Rylee McMullen grew up on New Zealand’s scenic North Island in an athletic family, competing in a variety of sports throughout her youth, including water polo and swimming. However, she didn’t discover cycling until she was 20 years old, while attending university. On a whim, she signed up for a half Ironman, and after recording the fastest bike split, she decided to shift her focus entirely to cycling, leaving running and swimming behind.Her first road race was the 2016 Bev May Tour, where she competed as an unattached rider and won the QOM jersey. Just three months later, she signed with the Australian team Roxsolt, racing in both Europe and the U.S., where she quickly became hooked on the sport.
Rylee spent three seasons in the European peloton with UCI Team Andy Schleck-Immo Losch before transitioning to the North American-based Instafund team in 2022. In 2024, she joined DNA Pro Cycling, competing in the team's final season as a UCI Continental squad. Over the years, she has earned numerous podium finishes across New Zealand, the U.S., Canada, and Latin America in both criteriums and road races.On the track, Rylee has collected multiple Oceania Championship medals, highlighted by gold in the Elimination Race at the 2023 Oceania Championships and a National Title in the Points Race at the 2024 New Zealand National Championships.
Since 2017, she has proudly represented Team New Zealand in both road and track cycling and has her sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Off the bike, Rylee has completed two bachelor’s degrees and now calls Salt Lake City, Utah, home.
Being a professional athlete has always been my dream. After trying triathlon for a hot minute, I realized competitive running wasn’t for me, but I loved the freedom I felt on the bike. I was inspired by friends I met while working at a bike shop when I was 19, and as I built my own cycling community, my mentors who were professional racers took me under their wings. They made me believe I could pursue a career in cycling if I let go of swimming and running.
Cathy and Alex Kim are big inspirations to me. They took me into their team part way through the season and have reignited my love for cycling after a difficult few year. On the bike, they inspire me to believe in myself and really put everything into becoming the best I can within this highly competitive, high-performance sport. Off the bike, I see the way they run their team (DNA) and approach everything else in life with absolute perfection and 100% commitment. I hope I can apply this inspiration to life going forward both on and off the bike.
Bike racing pushes and challenges me, whether it's chasing a personal victory or contributing to the team's success. There's nothing more rewarding than pushing myself harder than I thought possible to achieve a goal, no matter if it's my own or for the team.
I’m proud of the fact that I have accomplished becoming both Oceania and National Champion on the track but feel that my biggest accomplishments on the bike have been being part of professional UCI teams like DNA Pro Cycling and now VBR Twenty28
Colombia, where the cycling culture is amazing. Racing through the villages with people lining the streets and kids screaming with excitement was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
I love running both in season and during my off-season. It feels so free and easy just putting on a pair of running shoes and heading out the door.
Race a lot and don’t overly focus on data.
Morning activations - a good way to start the day and get your body prepped for training
At home in New Zealand with my friends and family
1. Listen to music / make new playlists
2. Sleep
3. Dog walks
4. Watch reality TV
5. Hang out with my friends
1. Its that time - FISHER
2. Dip it Low - Ofenbach, Fabich
3. Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido - Karol G
4. To Stay - Plum
4. Rush - Troy Sivan
1. Eggs on toast
2. Ramen
3. Burritos
4. Cereal
I can’t wear flip flops, I can’t say no to Skittles, and I probably have headphones in listening to music.
