2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ashlee Ankudinoff has returned to Australia eager to contest her first race since the April’s Games, the National Road Series Tour of King Valley from 31 August. 

In April at the Anna Meares Velodrome, Ankudinoff, along with Annette Edmondson, Amy Cure and Alexandra Manly soared to team pursuit gold, smashing New Zealand by nearly ten seconds in a time that would have won the 2018 World Championships. 

“It’s a moment I will never forget,” reflected Ankudinoff, who also boasts two world titles in the team format. “Racing in front of family, friends and a home crowd is something you dream of. I was fortunate to live my dream that night, standing on that top step, singing the national anthem with my three teammates.”
​
Ankudinoff was also critical in the team’s second Commonwealth Games gold which saw an emphatic scratch race win by Cure in a brilliant display of team racing. 

“I can’t forget the scratch race. This is another moment that I will never forget when I look back at my career. I didn’t win the gold medal, but I certainly felt like I did. Amy, Nettie and I had a plan going into that race and for it to come together on race day is something incredible. It was such a rewarding feeling for me knowing that I had contributed to Amy’s gold.

Following the Games, Ankudinoff enjoyed a well earned three-week Hawaiian holiday with her partner Jack before hopping back on a plane to the USA mainland for the summer criterium series where she picked up wins in the Tour of America’s Dairyland series.  

“I decided I would have quite a bit of time off the bike because if all goes to plan, I won’t be having much time off over the next two years heading into the Olympic Games,” Ankudinoff said. “It was such a long build up to 2018 Commonwealth Games, and we did put a lot of emphasis on peaking for this event, so it was great to switch off both mentally and physically.

“We made a lot of sacrifices last season by not doing any World Cups and no World Championships, but I do think it was the best thing, you could see by our time, it is positive heading into the next two years.”

Ankudinoff’s focus over the next two years is firmly set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  She will rejoin the new look women’s track endurance squad in Adelaide this month along with Edmondson, Cure and Manly, Georgia Baker plus Tassie’s Macey Stewart and Queensland’s Kristina Clonan who joined the program mid-year. 

“I think both Kristina and Macey are great inclusions into the women's track endurance Team. I really look forward to training with them over the next few years,” said Ankudinoff. “We all know there is a lot of hard work ahead of us between now and then.

“We now have a team of seven, and of course seven doesn’t go into four, but I think with the team we have now along with an excellent training/support environment that is based out of Adelaide to do something special in two years time.

“All eyes are on Tokyo and that Olympic Gold medal.”

Ankudinoff will line up for Specialized Women’s Racing in the National Road Series Tour of King Valley event from August 31 - 2 September, followed by Amy’s Otway Tour on 15/16 September.  

Following this, Ankudinoff will contest the 2018 Oceania Track Championships in Adelaide from 10-13 October.

Australia is celebrating a successful end to the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup season with five gold and a total of fourteen medals at the third and final round in Canada.
 
In the season ending honours, Carol Cooke (WT2) and Stuart Tripp (MH5) were crowned overall UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup champions. 
 
Cooke never missed the podium in 2018, claiming three victories, two seconds and one third on the season to edge close rival Jill Walsh on a count back. 
 
Tripp claimed three wins from four races, including two gold in the final round, to claim the leader’s jersey.
 
In other final season results, Alistair Donohoe (MC5) two silvers in the final round moved him to third overall on the Series, while Meg Lemon (WC4) also finished third after two podiums to end the year, just ahead of Hannah MacDougall (WC4) in fourth.
 
Kyle Bridgwood (MC4) finished fourth overall after contesting just two of the three rounds, while Darren Hicks (MC2) was eighth after winning his only two races of the season in round one.

The results capped off a strong season for the Australian Cycling Team which netted twelve medals, including three rainbow jerseys, at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy earlier this month.
 
Round 3 Summary of Results

• Stuart Tripp MH5 – Road Race gold; Time trial gold
• Carol Cooke WT2 – Time trial gold; road race bronze
• Stuart Jones MT2 – Time trial bronze; Road race 8th
• Meg Lemon WC4 – Road race gold; Time trial silver
• Hannah MacDougall WC4 – Time trial gold; Road race silver
• Alistair Donohoe MC5 – Time trial silver; Road race silver
• David Nicholas MC3 – Road race bronze
• Kyle Bridgwood MC4 - Road race bronze; Time trial silver

The Australian Cycling Team enjoyed a successful week at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, with three world titles, nine medals and a handful of world and Australian records. 
 
