The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Track competition will take place at the Anna Meares Velodrome (Brisbane) from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 April.

It will feature 20 events - eight endurance, eight sprint and four para-cycling - with the eight track endurance events to include the points race and scratch race, and the team and individual pursuits.  The team pursuit is set to make its Commonwealth Games debut for women.
 
The 2018 Games is likely to provide a milestone for team, with Australia having won 96 Commonwealth Games cycling gold medals.

 A six-member women’s endurance squad with a rich blend of World Championship, Olympic and Commonwealth Games experience will line up for Australia at the Games.
 
Reigning Games scratch race champion Annette Edmondson, 26 (SA) is back on the track for her second Games, with the dual world champion eyeing a spot in Australia’s team pursuit quartet for the event’s debut.
 
Edmondson’s 2015 team pursuit world champion teammates Amy Cure, 25 (TAS) and Ashlee Ankudinoff, 27 (NSW) will provide tremendous experience and multiple options for all four events.
 
Cure, a dual 2014 Games medallist and 2014 points race world champion, is fresh from two national championship crowns in the scratch and points races. Ankudinoff, Australia’s only dual world champion in the team pursuit, boasts two World Championship medals in the individual format.
 
Dual individual pursuit world champion Rebecca Wiasak, 33 (ACT), who narrowly missed selection to the 2014 Commonwealth and 2016 Olympic teams, will make her major Games debut.
        
2016 Olympian Georgia Baker, 23 (TAS) overcame heart surgery in November to make her first Games team, while Alexandra Manly, 22 (SA) will also make her debut.  Manly, with Cure, Ankudinoff and Wiasak claimed silver at the 2017 World Championships, less than half a second behind world champions USA.

The seven-member men’s endurance squad might feature six Games debutants, but the team enjoys a wealth of experience, collectively boasting 19 rainbow jerseys and countless options for the pursuit and bunch races.
 
Triple 2010 Games gold medallist Cameron Meyer, 30 (WA) returns to the Australian team and enters fresh from claiming the points race world crown last month, his ninth career rainbow jersey.
 
Like his fellow Perth native, Olympic team pursuit silver medallist and reigning individual pursuit national champion Samuel Welsford, 22 (WA) will be a threat in any race, as will three-time world champion Leigh Howard, 28 (VIC) who receives his first Games nod.  
 
Hometown fans will be eager to see Jordan Kerby, 25 (QLD) in action, with the 2017 individual pursuit world champion rocketing to cult hero status after riding to the third fastest time in history just months after returning to track cycling.    
 
Rounding out the side is 2017 world champions Alexander Porter, 21 (SA), Nicholas Yallouris, 24 (NSW), plus Kelland O’Brien, 19 (VIC) - the youngest member of Australia’s 36-member cycling team.
 
While the men’s, and women’s, track endurance teams bypassed March’s World Championships a part of the Australia Cycling Team strategy to focus on the Games, the quartet of O'Brien, Yallouris, Kerby and Howard soared to Oceania gold last November in 3min 52.421secs - one of the top ten fastest pursuit times in history. 
 
The focus for both squads lies firmly with the team pursuit on day one, with the exact line up for each of the four events, to be confirmed closer to the competition start date.

WHEN ARE THEY RACING? 

• Day 1 - April 5: Women's 4000m Team Pursuit; Men's 4000m Team Pursuit  
• Day 2 - April 6: Women's 3000m Individual Pursuit; Men's 4000m Individual Pursuit  
• Day 3 - Sat April 7: Women's 25km Points Race; Men's 15km Scratch Race  
• Day 4 - April 8: Women's 10km Scratch Race; Men's 40km Points Race  

HOW CAN I WATCH?
​

• ​TV - Channel 7 will broadcast GC2018 on three free-to-air channels – 7, 7TWO & 7Mate
• Mobile - download the 7CommGames app from both Google Play & Apple store
• Web - 7commgames.com.au 

HOW DO I FOLLOW?

Follow all the action at commonwealthgames.com.au, or via the official CommGamesAUS social media channels / #TeamAus ​

Photos © Kevin Anderson, and Cycling Australia. 

The Australian Cycling Team has celebrated ten medals at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio, fourth most by any nation behind Great Britain, Netherlands and China.  
 
