Mikayla Harvey, a climber hailing from Wanaka, New Zealand, has set her sights on returning to top form after signing a two-year contract with Team SD Worx-Protime. The 26-year-old, who finished fifth in the Giro Donne in 2020, had her progress hampered by illness in recent seasons, but sports manager Danny Stam remains confident in her abilities. “She has shown in the past to be among the best climbers. We still believe in her climbing abilities,” Stam explained.
Harvey’s road back to form has not been easy. After her standout year in 2020, she contracted the Epstein-Barr virus, which led to a drop in her performance over the last couple of years. “She neglected the illness a bit, and we had a conversation about that with our medical team,” Stam shared. However, with her health now in check, the team is optimistic. “It’s a nice challenge for us to get her back to her 2020 level. In the mountains, she can then become an important mainstay for the team.”
Reflecting on her move, Harvey is excited for a fresh start, both in terms of her career and her life. “This transfer means a new chapter in my career and my life,” she said, acknowledging that she’s not only changing teams but also moving from Varese in Italy to Andorra. She recognises Team SD Worx-Protime’s strength in women’s cycling, stating, “Team SD Worx-Protime is an incredibly strong team, the best in women’s cycling. The strongest riders in the peloton ride here or have made the step to the world top here.”
Harvey pointed to the examples of riders like Niamh Fisher-Black, Lotte Kopecky, and Demi Vollering as proof of the team’s environment for growth. “Niamh Fisher-Black could develop step by step within this team into one of the strongest climbers in the world. Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering have also become the best in the world under the wings of this team,” she noted.
Looking ahead, Harvey has set ambitious goals. “I don’t want to be a mediocre rider; I am aiming for the very highest,” she said. “That won’t happen overnight, of course. First of all, I want to learn to make my mark in races. So I want to develop myself and hopefully win races later on. For that, I have come to the right place at Team SD Worx-Protime.” The winning mindset and leadership within the team were key attractions for her: “That is what I have missed in recent seasons.”
Harvey also expressed excitement at the prospect of riding alongside one of her role models, Anna van der Breggen. “She was my big role model, so it is super cool to still be in the team with her,” she revealed. Returning to a familiar bike brand adds another element of nostalgia for the New Zealander. “I am also really looking forward to riding Specialized again. When I just started racing, I rode a Specialized. Although this is a new chapter, in that way it also feels like ‘back to the roots’.”
As she begins this new phase of her career, Harvey brings a clear vision of what she hopes to contribute to the team. “My personality can hopefully add value to the team. I have a positive attitude. I am naturally calm and am often the one who provides stability in conflicts,” she explained. But beyond being a calming presence, she remains competitive and unafraid of hard work. “A good trait is that I like to suffer. If you want to achieve something, you should not be afraid to try things out.”
Looking back on the challenges she’s faced, Harvey is proud of her resilience. “I’ve had to deal with a lot of setbacks, but always came out on top,” she said. “You learn more about yourself during difficult times than during success. I am stronger now.”