Melbourne’s Luke Plapp celebrated dual world titles in the points race and in the Madison with Blake Quick (QLD) (read more here), while Sydney’s Thomas Cornish stormed to the kilometre time trial world title in world record time (read more here).
 
Leigh Hoffman (SA) set a new Australian record in the men’s sprint, while Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark in the individual pursuit. 
 
Summary

Gold

• Men's Madison - Luke Plapp (VIC) / Blake Quick (QLD)
• Men’s Points Race- Luke Plapp (VIC)
• Men's Kilometre Time Trial - Tom Cornish (NSW) & world record 1:00.498

Silver

• Women’s Points Race - Sarah Gigante (VIC)
• Men’s Sprint - Thomas Cornish (Australian Record - Leigh Hoffman 10.037)

Bronze

• Men’s Team Pursuit - Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), Matthew Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA)
• Women's Madison - Alice Culling (VIC) & Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD)
• Men’s Omnium - Blake Quick (QLD)
• Women’s Individual Pursuit - Sophie Edwards (SA) (Australian record - 2:22.577) 

​
Melbourne’s Sarah Gigante left the World Championships with a silver medal and smile as wide as the Aigle velodrome after coming to within one sprint of a world title.

“I don't think I have ever been so excited for a race,” Gigante told Cycling Australia. “Not only was the experience of racing for my country, at a world level and overseas, completely foreign and novel but it was made especially special by the fact that I had had no clue whether I would be healed in time to race for about three months.”

It was a battle to make it to the start line in Aigle after the six-time 2018 national champion crashed on a descent in a club road race in May which left her with a broken left elbow, left shoulder and right wrist. Surgery quickly followed for the Brunswick Cycling Club rider before she suffered another blow after dislocating her shoulder on one of her first recovery rides. 
​ 
“Even most of the doctors I saw laughed when I said that I wanted to race in August, so you can imagine that I felt beyond grateful and fortunate to have the chance to pull on the treasured green and gold.”

It was a quick start to the points race, with Gigante figuring in the first serious attack from a group of riders which took a lap.  Inside the final 20 laps, Gigante stunned the field by taking a lap of her own and the race lead.  However, the fast-finishing Italian rider Silvia Zanadri took the final sprint win and the double points on offer, which gave her the title by just five points. 

“I ended up taking silver, which I am stoked about,” Gigante said. “Just being at Worlds was amazing enough, so to place in one of my favourite races in a great field was so crazy!

“I felt so good to be back! I can't thank my support network enough. I wouldn't be here right now without them, let alone with a silver medal around my neck. To Holden Team Gusto, Brunswick Cycling Club, Cycling Australia, my friends, heroes, and my family, especially my brilliant mum, and everyone else who helped me to get here, thank you so much! I couldn't have done it without you all.”

In other results, Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark and won bronze in the individual pursuit, while Alice Culling (VIC) & Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD) took bronze in the women’s Madison.

In the sprint, Alana Field (VIC) enjoyed three top ten finishes and personal best (11.373) in the flying 200m. Field took sixth in the sprint after being edged by the eventual silver medallist in quarterfinals, while also grabbing eighth in the keirin and ninth in the time trial.

The Australian Cycling Team enjoyed a successful week at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, with three world titles, nine medals and a handful of world and Australian records. 
 
Melbourne’s Luke Plapp celebrated dual world titles in the points race and in the Madison with Blake Quick (QLD) (read more here), and Sydney’s Thomas Cornish stormed to the kilometre time trial world title in world record time.
 
Leigh Hoffman (SA) set a new Australian record in the men’s sprint, while Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark in the individual pursuit. 
 
Summary

Gold

• Men's Madison - Luke Plapp (VIC) / Blake Quick (QLD)
• Men’s Points Race- Luke Plapp (VIC)
• Men's Kilometre Time Trial - Tom Cornish (NSW) & world record 1:00.498

Silver

• Women’s Points Race - Sarah Gigante (VIC)
• Men’s Sprint - Thomas Cornish (Australian Record - Leigh Hoffman 10.037)

Bronze

• Men’s Team Pursuit - Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), Matthew Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA)
• Women's Madison - Alice Culling (VIC) & Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD)
• Men’s Omnium - Blake Quick (QLD)
• Women’s Individual Pursuit - Sophie Edwards (SA) (Australian record - 2:22.577)

It was a spectacular week for Sydney’s Tom Cornish who scorched his way around the Aigle track on his way to claiming a world record, a world title and a silver medal. 