Highlighting the four days of competition for the green and gold was a world title defence by David Nicholas (QLD), and a world record and two medals to debutant Emily Petricola (VIC), plus dual silver to the Tandem pairing of Jessica Gallagher and Maddie Janssen. 
 
The Championships also offered the first vital opportunity for nations to grab valuable qualification points towards Tokyo 2020, with the 16-rider Australian team featuring among 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.  Complete results.

Summary of medallists
 
GOLD

• David NICHOLAS (QLD) Men C3 / 3 km Pursuit

 
SILVER         

• Kyle BRIDGWOOD (QLD) Men C4 / 4 km Pursuit
• Alistair DONOHOE (VIC) Men C4-5 / Scratch
• Jessica GALLAGHER/Madison JANSSEN (VIC) Tandem 1000 m TT
• Jessica GALLAGHER/Madison JANSSEN (VIC) Tandem Sprint
• Darren HICKS (SA) Men C1-2-3 / Scratch
• Emily PETRICOLA (VIC) Women C4/ 3 km Pursuit
• Amanda REID (NSW) Women C2/ 500 m TT

 
BRONZE       

• Meg LEMON (SA) Women C4/ 3 km Pursuit
• Emily PETRICOLA (VIC) Women C4/ 500 m TT

 
Recap

Reigning Paralympic and world champion David Nicholas (QLD) surged to defend his C3 individual pursuit world title on the opening day, clocking the fastest time during Thursday afternoon’s qualifying (3:36.792). 
 
Nicholas found two extra seconds in the tank in the evening’s final (3:34.804) to comfortably defeat Diederick Schelfhout (BEL) by over four seconds.

"It definitely feels amazing to defend my pursuit title, as it was the objective of the Championships. I am pretty happy with my results but there is always room for improvements so I will reflect when we get home and hopefully be stronger and faster next time," said Nicholas. 
 
On her team debut on Thursday, Emily Petricola (VIC) powered to a time of 41.409secs to win bronze in the C4 women’s 500m time trial. 
 
On Saturday, Petricola eclipsed the existing C4 individual pursuit world record in qualifying by two tenths of a second (3:54.501), before riding to take the silver medal.  Teammate Meg Lemon (SA) won the bronze. 
 
“I have been pleasantly surprised by my performance here, in particular grabbing bronze in the time trial,” said Petricola, who only began cycling a few months ago.
 
“I need to acknowledge the work of Cam Jennings who has moulded me into some resemblance of a track cyclist.
 
“Taking the world record in the individual pursuit was not in the plans, but a great bonus.  My only possible improvement would have been gold in the event.”

Victorians Jessica Gallagher and Maddie Janssen claimed dual silver on the week in the Tandem time trial and sprint, with the pair recording a personal best in the flying 200m.  Both Tandem events were won by multiple Paralympic and world champion Sophie Thornhill (GBR) and Pilot Helen Scott, including world records in both events.
 
Gallagher and Janssen will now head home to represent Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
 
“We are really happy with our results and our two silver medals,” said Gallagher. “A personal best in our flying 200m and just outside our one kilometre time trial personal gives us great momentum as we head straight into GC2018.
 
“We have a few areas we can improve on & we are incredibly excited to head home and race on home soil.”
 
In all, Australia finished just off the top step in seven events with silver to Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) in the time trial, Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) in the pursuit, and Alistair Donohoe (VIC-C5) and Darren Hicks (SA-C2) in their respective scratch races.
 
The team was also just off the podium in fourth on seven occasions through Darren Hicks (SA-C2), Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) and Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) in the individual pursuit, and Kennedy and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) in the time trial.

In the men’s Tandem, Brad Henderson and Pilot Thomas Clarke finished fourth in both the time trial and sprint in their first Championships as a pairing. It took the might of multiple Paralympic and world champion Neil Fachie (GBR) and Pilot Matthew Rothertham to stop the pair’s run in the sprint semi final.
 
In other events, Alistair Donohoe (VIC) finished fifth in the C5 individual pursuit and eighth in the time trial, Lemon sixth in the time trial, and Reid fifth in the scratch race. Darcy Thompson (SA-C1) was eighth in the time trial and sixth in the individual pursuit, with Gordon Allan (NSW-C2) fifth in the time trial.
 
The Tandem pairing of Kieran Murphy and Pilot Lachlan Glasspool (SA) was seventh in the pursuit and in the time trial.

