COVID-19 has delayed the 19-year-old's "real" debut for the Australian Cycling Academy's ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast team with the National Road Series postponed, but the competition has been able to be hold a virtual version via online cycling platform Zwift.

The first of six rounds of competition was held on May 2 with a 16 lap criterium, with Devonport's Louw using the series as a rare chance for a pre-season.

"We've got a 12-week block now where we can focus our attention and competitiveness and it is good we can race each other even though it is not actually racing on the road,'' she said.

"We've never really had a pre-season as with road cycling you have an off-season and then racing just starts, so for the first time we can think that we are having a pre-season and use it as preparation for later in the year."

Louw, who finished midfield in that opening event, said Zwfit was a resource she had used during the cold Tasmanian winter.

"You put in your height, which determines how aerodynamic you are, so if you are taller you are going to be less aero in the wind then someone who is 20cm shorter than you,'' she said.

"You put in your weight as well and that measures your power as well and measures how fast you go up the hills and down the hills, so it is very realistic and you can see where you are at power wise compared to a lot of girls.

"There are very strict guidelines and they call you up on a video call and you have to step on the scales to ensure you haven't lied about your weight, so that is a different component none of us have had to really deal with.

"So if everyone is being honest about their weight, you can see where you are at power and strength wise compared to other girls, but there are more elements in real racing."

The "power stats" delivered, she said, were the most beneficial, as "the only thing you can compare to it is time trials where you are going hard at it for the entire time".

"You can't do tactics, as you put out power and you just move up through the group, but you do see how much fluid you use and how much you do need eat when you are going that hard. I'd prefer to be racing on the road, but it is what it is and you can take a lot of positives out of it."

Louw, the 2018 Oceania under 19 time trial champion, has spent her downtime cramming in more study for her Bachelor of Dietetics at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and was training with the mindset that the NRS will start in September.

Two proposals have it starting in September or October, with the Tour of Tasmania in December.

Other Tasmanians in the series include Nicole Frain, Kathryn Woolston, Zack Gilmore, Daniel Di Domenico, Ben Van Dam and Zac Johnson.

The next event will be on Saturday and live-streamed across Zwift and the NRS Facebook page.