The Southern Cross Cycling Club member won sprint silver on Saturday with a personal best 10.041secs, which broke the seven-year-old Australian record. However, it was short-lived with teammate Leigh Hoffman lowering the new mark just two rides later with a stunning 10.037seconds.

Unfortunately for Australia, the pair met in the semi-finals, which Cornish took in three closely fought heats.  In the final, Cornish was edged by Poland’s Laczkowski in two heats.

“It was tough, we'd battled each other at Oceanias and Nationals before but he would always get the better of me, so to come out on top was a bit of a surprise,” Cornish told Cycling Australia. 

“I couldn't have imagined winning sprint silver, my goals coming into the sprint were to be top five, so I was pretty happy when I made the gold/silver final. My goals for the sprint final were to make sure I gave him a run, but I was pretty tired from the semi against Leigh though.

“I felt happy with silver, but also a little disappointed, I'd come so close to the gold.”

Less than twenty-four hours later, Cornish produced an eye-popping 1min 00.498sec ride to break the junior kilometre time trial world record on his way to claiming his maiden world crown.

“To break the world record and win the kilo, I am pretty excited! Never thought I'd be able to achieve something like this,” added Cornish, 18, who thanked coach Shane Kelly, himself a three-time kilo world champion who won the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games time trial bronze the year Cornish was born. 

“I'd like to thank Shane for coaching me through the Junior Worlds campaign, my parents and family for supporting me, and everyone else in the team for being there and cheering me on.”

In a strong debut, Hoffman finished fourth in the sprint and sixth the in keirin. Matthew Rice claimed fourth in the kilometre time trial. 

The Australian Cycling Team enjoyed a successful week at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, with three world titles, nine medals and a handful of world and Australian records. 
 
Melbourne’s Luke Plapp celebrated dual world titles in the points race and with Blake Quick (QLD) in the Madison, while Sydney’s Thomas Cornish stormed to the kilometre time trial world title in world record time (read more about Tom's ride here).
 
Leigh Hoffman (SA) set a new Australian record in the men’s sprint, while Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark in the individual pursuit, while Sarah Gigante's comeback from injury resulted in silver (read more here).  
 
Summary
​
Gold

• Men's Madison - Luke Plapp (VIC) / Blake Quick (QLD)
• Men’s Points Race- Luke Plapp (VIC)
• Men's Kilometre Time Trial - Tom Cornish (NSW) & world record 1:00.498

Silver

• Women’s Points Race - Sarah Gigante (VIC)
• Men’s Sprint - Thomas Cornish (Australian Record - Leigh Hoffman 10.037)

Bronze

• Men’s Team Pursuit - Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), Matthew Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA)
• Women's Madison - Alice Culling (VIC) & Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD)
• Men’s Omnium - Blake Quick (QLD)
• Women’s Individual Pursuit - Sophie Edwards (SA) (Australian record - 2:22.577)

Recap - Plapp celebrates dual world titles in Switzerland 

Melbourne’s Luke Plapp revealed he celebrated his maiden world title at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Switzerland by sleeping in his rainbow jersey.
​
“I was so sweaty, and it was so tight and hard to put on the jersey,” Plapp told Cycling Australia. “But I didn’t take it off for the next 12 hours and slept in it. I honestly could not stop smiling the whole day and night. Also, to receive all the support from back home was something else!

Plapp, who rides with the Brunswick Cycling Club, took three laps on the field to win the points race on 70pts. After the race, he quickly dedicated the win to his teammate James Moriarty who was forced to watch from the sidelines after breaking a collarbone in training crash two days out from the start of the competition.

“I would like to dedicate this race to James, this was meant to be his race,” explained Plapp. “I raced it on his behalf, and I’m sure he would have been in the same position as I would was in the race. It meant a lot to be able to win it for him, and I’m sure next year he will do it!

Plapp capped the week off in style by winning the Championship’s final event, the Madison, with Blake Quick. There the pair figured all but two of the fourteen sprint decisions to take the crown on 47 points ahead of Russia and Denmark.

“The Madison has been my goal for so long,” revealed Plapp. “And to achieve it with such a fantastic mate was so special and once again having one of the previous best Madison riders in Matt Gilmore guiding us was unreal.

“You’d probably be able to tell after the 100 hugs and the celebrations after the race, that this one is going to take a while to sink in.

“I want to thank Matty Gilmore and Shane (Kelly) for coaching us over the last few months and Bernie for being an amazing team manager.  Also to the Brunswick Cycling Club and Cam McFarlane for all his support and guidance and for just keeping me enjoying my cycling. And of course mum and dad.”