Australia collected five medals across day two and three at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio, with a world record to Emily Petricola highlighting the performances. 

Day 2 
​
Reigning world champion Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) won silver in the time trial and also grabbed fifth in the scratch race. 

Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) was fourth in the individual pursuit, while the Tandem pairing of Kieran Murphy & Pilot Lachlan Glasspool (SA) was seventh in the pursuit.

Just twenty four hours after winning the pursuit world crown, David Nicholas (QLD) was back on track to claim seventh in the C3 time trial, with Darcy Thompson (SA-C1) eighth and Gordon Allan (NSW-C2) fifth in their respective events. 

Full results.

Day 3

What a day for Australia in Rio on Saturday with Emily Petricola (VIC) setting a World Record in qualifying for the women's C4 individual pursuit.  Petricola would go on to win silver, with team mate Meg Lemon (VIC) taking the bronze. 

Kyle Bridgwood (QLD) won silver in the men's C4 pursuit, with Victorians Jessica Gallagher and Maddie Janssen adding a fourth medal of the day with silver in the Tandem time trial. 

Alistair Donohoe (VIC) finished fifth in the C5 individual pursuit, with the Tandem pairing of Kieran Murphy & Pilot Lachlan Glasspool (SA) sixth in the time trial.

The Championships run March 22-25 and offers the first vital opportunity for nations to grab valuable qualification points towards Tokyo 2020, with the 16-rider Australian team to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

Full results.
​

2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships  | Rio De Janeiro  | 22-25 March 2018
​
David Nicholas’ (QLD) successful world title defence and bronze to debutant Emily Petricola (VIC) highlighted the Australian Cycling Team’s results on the opening day of the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio. 
 
The team also figured just off the podium with four fourth places finishes to Darren Hicks (SA-C2), Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) and Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) in the individual pursuit, and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) in the time trial.
 
Reigning Paralympic and world champion Nicholas clocked the fastest time in the afternoon’s qualifying in the men’s C3 individual pursuit (3:36.792). 
 
Nicholas found two extra seconds in the tank in the final (3:34.804) to comfortably defeat Diederick Schelfhout (BEL) in the final by over four seconds.
 
On her team debut, Petricola clocked 41.409secs to win bronze in the C4 women’s 500m time trial.
 
The Championships run March 22-25 and offers the first vital opportunity for nations to grab valuable qualification points towards Tokyo 2020, with the 16-rider Australian team to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.
 
Day 1 Results
 
Individual Pursuit

• Darren Hicks (SA-C2) (Qual 3:51.754 / Final 3:51.306) Fourth
• Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) (Qual 4:19.592 / Final 4:17.662) Fourth
• David Nicholas (QLD-C3) (Qual 3:36.792 / Final 3:34.804) Gold
• Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) (Final Caught) Fourth
• Darcy Thompson (SA-C1) (Qual 4:04.710) Sixth

 
Time Trial

• Meg Lemon (SA-C4) 43.336 Ninth
• Emily Petricola (VIC-C4) 41.409 Bronze
• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) 1:09.079 Fourth
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC-C5) 1:09.429 Eighth 

2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships  | Rio De Janeiro  | 22-25 March 2018
​
The Australian Cycling Team’s journey towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begins this Thursday in Rio at the 2018 UCI Para-cyclingTrack World Championships.
 
From March 22-25, the Championships offers the first vital opportunity for nations to grab valuable qualification points towards Tokyo 2020, with the 16-rider Australian team to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.
 
It will also be a return to the velodrome for many of our 2016 Paralympic heroes, in particular reigning world champions David Nicholas (QLD) and Amanda Reid (NSW).
 
“I think everyone has travelled quite well over to Rio from Australia, still getting over a bit of jetlag as expected, but everything is looking good so far for some good performances,” said Nicholas, who claimed 2016 Paralympic gold in in the individual pursuit and will be aiming for a strong performance in his world title defence.
 
“Being back here in Rio at the Velodrome where I won gold two years ago feels amazing, first hit out on track was great.
 
“Certainly will try to defend my title, but if I do a great performance that I know I can do, I will be happy and the result will be what it will be.”
 
Dual reigning world champion Reid is eager to get the competition underway after completing a week of training on the track.
 
“Felt great to be back here on these boards again after 2016, spending time getting used to the slightly different shape of the track again before ramping up the training as the week progressed,” added Reid, who announced herself in 2017 with rainbow jerseys in both the time trial and individual pursuit.
 
