Various loaves of bread balancing on each other.

Domenic Paolilli

Australian Cyclist

20-year-old cyclist from Melbourne, Victoria. Focusing on the disciplines of Cross Country MTB (XCO), Cyclocross and Road Racing.

My Story

Since I was young, I have always been very energetic and enjoyed being outdoors. I was involved in several community sports when I started primary school, which included athletics, cross country, running, and soccer. I loved both the training and game/race day aspect of these sports and sharing the experience with others involved in the community. Eventually, my soccer commitments became more of a priority, as I started to move up the ranks into a higher division. My week would consist of three to four intense training sessions per week and match day usually on Sunday.

Once I got to high school, I started to ride my bike more at a local park (Westerfolds Park) which had a great network of trails for beginners. I was riding my bike on my days off from soccer, as a way to enjoy the parkland I had close to home and mix up my training. As I transitioned into the senior cohort at school, I began to lose interest in soccer as I was enjoying riding my bike more. I loved the thrill and sense of adventure that riding my bike could provide me. I hanged up my soccer boots at the end of 2017, which was a big decision for me and a shock to my family.

From 2019 onwards, I began racing competitively at local, national and international level. Through working together with my coach and family, I have been able to progress in my fitness and skills, and the hard work was starting to become evident in my race results. A couple of National Titles I won helped circulate my name in the sport, and this led to some new team and sponsorship opportunities.

After a successful 2022 Australian XCO Season, coming away with podium results at XCO National & Continental Championships, I received a scholarship at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. I will be training and competing throughout the European Season, with the focus on gaining plenty of experience to help reach future goals.