It was a triple treat for Plapp and Quick with the pair each claiming three medals for the week.  On the opening day, the pair teamed with Matthew Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA) to win bronze in the team pursuit, while Queensland’s Quick also won omnium bronze. 

It has been an emotional, but successful comeback for Caroline Buchanan after the dual Olympian claimed the win in her first race back following her life-threatening crash in seven months ago. 

Buchanan claimed the win at the Rockshox Pump Track Challenge at Whistler in Canada, her first race since she suffered a broken nose, sternum, two collapsed lungs and bleeding around her heart following an off road vehicle accident outside of Canberra last December. 

​"Last time I won was here, first time in 2018 I have won a major event, " said an emotional Buchanan after the win.  "In one of my worst years, thanks to everyone who stuck behind me. 

"This win meant a lot to me tonight." 

 
​While his legacy will be felt around the sport and the Australian Cycling Team for years to come, the sport has also left a lasting impression on Peter.

“Generally I will take away the highest respect and admiration for the Para-cyclists who welcomed my support as many needed to demonstrate abilities to overcome adversity and challenges almost on a daily basis, that most able-bodied cyclists couldn’t begin to consider.

“I take away a great deal of personal pride in knowing I did the best I possibly could with the resources available and also great satisfaction realising the developed lifelong friendships with colleagues and athletes.

“I am proud of the people I worked with and am extremely confident that the greatly enhanced operating structure that is currently in place will serve to progress the Para-cycling program through to the Tokyo Paralympics.”

Peter paid tribute to his strong support network across Australia.

“Of course as with everything in life many people influence you, assist you and like how a great athlete makes you look good, so does a great support team.

​“In the beginning, I was entirely at sea with what was effectively a two-man show, Tom Skulander and I appreciate his guidance. To the Golden Rainbow, Murray Lydeamore volunteering his services as Team Manager which saw us do every World Track and Road Championship 2010 – 2016 and two Paralympics.  

“Throughout the years I enjoyed support from SIS/SAS coaches, and I particularly enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Kipp Kaufmann (Cycling Victoria/Australia), and I must recognise him for his efforts to take Para-cycling competition into environments of higher profile and recognition.

“To the Australian Paralympic Committee and special thanks to Kate McLoughlin, a big thank you to Paul Brosnan for his support and direction in his role of General Manager Australian Cycling Team​, and to Kevin Tabotta’s and the progress that was made with Para-cycling integration within the High Performance program.

“I must recognise the long-term commitment from Keren Faulkner, Nick Formosa, Michael Winter, Eliza Smyth, Berthy May and Dan Brent as integral to our program and more recently Cameron Jennings, Nick Owen and excellent administration support from Nathan Jennings.

“I also enjoyed this past year working with Simon Jones as Performance Director; I appreciated Simon allowing me the autonomy to get on with delivering stated goals and objectives as we build the required momentum towards medal-winning performances Tokyo 2020.”

Cycling Australia is excited to announce the full teams for the 2018 UCI World Road Championships to be held in Innsbruck, Austria from 23 September.
The 2018 squad selections in all categories were based on a clearly defined strategy, with riders selected for specific roles to help place an Australian rider on the podium.

Australian Technical Director Brad McGee: “We know the course is going to be super tough and feel confident we have the right mix of talent and purpose for this event.
“We started this process thinking about how to win these races. Then we worked back from that endpointand considered which riders had the capabilities to deliver on that strategy.

“At the Commonwealth Games we worked in a very similar manner and produced gold medals in both road events. We’re taking the same approach to these World Championships and hope to produce a similar result.”

For Australian Cycling Team Performance Director Simon Jones, the key to success at Innsbruck in 2018 will be executing on the defined strategy.

“From the moment the course was released, we have been thinking about how to best perform this year. The team has developed the best possible strategy and the selections were made to support the key objective of maximizing the chances of winning. From a selection process perspective, we have moved to an earlier selection timeframe to give all athletes time to prepare and think about their roles and where applicable do specific work.”

The 2018 UCI World Road Championships will be held in Innsbruck, Austria from 23-30 September 2018.