“I'm feeling really more and more excited about the competition as we get closer to it.
 
“I'm confident about my chances of retaining my world crown in the 500 time trial which is my main goal, and I'm also looking for a personal best in the individual pursuit.”
 
The Championships begin what will be a busy two weeks for 2016 world champions and Paralympic bronze medallists Jessica Gallagher (VIC) and Pilot Madison Janssen (VIC), with the pair also set to represent Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
 
“Personally, Maddie and I are really excited to race, we have a busy few weeks ahead with the back up straight into the Commonwealth Games, so managing our training loads and taper has been incredibly important,” said Gallagher.  The pair will contest the Tandem time trial and sprint at both the World Championships and the Games.
 
“We are riding fast and with good race conditions anticipated we have high expectations particularly in the sprint. It's safe to say the entire team are all ready to get out there and race!'”

Similarly in the men's Tandem, Brad Henderson (SA) and Thomas Clarke (SA-Pilot) will fine-tune their Games preparation at the Worlds.
 
“This is a really good chance for Tom and I to have some international race experience in a strong field before the Commonwealth Games,” said Henderson. “We are aiming to execute everything we’ve been doing in training, come out with some personal bests and see how we compare amongst the worlds best.”
 
The team also features reigning world champion Simone Kennedy (NSW), plus 2016 Paralympic Games silver medallists Alistair Donohoe (VIC) and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD).
 
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Australian Cycling Team 

• Gordon Allan (NSW-C2)
• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4)
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC-C5)
• Jessica Gallagher (VIC) / Madison Janssen (VIC-Pilot)
• Brad Henderson (SA) / Thomas Clarke (SA-Pilot)
• Darren Hicks (SA-C2)
• Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3)
• Meg Lemon (SA-C4)
• Kieran Murphy (SA) / Lachlan Glasspool (SA-Pilot)
• David Nicholas (QLD-C3)
• Emily Petricola (VIC-C4)
• Amanda Reid (NSW-C2)
• Darcy Thompson (SA-C1)

Adelaide’s Matthew Glaetzer is celebrating after storming to his maiden sprint world crown at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands on Sunday morning Australian time.

Glaetzer's electrifying speed tore through the field, with the 25-year-old claiming the Australian Cycling Team’s first gold in the men’s blue riband event in sixteen years (Sean Eadie 2002).

“I have been wanting to pull that jersey on for so long, so to see the Australian flag raised above me was such a special moment,” said a relieved Glaetzer, 25, who had earned five top-six finishes at the World Championships since 2013, including the 2016 silver medal. Glaetzer also finished just outside the medals at both the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (fourth) and the 2014 Commonwealth Games (fifth).

“I have finally backed up the speed, finally put the money where the legs are so to speak.

“We have worked so hard as a team for this and it was great to see a reward for it.”

Glaetzer opened his sprint campaign on Friday in scorching style (9.677) with the second fastest flying 200m qualifying ride of the day, just three-thousandths behind Jeffrey Hoogland (NED-9.674).

Glaetzer's undefeated reign began with Rayan Helal (FRA) in the round 1/8, before a clinical dispatching of reigning champion Denis Dmitriev (RUS), who had reached the podium in each of the past five World Championships, in the quarterfinals.

In the semi-final, Glaetzer sent France’s Sebastian Vigier packing in two straight heats before showing his class against Great Britain’s youngster Jack Carlin, 20, in an exciting final.

“I had a fantastic race meet, each race was quite good, didn’t really mess up at all,” an honest Glaetzer revealed. “I normally make mistakes and get caught out, one mistake is all it costs at this level. But this time I didn’t and that was the key.

“I kept myself in a really good mindset, every single round I treated like the final. And I was so focussed on taking it one race at a time and all of a sudden I am in a final.

“So I had to block the thoughts out of winning it and keep focussed on what I had to do to win it.

“Just ripped it in my last two rides, gave it everything I had and I am the world champ!”

Immediately post race, Glaetzer paid tribute to former Australian Cycling Team Head Sprint Coach Gary West who lost his battle with MND in August last year.

“I can imagine how happy and emotional he would be right now,” said Glaetzer. “He put so much time and effort into me, he was so passionate about the sport and put so much of his life into his athletes and my thoughts go out to the West family today.

