Brodie Chapman says she feels a renewed hunger for racing as she looks toward the next phase of her career, even after achieving one of her longest-held ambitions at the World Championships in Kigali.
Speaking to CyclingNews during the Tour of Bright, the UAE Team ADQ rider reflected on a journey that has been anything but conventional, and on why, at this stage of her career, she feels more settled, motivated, and competitive than ever.
From curiosity-driven beginnings to WorldTour consistency
It is difficult to reconcile the rider Chapman is today with the one who lined up at the Tour of Bright in 2016, questioning whether road racing was really for her. Back then, cycling was something she explored instinctively rather than methodically.
Chapman’s background spans BMX, downhill mountain biking, fixed-gear riding, bike courier work, and racing whatever events sounded interesting. That curiosity-first approach meant results arrived before structure, but the underlying talent was always clear.
Her transition into elite road racing gathered momentum in 2018 when a sixth place at the Australian National Road Championships earned her selection for the Herald Sun Tour. She won both the opening stage and the overall classification, a breakthrough that led to her first WorldTour opportunity.
Since then, Chapman has quietly built a reputation as one of the most dependable riders in the peloton. Victories at Race Torquay in 2020, the Tour of the Gila overall in 2019, and the Grand Prix Féminin de Chambéry in 2022 underlined her versatility, while top-ten finishes at races like the Tour of Flanders and Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge showed her ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Establishing herself as a championship rider
Chapman’s career has increasingly been defined by her performances against the clock and in championship settings. She claimed the Australian national road title in 2023, then added major international success in 2024 by riding to a rainbow jersey as part of Australia’s mixed relay team time trial squad at the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich.
That focus sharpened further in 2025. Chapman defended the mixed relay world title, finished fourth in the elite individual time trial at Worlds, and claimed the Australian national time trial championship. Alongside those results came an eighth place overall at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, the mountains classification there, and the combativity award on stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes.
These performances cemented her status as one of the most reliable time trial and engine riders in the women’s WorldTour.
A defining move to UAE Team ADQ
Chapman’s move to UAE Team ADQ for the 2025 season marked a significant moment, both personally and historically. She became the first Australian rider to sign for the team’s women’s WorldTour programme, joining on a two-year contract.
The decision was driven by more than results. Chapman has spoken about wanting an environment that values individual strengths, personalities, and long-term development. At UAE Team ADQ, she found a structure that aligned with those priorities.
Reflecting with CyclingNews, Chapman described feeling more content than ever within a team environment. The culture, resources, and ambition of UAE Team ADQ allowed her to balance leadership, domestique duties, and personal goals without compromise.
On the road, that translated into tangible success. She won a stage at the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, supported Elisa Longo Borghini through another Giro d’Italia Women victory, and made her Tour de France Femmes debut, all while continuing to deliver at championships.
Photo Credit: SWPix.com
Kigali achieved, motivation renewed
For years, racing to the World Championships in Kigali had been a defining personal goal. Reaching that milestone could easily have marked a natural pause or shift in ambition, particularly given Chapman’s later entry into the professional ranks.
Instead, she describes the opposite effect. Speaking to CyclingNews, Chapman admitted she feels a renewed desire to keep racing, even referring to herself as being in the “twilight years” of her career while still actively looking ahead.
Her current contract runs through the end of 2026, but Chapman has already spoken openly about the possibility of racing beyond that point if the enjoyment remains. Ideally, she would like to continue until at least 2028.
Photo Credit: Getty
Clear goals for the seasons ahead
The immediate focus remains the Australian summer, where Chapman will again target the national time trial title before lining up for the Santos Tour Down Under. With the event now featuring a full Women’s WorldTour field, UAE Team ADQ arrive with general classification ambitions firmly in mind.
Beyond Australia, the World Championships once again loom large. The long time trial courses expected at future editions suit Chapman’s steady power profile, and she has already identified them as key objectives.
Alongside personal targets, her role within UAE Team ADQ remains central. Supporting Longo Borghini in stage races, particularly at the Giro d’Italia Women, continues to be a priority, while longer time trials across the calendar offer further opportunities.
Chapman’s journey into the sport may have been unconventional, but her current position is anything but accidental. Content within her team, established at the highest level, and still motivated by both personal ambition and collective success, she enters the next phase of her career with clarity rather than uncertainty.