MEN’S ROAD RACE

• Simon Clarke
• Rohan Dennis
• Jack Haig
• Chris Hamilton
• Damien Howson
• Richie Porte
• Robert Power
• Rory Sutherland

 MEN’S TIME TRIAL

• Rohan Dennis

U23 MEN’S TIME TRIAL

• Callum Scotson
  

U23 MEN'S ROAD RACE

• Lucas Hamilton
• Jai Hindley
• Callum Scotson
• Robert Stannard
• Michael Storer
• James Whelan

WOMEN’S ROAD RACE

• Grace Brown
• Brodie Chapman
• Tiffany Cromwell
• Shara Gillow
• Lucy Kennedy
• Sarah Roy
• Amanda Spratt

​The junior squads were announced May 2018. View the team here.

The Australian Cycling Team begins its 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships campaign on Wednesday evening at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.  Watch Live  

2017 World Championship bronze medallist Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD) is eager to hit the track for her second tilt at a rainbow jersey.  

“I am really looking forward to Worlds, my last major race was Nationals, so it’s been a long time coming for me,” said Martin-Wallace, claimed scratch bronze in 2017 and will contest the Team Pursuit, Omnium and Madison in 2018.

“After getting fourth, fifth and sixth last year in those events respectively I’m aiming to improve my results and hopefully be on the podium.

“I haven’t thought too much about the competition; I’m just trying to focus on the things that I can control and prepare myself to be at my best.”

Martin-Wallace and fellow 2017 representative Alice Culling (VIC) will team with debutants Sophie Edwards (SA), Lauren Robards (ACT) and Sarah Gigante (VIC) in the endurance events.  

The men’s endurance crew suffered a cruel blow on the weekend with James Moriarty (QLD) breaking his collarbone after coming down following  a clip of wheels in training.

“It is devastating for him, and the team, but I have been so impressed with how the team has gotten around him, and how he has responded to the situation,” said Gilmore, who revealed he would take Moriarty under his wing as a guest coach for the Championships.

“While he, unfortunately, won’t be out on the track, we feel this is a great opportunity for James to experience a different look at the World Championships.  He will be able to shadow the coaching staff in the pits, in team meetings and learn the processes the staff go through each day.”

The endurance line up will now form from a quartet of debutants in Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), Michael Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA).

“I think it is going to be very special, pretty excited to get it underway,” said Plapp, who will line up in the team pursuit and will partner with Quick in the Madison. “I know it is going to be a lot different than nationals, everyone will be on another level, and it all becomes more tactical, you can’t ride everyone off your wheel.

“But I am not going to ride differently; it is about backing yourself, not worry about how they race, but race your own race. Go in with a game plan and don’t follow other wheels.”

The sprint team comprises Leigh Hoffman (SA) and Thomas Cornish (NSW), and Alana Field (VIC).

The 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships will be held from Wednesday 15 - Sunday 19 August at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.

Schedule

Finals to be held in afternoon sessions beginning at 4pm local time (midnight AEST).

• Wednesday 15: W - Scratch 7.6 km; M - Team Sprint
• Thursday 16: M - Team Pursuit; M - Scratch 10 km; M - Keirin; W - Team Pursuit
• Friday 17: M - Points race 24 km; M - Individual Pursuit; W - Omnium; W - Sprint
• Saturday 18: W - 500m t.t.; W - Points race 20 km; W - Individual pursuit; M - Omnium; M - Sprint
• Sunday 19: W - Madison 20 km; M - Kilometre t.t.; W - Keirin; M - Madison 28 km

Follow

• Watch Live
• Website
• Schedule
• Results  

Australian Cycling Team updates

Follow the Australian team in Aigle via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

Australian Cycling Team

WOMEN’S ENDURANCE

• Alice CULLING (VIC)
• Lauren ROBARDS (ACT)
• Alexandra MARTIN-WALLACE (QLD)
• Sophie EDWARDS (SA)
• Sarah GIGANTE (VIC)

MEN’S ENDURANCE            

• Blake QUICK (QLD)             
• Matthew RICE (ACT)                       
• Luke WIGHT (SA)                 
• James MORIARTY (QLD)                 
• Luke PLAPP (VIC)                

WOMEN’S SPRINT

• Alana FIELD (VIC)

MEN’S SPRINT                      

• Thomas CORNISH (NSW)                
• Leigh HOFFMAN (SA)     ​

​Two of Australia’s world record team pursuit quartet will switch the fixed gear for the road bike this week, with Kelland O’Brien and Sam Welsford to suit up for the Australian Cycling Academy in the National Road Series.
 
The Australian Cycling Team members will reunite again for the Tours second event for men, the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast, a five-day, six-stage Tour beginning in Mt Gambier on 15 August.
 
