson each taking out the win.

Jones Battles Back to Claim Oceania Title

The Men’s race was aggressive from the gun, with a lead group quickly forming after the first hard climb containing Mark O’Brien, Ian Boswell, Romain Bardet, Tasman Nankervis, and Cameron Jones, establishing over a one minute gap over the chasers.

Drama struck early at the 45km mark when Jones suffered a puncture on a technical descent. Despite chasing back to within 50 seconds, he had to stop to replug his tire. However, by the 65km mark, the chasing group came back together and he was able to rejoin the front of the race.

As the breakaway passed the SRAM Oasis aid station at 80km, Bardet began to push the pace, attacking continuously. While O’Brien, Rees, and Boswell chased hard, Bardet eventually cleared a decisive gap in the final 10km. Jones, having recovered from his mechanicals, surged ahead of the other chasers to finish 54 seconds behind the recently retired World Tour star, holding off the chase by nearly a minute to secure the Oceania Championship jersey.

Frain dominates with Solo Breakaway

The Women’s race split early on the initial climb of the day, with Nicole Frain moving off the front to establish a small gap over Tori Barry, Tiffany Cromwell, Melisa Rollins, Samara Sheppard and Danni Shrosbree. By the 25km mark, Frain had extended her lead to a minute.

Rollins pushed on solo in an attempt to bridge the gap, leaving Barry, Cromwell, Sheppard and Shrosbree to chase. However, Frain’s lead continued to grow, hitting two minutes by the 44km mark.

By the time Frain passed the SRAM Oasis aid station, she had solidified her lead. The heat and elevation took their toll on the chasers, splitting the group behind Rollins. Frain crossed the line 3 minutes clear of Rollins, with Cromwell fighting hard to round out the podium in third, followed by Sheppard in 4th and Barry in 5th.

RESULTS

Pro Women’s Top 10

Nicole FRAIN (AUS) 4:02:32

Melisa ROLLINS (USA) 4:05:36

Tiffany CROMWELL (AUS) 4:13:34

Samara SHEPPARD (NZL) 4:14:02

Tori BARRY (AUS) 4:15:06

Danni SHROSBREE (GBR) 4:16:30

Matilda RAYNOLDS (AUS) 4:32:07

Cassia BOGLIO (AUS) 4:43:41

Elle DE NOOYER (AUS) 4:46:05

Paige PENROSE (AUS) 4:52:59

Pro Men’s Top 10

Romain BARDET (FRA) 3:30:07

Cameron JONES (NZL) 3:31:01

Alexey VERMEULEN (USA) 3:31:49

Mark O’BRIEN (AUS) 3:31:51

Brent REES (AUS) 3:32:48

Ian BOSWELL (USA) 3:33:49

Jeremy PRESBURY (NZL) 3:36:36

Cassius ANDERSON (USA) 3:39:58

Jasper ALBRECHT (AUS) 3:39:58

Curtis DOWDELL (AUS) 3:39:59

Oceania Elite Women’s Top 10

1. Nicole FRAIN (AUS) 4:02:32
2. Tiffany CROMWELL (AUS) 4:13:34
3. Samara SHEPPARD (NZL) 4:14:02
4. Tori BARRY (AUS) 4:15:06
5. Matilda RAYNOLDS (AUS) 4:32:07
6. Cassia BOGLIO (AUS) 4:43:41
7. Elle DE NOOYER (AUS) 4:46:05
8. Paige PENROSE (AUS) 4:52:59
9. Karla BELL (AUS) 5:14:51
10. Inez CASHMAN (AUS) 5:14:52

Oceania Elite Men’s Top 10

1. Cameron JONES (NZL) 3:31:01
2. Mark O’BRIEN (AUS) 3:31:51
3. Brent REES (AUS) 3:32:48
4. Jeremy PRESBURY (NZL) 3:36:36
5. Jasper ALBRECHT (AUS) 3:39:58
6. Curtis DOWDELL (AUS) 3:39:59
7. Lachlan MORTON (AUS) 3:40:03
8. Tom CHEESMAN (AUS) 3:41:22
9. Tom CHESTER (AUS) 3:45:30
10. Adam BLAZEVIC (AUS) 3:47:15

RADL GRVL Partners

Santos Tour Down Under, Quad Lock, Accor Hotels, Schwalbe, SRAM, Zipp, Maurten, Cuore, World Bicycle Relief, Yamaha

Full results: https://timit.pro/events/RADLGRVL/?page=results

Media select images (Patrick Boere): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UkOlpxf3cfE6nR5LqmI4XAOqbWAkLZKM?usp=sharing
Event website: https://www.radlgrvl.com/

Media contact: ryan@sbtgrvl.com

About GRVL Events

SBT GRVL® p/b Wahoo was founded in 2019 by Amy Charity in Steamboat Springs CO. Since then, the event has grown to be the second-largest gravel race in the USA. In 2023 Charity joined forces with Valtteri Bottas and Tiffany Cromwell to co-found FNLD GRVL and subsequently the first-ever RADL GRVL at Santos Tour Down Under, 2024.

Each year, GRVL® Events continue to grow globally as cyclists have come to associate GRVL® with a premium cycling experience in unique locations with a diverse and communal atmosphere, that’s as competitive and challenging as it is enjoyable.