Aussie riders get creative in quarantine

Two weeks of enforced hotel quarantine upon entering Australia from overseas can weigh on the mind, but Aussie cyclists have gotten a bit creative to stay in good spirits during isolation.

(Clockwise from top left) Lauren Kitchen, Jess Allen, Gracie Elvin, Grace Brown, Cyrus Monk, Lauren Kitchen Source: Instagram

Aussie cyclists have been looking to do things a bit differently in government-enforced lockdown on entering Australia, turning to hobbies, self-care and exercise in their hotel rooms to stay in good physical and mental condition. 

Lauren Kitchen (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope)

Kitchen has perhaps the most varied Instagram account postings from lockdown, from facials to burpees and everything in between. She came up with a series of tips at the end of her experience.

Lauren Kitchen's Tips for quarantine

1. Embrace it!

2. One day at a time

3. Keep moving

4. Online is your friend

5. Use the time to evaluate and reflect

Shannon Malseed (retired)

Shannon Malseed retired from the WorldTour at the conclusion of the 2020 season and most of her Facebook posts focused on her flexibility exercises, but she was honest with her emotions at pulling the plug on her time within professional cycling.

Source: Facebook

Cyrus Monk (EvoPro Racing)

Cyrus Monk is a bit of renaissance man, a cyclist at Continental level, a musician, a scientist and snappy with video-editing skills. His daily covers of classics with hotel utensils have become must-watches on Twitter.

Gracie Elvin (retired)

Gracie Elvin's step away from the professional peloton was an emotional one, but luckily she has plenty of friends to flood her room with flowers and messages of support.

Jess Allen (Mitchelton-Scott)

Allen has spent more time in lockdown than most, with the extended isolation in Spain during the initial coronavirus wave and now a further two weeks on returning to Australia. She had a cooking video during her first isolation, but this time it's more about staying active.

Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott)

Using her quarantine time for a positive outcome, Grace Brown has spent her weeks perfecting her time trial position on the rollers. Fifth at the world championships evidently wasn't good enough for her, she's looking for a medal at the Tokyo Olympics!