In April, O’Brien scorched the Anna Meares Velodrome with Alex Porter, Sam Welsford and Leigh Howard, with a time of 3mins 49.804secs in the gold medal ride at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the first sub 3:50 time in history.
 
“I can't believe how fast time has gone since April! That day is probably the most memorable day of my career to date for sure,” said O’Brien, who revealed the quartet celebrated with a tattoo of the new mark. “The atmosphere in the velodrome day one of the Commonwealth Games was electric. During racing, I can never hear the crowd, but in that final, the crowd was so loud that it was all I could hear!”

 
The youngest cycling team member and one of the youngest gold medallists at the Commonwealth Games, O’Brien only turned 20 in May and has revelled growing in Tim Decker’s endurance program.
 
“My parents always treated me as an equal person and not a child, and from the moment I came into this program I was treated with the same respect and what comes with that is I an expected to operate at the professional level the older guys do,” he remarked.
 
“Being a part of Tim's program has been a dream come true for me.  Not to say it hasn't been without its challenges, but I love the challenge, working in our group is unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I couldn't be more proud to say I belong there!”

​Since a break after the Games, O’Brien has mixed track and road, with two trips to Japan including a win and podium in two Madisons with Welsford at the Japan Track Cup in July.
 
“I had some time off relaxing after the Commonwealth Games, but I was very keen to get stuck into it again! It felt awesome to get back on the track bike and get a win with Sam in Japan, we had won that event in 2017, so it was a good feeling to go back and win it again.”

 
​For the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast, O’Brien will team with Welsford, fellow Australian Cycling Team member Cameron Scott – who took a stage win at the Tour of Qinghai Lake last month.
 
Following the NRS season, O’Brien has his sights set on the summer track season starting with the Oceania Championships in Adelaide in October, followed by the UCI World Cup Series and December Nationals in Melbourne.
 
“Summer track season is my favourite time of the year, and with even more racing on than usual I can't wait to get back to Adelaide with the team in preparation for that busy time of the year,” added O’Brien, who is now eyeing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
 
“Although sub 3:50 was a fantastic achievement, we as a team see that as a great result on the way to our ultimate goal.
 
“Next for the team is to regroup for the next two years leading up to Tokyo.”
 
The seventh edition of the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast will start with a traditional morning criterium in Mount Gambier on Wednesday 15 August, with the Tour to end with a grand finale street race on Portland’s waterfront on Sunday 19 August. 

Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast: Teams / Results

The Australian Cycling Team has landed in Aigle, Switzerland ahead of the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships which run 15-19 August. Watch Live
​
Returning 2017 representatives Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD) and Alice Culling (VIC) and eleven debutants form a 13-member squad set to contest the Championships held at the UCI World Cycling Centre.

Martin-Wallace and Culling, along with Sophie Edwards (SA), Lauren Robards (ACT) and Sarah Gigante (VIC) will contest the women’s endurance events, while Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), James Moriarty (QLD), Michael Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA) form the men’s endurance quintet.

The sprint trio features Leigh Hoffman (SA), Thomas Cornish (NSW) and Alana Field (VIC).

Selected following February Track Nationals, the team has been turning heads at their camp held at the Australian Cycling Team headquarters in Adelaide, and not just because of their freshly dyed hair.

“They are one of the best groups I have ever worked with, how they have come together as a squad and bonded in such a short period, it is very impressive,” said Matthew Gilmore, Cycling Australia’s National Junior Coach.

“We have worked just as hard on the team cultures and establishing team values, and this has really shaped the team, helped them be better teammates to each other,” added Gilmore, who was impressed by the team's level of detail in researching and delivering a presentation to the coaches on the legacy of the men’s annual tradition of dying their hair blonde.

“The Junior Worlds is the biggest thing for the riders at the moment, but for us, it provides a real opportunity for us to set the tone moving forward, for the team and CA moving forward.

"If we start that at the junior level, then it gets them on the right step.”

Debutant Leigh Hoffman has enjoyed the jump from the state level to the national team for his maiden World Championships.

“It has been a huge culture change stepping up, we have learned it is all about respect.  Respect of your team kit, your teammates, the opportunity you have,” Hoffman said.

“And for so many riders from all around the country to get along so well, it is fantastic. We have moulded together really well; we are just one happy family.”

Schedule 

Finals to be held in afternoon sessions beginning at 4pm local time (midnight AEST). 