“He is a big part of this achievement today.”

Glaetzer’s 2018 World Championship campaign concludes on Sunday in the time trial. In Manchester in November, Glaetzer became the first person to clock a sub one-minute ride (59.970) in the kilometre time trial at sea level, before he again eclipsed this mark with a scorching 59.759secs at the Nationals in Brisbane in February.

TO COME FOR AUSTRALIAN CYCLING TEAM - DAY 5 SCHEDULE
​

• Stephanie Morton (SA) - Keirin - Sunday 4/3 From 9pm. Final approx. 1am AEDT Monday 5/3
• Matthew Glaetzer (SA) - Time Trial - Sunday 4/3 From 9pm. Final approx. 1am AEDT Monday 5/3
• Cameron Meyer (WA) & Callum Scotson (SA) - Madison - approx 1.30am AEDT Monday 5/3

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World Championships #Apeldoorn2018

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WATCH LIVE on FOXSPORTS AUS

Perth’s Cameron Meyer claimed a ninth career world title with a masterful display in the men’s points race while Adelaide’s Stephanie Morton surged to silver in the women's sprint at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands.

Also in action for the Australian Cycling Team was Matthew Glaetzer who progressed to the sprint quarterfinals following a strong opening to his sprint campaign which saw him clock a superb 9.677secs in qualifying. 

Men’s Points Race

​Perth’s Cameron Meyer claimed a fifth points race title and ninth career world crown following a masterful display in Apeldoorn on Friday evening.

“Points race world title number five, it was a hard one but I am very happy,” said Meyer who added to his 2009, 10, 12 and 17 points race world titles. “It is special, everyone of them is special, especially when you win a gold medal in the world championships.”

The pace was on from the start of 160-lap race, with plenty of attacks treating the crowd across the opening thirty laps.  The first major move of the day came from the trio of Belgium’s Kenny Ketele, Great Britain’s Mark Stewart and Hong Kong’s King Lok Cheung who took the first lap on the field.

A calculated Meyer, who collected maximum points in three of the first eight sprints, made his first move shortly after the trio gained their advantage, with the West Australian catapulting into the lead at the halfway mark (45pts) after taking a solo lap.

With a litany of attacks ensuing over the latter half of the race, a further lap was taken by Ketele, Stewart, Cheung which stole the lead off Meyer.  But as if writing his own Oscar winning biography, Meyer crafted his way to another solo lap and a commanding lead (70pts) with two sprints remaining.

With the laps ticking away as the bunch attempted a late surge, Meyer remained in control with his victory secured before the final sprint to the line which saw hometown favourite Jan Willem van Schip (52pts) finish ahead of Stewart (49pts) to take the silver medal.

“There were a lot of laps taken, attacks from lots riders, so it needed multiple laps from me to take the win,” added Meyer. “For tonight I had pretty good legs and was able to pull off the win.

“To win is not easy, to be one of the favourites every time, it is a lot of pressure.

“But I enjoy it, and to be able to wear the rainbow jersey again for another year is a special moment.”

​Meyer will now turn his attention to Sunday’s Madison final in which he will partner Callum Scotson who claimed bronze in the scratch race on day two.  The pair are aiming to go one better than their silver medal performance at the 2017 World Championships.

Women’s Sprint
 
2017 World Championships silver medallist Stephanie Morton motored into the final four and into championship contention with an authoritative opening to her women’s sprint campaign.
 
For the third straight World Championships, South Australia’s Morton topped the women’s sprint qualifying.  Her scorching time of 10.645secs was just two-hundredths outside her personal best (10.632) set at the UCI Track World Cup in Poland in November.
 
As fastest qualifier, Morton was excused from the round 1/16 match ups, however she quickly accounted for Liubov Basova (UKR) in the round 1/8, before a measured and controlled quarterfinal victory over the experienced Simona Krupeckaite (UKR), a five-time sprint world championships medallist.
 
It has been a stellar 2017/18 season for the twenty-seven-year-old Morton with dual UCI World Cup medals in November, triple Oceania and National titles.
 
In five weeks time, Morton will line up to defend her Commonwealth Games sprint crown at the 2018 Gold Coast Games.
 
Morton will face Hong Kong’s 2017 bronze medallist Wai Sze Lee in the semi finals on Friday (Saturday AEDT).