O’Shea Redchilli Bikes have confirmed a significant final addition to their 2026 UCI squad with the signing of double Olympian Maeve Plouffe, strengthening both their road and track ambitions ahead of the new season. The Australian arrives with deep experience, proven power and a palmarès that marks her as one of the most versatile riders currently operating across disciplines.
The team described Plouffe as “a super strong all-rounder” with the speed, endurance and racing instinct to elevate their programme immediately. Ranked inside the world’s top 20 on the track, she brings an international pedigree, technical sharpness and a wealth of knowledge from two years in the Women’s WorldTour with Team dsm–firmenich PostNL.
A rider of world-class calibre
Plouffe’s credentials are formidable. On the track she holds the Australian records in both the team pursuit and the 3000m individual pursuit, becoming only the third woman ever to break the 3:20 barrier. Her gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, followed by silver in the individual pursuit, confirmed her as one of Australia’s most important endurance riders.
Her rise began in the South Australian Sports Institute’s talent identification programme, transitioning from surf lifesaving and swimming into cycling with notable ease. She won early time trial titles as a junior before making her elite international debut in the 2018–19 World Cup season.
At the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, she rode as part of Australia’s track endurance team, establishing herself as a calm, disciplined and versatile engine within high-pressure squads.
Experience in the elite road peloton
Plouffe’s road career progressed swiftly through ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast before she entered the WorldTour in 2023. Across two seasons at Team DSM she gained racecraft, confidence and resilience in the European peloton, contesting sprints and performing strongly in criteriums and time trials. Her 2025 season included a bronze medal at the Australian criterium championships, sixth at GP Immo Zone and 15th at the national road race.
That blend of track speed and road durability is precisely what O’Shea Redchilli Bikes were seeking as they finalised their 2026 squad.
A pivotal signing for O’Shea Redchilli Bikes
Plouffe’s arrival marks an important shift for the team as they look to raise their competitive level following their 2025 season under the Hess Cycling name. With her technical background, European experience and tactical range, Plouffe is expected to play a key role in both stage races and high-speed one-day events.
The team emphasised the value of her experience in major environments, describing her as a rider who can guide younger teammates while pursuing her own performance goals across both road and track.
For Plouffe, the move represents a fresh, ambitious environment in which to build on the momentum of an already decorated early career. Now 26 and entering her peak years, she will have significant freedom to chase results, while continuing to split her focus between the velodrome and the tarmac.
Career highlights
- Double Olympian: Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024
- Australian record holder – team pursuit and individual pursuit
- Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist (2022)
- Nations Cup individual pursuit winner (2022)
- Multiple Australian elite titles
- WorldTour experience with DSM (2023 and 2024)
- Top-three finisher at the Australian criterium championships (2025)
Looking ahead
With Plouffe signed through 2026, O’Shea Redchilli Bikes have secured not only a proven performer, but a rider with the speed, discipline and mentality to anchor a growing international squad. Her ability to contribute across terrain and formats adds depth to the team’s ambitions, and the move offers Plouffe an ideal platform for the next phase of her career – one that promises to remain split between global track targets and selective, high-impact road racing.
She arrives as a rider who knows how to win and how to lead, and her addition completes a roster built on purpose and potential.