• Wednesday 15: W - Scratch 7.6 km; M - Team Sprint
• Thursday 16: M - Team Pursuit; M - Scratch 10 km; M - Keirin; W - Team Pursuit
• Friday 17: M - Points race 24 km; M - Individual Pursuit; W - Omnium; W - Sprint
• Saturday 18: W - 500m t.t.; W - Points race 20 km; W - Individual pursuit; M - Omnium; M - Sprint
• Sunday 19: W - Madison 20 km; M - Kilometre t.t.; W - Keirin; M - Madison 28 km

Follow

• Watch Live
• Website
• Schedule
• Results  

Australian Cycling Team updates 

Follow the Australian team in Aigle via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

Australian Cycling Team - 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships

WOMEN’S ENDURANCE

• Alice CULLING (VIC)
• Lauren ROBARDS (ACT)
• Alexandra MARTIN-WALLACE (QLD)
• Sophie EDWARDS (SA)
• Sarah GIGANTE (VIC)

MEN’S ENDURANCE            

• Blake QUICK (QLD)             
• Matthew RICE (ACT)                       
• Luke WIGHT (SA)                 
• James MORIARTY (QLD)                 
• Luke PLAPP (VIC)                

WOMEN’S SPRINT

• Alana FIELD (VIC)

MEN’S SPRINT                      

• Thomas CORNISH (NSW)                
• Leigh HOFFMAN (SA)​​

The Australian Cycling Team collected twelve medals, including three rainbow jerseys, at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy.

​Bathurst’s Emilie Miller (H1 Handcycle) won time trial and road race gold, while Melbourne’s Alistair Donohoe (C5) claimed his third career road world title.

The Victorian trio of Carol Cooke (T2 - Tricycle) and Hannah Macdougall (C4) won dual silver in the road race and time trial, as did debutant Kaitlyn Schurmann (C1).

​Kyle Bridgwood and Meg Lemon won bronze in the C4 time trial finals, with Darren Hicks claiming bronze in the C2 road race.

Seven-time world champion Cooke was content with her dual silver medal-winning performance.

“I came into these World Championships hoping to bring home the world champion stripes, and I was in the best shape of my life,” said Cooke, who finished behind the USA’s Jill Walsh in both races.  “I had my race plans in place and rode them perfectly, gave everything that I had. Unfortunately for me someone else, Jill was faster on both days.

“But I am very proud to have done my best, and for me that is the success, doing my best in any race.  Two silver medals aren't too shabby! I am very happy to have been on the podium.”

A leader on and off the bike, Cooke, 56, recognised the growth and improving quality Tricycle racing, while also revealing the results of her teammates inspire her.

“The Trike class is growing and becoming stronger, and I am happy to be part of that growth.  

“It has just made me hungrier for the next racing against Jill which will happen in a couple of weeks away in Canada at the last World Cup.

“It was also great to see my teammates do so well, Kaitlyn Schurmann in her first ever World Championship taking two silver and Emilie Miller winning two gold!  Watching them ride is so inspiring.”

Cooke also paid tribute to retiring Cycling Australia’s Technical Director of Para-cycling Peter Day.  

“We have an amazing team which has been put together by Peter over the last ten years, and it is with a heavy heart that we will be saying goodbye to his leadership in September.  

However, we all wish him the best in his retirement, and I am sure that his wife Cheryl will be more than happy to have him at home!”

Like Cooke, Macdougall was ecstatic with her dual podium appearance in the road race and time trial. 

"I am feeling absolutely awesome, am super stoked to pick up two silvers, and it was even more special to share the time trial podium with my Aussie teammate Meg," said Macdougall.

"The time trial was one of the most interesting and scenic courses we have had - not that I got to take a lot of it in - I raced and paced it well, crossing the line knowing I had given it everything I had.

"I am super proud of the race and of my performance, 200% improvement on my total career medals.

"But results like that aren’t an individual effort and I am so grateful to our support team."

 
​Official results: visit the UCI website.

2018 Australian Cycling Team - UCI Para Road World Championships Summary

• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD) C4 - Bronze time trial, 12th road race
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4 - Bronze time trial; 4th road race  
• Hannah Macdougall (VIC) C4  - Silver road race & time trial
• David Nicholas (QLD) C3 - 5th road race; 6th time trial
• Darren Hicks (SA) C2 - Bronze road race; 4th time trial
• Kaitlyn Schurmann (VIC) C1 - Silver road race & time trial
• Stuart Jones (NSW) T2 - 9th time trial
• Carol Cooke (VIC) T2 - Silver road race & time trial
• Grant Allan (SA) H4 8th road race, 18th time trial
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5 - Gold road race; 4th time trial
• Kieran Murphy & Lachlan Glasspool (SA) Tandem
• Grant Nickel (NSW) H1 10th road race & 10th time trial
• Emilie Miller (NSW) H1 Gold road race & time trial
• Stuart Tripp (VIC) H5 - 5th road race, 5th time trial

The Australian Cycling Team collected twelve medals, including three rainbow jerseys, at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy.

