05 Oct 2025 Season Review
BLACK MAGIC pb TINELI — 2025 Season Review
Celebrating Our 2025 Season Together
Thank you — why this matters
To every sponsor, supporter, and believer — thank you. Your backing made this season possible. In a sport where opportunity is uneven, your support created a pathway for young women to race, grow, and lead in the toughest environments on earth.
We don’t just chase results. We build resilience, teach life skills, and develop leaders. Every race, setback, and breakthrough is part of shaping stronger athletes and stronger people.
What you made possible
- Podiums & jerseys: UCI Young Rider jersey, European race wins, national titles
- Breakthroughs: Riders in winning moves; top-10s against WorldTour fields
- Development: First European campaigns for multiple U19s; real learning in crosswinds, heat, and chaos
- Environment: Safe, supportive Belgian and French bases under Christel Herremans and team; committed U19 parents on the ground
Season by the Numbers
- 12 riders developed across U19, U23, and Elite
- 9 countries raced in Europe
- 1st European win since 2019 (Keira Will, Prosper-Polder)
- 3 National Championship titles
- 100+ race days delivered across all squads
- 1 World Championship silver medal from alumni (Niamh Fisher-Black)
Where to from here — a new chapter
In 2026, Black Magic pb Tineli will merge its elite program with Australia’s Meridian Blue Cycling to form a new UCI Women’s Continental Team. This collaboration creates a sustainable, high-impact pathway for Oceania women to race in Europe and reach the top of the sport.
Black Magic will refocus on U19s and beginner U23s — continuing to provide structured development, mentorship, and first-time European race opportunities. We remain committed to building leaders, not just racers.
“We’re proud of what we’ve built. We’re excited for what’s next. And we remain committed to making sure Oceania women have every chance to succeed — from their first race to the world stage.”
Season Review 2025
A month‑by‑month look at how the year unfolded — from planning and rider reveals through to European campaigns and the final race in Tuscany.
Nov–Dec 2024: Planning & Foundations
- Team applications opened for the expanded U19 and full U23/Elite European campaign.
- Belgian base confirmed under DS Christel Herremans and Georgia Williams.
- Early rider signings set the tone for a trans-Tasman squad with a development-first ethos.
Jan 2025: Rider Reveals & Early Season Racing
- Elite/U23 Signings: Ava Maddison, Michaela Rogan, Alli Anderson, Sophie Marr, Charlotte Clarke, Georgia Waghorn, Alia Wentz, Keira Will.
- U19 Squad: Holly Bishop, Summer Karras, Piper Karras, Poppy McIvor, Neve McKenzie, Nina Worrall.
- Crit Nationals:
- Summer Karras — U19 National Champion
- Alex Rawlinson — U23 National Champion & 3rd Elite
- Ava Maddison — 2nd U23 & 4th Elite
- Charlotte Clarke — 4th Elite & 6th overall
- Gore to Invercargill: Alex wins overall
- Makarora Return Race: Ava, Alex, Michaela sweep 1st, 2nd, 5th in B Grade
Feb 2025: Nationals Block
- U19 TT — Neve McKenzie National Champion; Piper 3rd; Holly 4th
- U23 TT — Alex 2nd; Ava 3rd
- U19 Road Race — Neve 1st; Holly 2nd
- Elite/U23 Road Race — Charlotte 6th Elite; Ava 3rd U23; Georgia 4th U23; Alex 5th U23
“Standing on the podium in the silver fern was surreal — it felt like all the winter miles were worth it.” — Neve
“I emptied the tank in the last kilometre. To be up there with the elites at my age is huge.” — Ava
Apr–Jun 2025: Europe Block 1 — Elite/U23
- Belgian kermesses — early rhythm and adaptation to European racing
- Ronde de Mouscron 1.1 (BEL) — first UCI race since 2019
- Gracia Orlová 2.2 (CZE) — Alli Anderson 5th GC & Young Rider Champion; Sophie 5th on a stage; Ava 7th on Queen Stage; team 9th GC; all riders finished
- La Classique Morbihan 1.1 (FRA) — Alli 7th vs WT/Pro/Conti field
- GP du Morbihan Femmes 1.1 (FRA) — Alli 19th; Ava finished strong; Alia crashed; Keira unwell
- Tour de Féminin 2.2 (CZE) — four-day stage race; valuable GC and climbing experience for the squad
- Dwars door de Westhoek 1.1 (BEL) — brutal crosswinds tested positioning
- GP Mazda Schelkens 1.1 (BEL) — team regrouped TTT-style after early split
- Prosper-Polder Kieldrecht 1.15 (BEL) — Keira Will delivers BM’s first European win of 2025 from a breakaway
“Every stage was a fight, but to come away with the Young Rider jersey shows we belong here.” — Alli
“I’d never raced climbs that long before — it was brutal, but I learned so much.” — Sophie
“When the break stuck, I just kept telling myself: don’t look back, just go.” — Keira
Jun–Jul 2025: Southern France Training Camp
- Thanks to the generosity of James and Karen, the team based in a villa near Carcassonne.
- Daily training on iconic climbs and rolling French terrain.
- Focus on heat adaptation, team bonding, and recovery routines.
- Preparation block before U19 and Elite squads split for their campaigns.
Jul 2025: U19 Europe Campaign
- Trofee Ellen Van Loy (BEL) — Neve 6th; Holly 9th; strong debut for the squad.
- Watersley Ladies Challenge (NED) — three‑day stage race; all riders finished; Neve 14th GC.
- Valromey Tour (FRA) — mountainous four‑day race; Holly 12th on Stage 2; Neve 18th GC.
- Exposure to European peloton chaos, crosswinds, and heat — invaluable learning.
“The heat was insane — I’ve never raced in 35°C before.” — Holly
“To finish as a team, all together, was the best feeling.” — Lilly
Aug 2025: Europe Block 2 — Elite/U23
- GP Désiré Goossens – Drongen Kermesse (BEL) — fast, technical racing.
- Tour de Pologne Feminin (POL) — first time racing in Eastern Europe; Sophie 22nd GC.
- Kreiz Breizh Elites Féminin (FRA) — relentless pace, narrow lanes, slick climbs; constant crashes tested resilience.
“It was chaos — crashes everywhere — but we kept each other safe and finished as a unit.” — Michaela
Sep 2025: Giro Toscana (ITA)
- Final race of the season — four stages in 30+°C heat.
- Sophie 14th in TT; 34th GC overall.
- Charlotte showed climbing promise before a crash forced her out.
- Ava, Maia, and Esra gave everything to position their leaders — sacrificing personal results to protect, support, and drive the team forward.
- A gritty finish to a season defined by resilience.
“We gave it our all with the equipment we had.” — Sophie
“Mentally tough. I didn’t feel like myself, but I kept fighting.” — Charlotte
“I was just trying to survive and not drop wheels.” — Maia
“Italian racing always brings a new level of chaos.” — Ava
Shoutouts — The People Behind the Season
- Christel Herremans and her support team: Their experience, knowledge, care, and unwavering support were incredible. This partnership is now a critical element in the new Oceania team collaboration for 2026.
- Tessa: An engaged and supportive helper both behind the scenes and on the ground at races. So special to see her back in Queenstown — where our journey with Black Magic began and where she herself raced in 2016.
Alumni spotlight — Niamh Fisher-Black at Worlds
Just one week after our final race, alumni rider Niamh Fisher-Black delivered a career-defining performance at the UCI World Championships in Rwanda — attacking solo and securing silver. It’s New Zealand’s best elite road result in over a decade, and the first ever podium for a Kiwi in the elite road race.
“It didn’t really feel like we were racing, the race didn’t feel hard at all. Once I saw I was in a position to win I knew where my strong points were and tried. But Magdeleine… she rode away from me and I have to give it to her — she was the strongest rider.” — Niamh Fisher-Black
Appendix — Instagram highlights
For a full gallery of race recaps, behind‑the‑scenes moments, and rider reflections from the 2025 season, visit our Instagram profile:
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