Bathurst’s Emilie Miller (H1 Handcycle) won time trial and road race gold, while Melbourne’s Alistair Donohoe (C5) claimed his third career road world title. 

The Victorian trio of Carol Cooke (T2 - Tricycle) and Hannah Macdougall (C4) won dual silver in the road race and time trial, as did debutant Kaitlyn Schurmann (C1). 

Kyle Bridgwood and Meg Lemon won bronze in the C4 time trial finals, with Darren Hicks claiming bronze in the C2 road race. 

The Australian Cycling Team collected twelve medals, including three rainbow jerseys, at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy.

Bathurst’s Emilie Miller (H1 Handcycle) won time trial and road race gold, while Melbourne’s Alistair Donohoe (C5) claimed his third career road world title - read more.

The Victorian trio of Carol Cooke (T2 - Tricycle) and Hannah Macdougall (C4) won dual silver in the road race and time trial, as did debutant Kaitlyn Schurmann (C1).
​
Kyle Bridgwood and Meg Lemon won bronze in the C4 time trial finals, with Darren Hicks claiming bronze in the C2 road race.

The Australian Cycling Team is locked and loaded ahead of the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships which begin Thursday 2 August in Maniago, Italy.

The team is littered with some of the biggest names in para-cycling, including seven-time and dual reigning world champion Carol Cooke, Paralympic gold medallist David Nicholas, former world champion Kyle Bridgwood and Alistair Donohoe.

And while it is easy to focus on these names, there have been two riders quietly making names for themselves in households across the country.

South Australian duo Darren Hicks and Meg Lemon announced themselves at the 2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships when on their debut, they clinched dual silver and dual bronze respectively.

In 2018, they the pair head into the World Championships in form and full of confidence after winning gold at May’s opening round of the UCI Para Road World Cup in Belgium.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work since Belgium working on both skills and fitness in preparation for these World Champs,” said Lemon, who will contest the women’s C4 road race and time trial from Friday.

“Our coach believes he’s worked as harder than ever, so I’m hoping the hard work will pay off here.”

“I would love to podium again this year at Worlds and the World Cup hoping my form and skills I have worked in will help to improve and move up the step to perhaps silver or gold in the race,” added Lemon. “You never know what will happen race day and how everyone else performs, but it’s all about experience and working towards the next few years and qualifying and hopefully peaking at Tokyo.”

However, while she is clearly focussed on her own race and path to Tokyo, Lemon was quick to point out to others what she believes her teammates are capable of achieving this weekend.

“I’m also so excited to see what my teammates can do. I have a feeling Darren might beat us to the rainbow stripes this year,” Lemon remarked.

For Darren Hicks who will race the men’s C2 road race and time trial, his 2018 season has been almost flawless with dual national titles in January, followed by World Cup gold in May. 
 
“It's been a dream start to the road season, most of my training is in preparation for road competition, so it was great to see all of that pay off in Belgium,” said Hicks, who despite the early season successes, has continued to strive for the marginal gains.

​“As far as performance goes my numbers were good in Ostend, but we have worked on a few things since coming home and made some nice gains in a couple of areas. 

“After a surprising set of results last year, going backwards and staying stagnant aren't options so that only leaves climbing one step higher on the podium! 

“So quite simply, winning is my one and only goal.” 

More on the Championships 

The Championships will be live streamed via the official Facebook page, with more event information via the official website. 

For official start lists and results, visit the UCI website.

2018 Australian Cycling Team - UCI Para Road World Championships 

• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD) C4
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4
• Hannah Macdougall (VIC) C4
• David Nicholas (QLD) C3
• Darren Hicks (SA) C2
• Kaitlyn Schurmann (VIC) C1
• Stuart Jones (NSW) T2
• Carol Cooke (VIC) T2
• Grant Allan (SA) H4
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5
• Kieran Murphy & Lachlan Glasspool - Pilot (SA) Tandem
• Grant Nickel (NSW) H1
• Emilie Miller (NSW) H1
• Stuart Tripp (VIC) H5