The Australian Cycling Team is pleased to announce the BMX Race Individual Athlete Performance Support (IAPS) memberships for 2019-20. The quartet of Caroline Buchanan, Anthony Dean, Saya Sakakibara and Kai Sakakibara will receive the IAPS support. 

​“With Anthony Dean and Kai Sakakibara setting the fastest and fourth fastest laps in the elite men’s competition, and Saya Sakakibara setting the fastest lap for the elite women during the 2019 World Championships in July, it demonstrates that the Australian Cycling Team BMX Race athlete members are on track for Tokyo 2020,” said Australian Cycling Team BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes. 

“With the extended support the Australian Cycling Team has provided Caroline during her recovery period, and after recent observations of her in training, we believe it won't be long until Caroline will be in a similar position from when she last raced BMX Supercross in July 2017.” 

With less than a year to the Games, Bootes believes the team is on target to qualify two positions at the Games in the men’s and women’s events. 

“Our target for BMX IAPS is to deliver a medal in 2020 and we will continue to develop and support the athletes towards this trajectory,” added Bootes. 

“It will be a challenging and close race between nations to secure two positions for both men and women. The riders will be competing and targeting key events to help the qualification process while keeping the core performance objective the priority.”
​
The final two rounds of the 2019 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup season will be held in September, with Australia set to host the opening two rounds of the 2020 Series in February in Shepparton and Bathurst. 

The 2020 National Championships will feature in March, the 2020 World Championships head to the USA in May, while the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games BMX Race competition will take place on July 30-31. 

Australian Cycling Team BMX IAPS Membership for 2019-20

• Caroline Buchanan 
• Anthony Dean 
• Saya Sakakibara 
• Kai Sakakibara

Members of the Australian Cycling Team headed to Izu in the  Shizuoka Prefecture for the 2019 Japan Track Cup, a two-day carnival held on a training track near to the official venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

Three-time Madison world champion Leigh Howard teamed with Cameron Scott to win gold and silver in the two Madison finals held across the weekend.  

Familiar with Japan having spent the last few seasons entrenched within the Japanese Keirin season, ​Matthew Glaetzer celebrated his twenty-seventh birthday during the Cup with two wins in the sprint competitions. 

"Any opportunity to ride a brand new track is awesome because it rarely happens these days and I had fun racing on it over the past three days," said Glaetzer, who edged Nathan Hart in the final of the first sprint competition. "One aspect of this new velodrome that I really enjoyed was the fact it was built in Keirin School grounds which allowed me to share the rarely seen facilities with the team."

For Stephanie Morton, the race signified her return to racing following minor surgery on her knee earlier in 2019. 

"It was great to be back out there racing, it was a good chance to blow the cobwebs out." said Morton, who took silver behind world champion Wai Sze Lee in the sprint in a rematch of the 2019 World Championship final. "I love coming to Japan, and after having to pull out of the Japanese keirin this year (after the surgery) I was excited to be back here as it feels like a second home.

"With less than a year to go, I know the whole team is buzzing and really enjoyed racing out here."

Australia’s men’s world record-breaking team’s pursuit track cycling squad will hit the roads this week for the Cycling Australia National Road Series.

The team will contest the Visit Victoria-Campolina Tour of the Great South Coast, a six-day, eight-stage Tour that will cover 541.2 kilometres of stunning terrain across Victoria and South Australia.

Team pursuit world champions, world record holders and Commonwealth champions Sam Welsford, Leigh Howard, Kelland O’Brien, Alex Porter and Cameron Scott will race under the Australian Cycling Academy colours.  At the 2018 Tour, Welsford claimed stage three honours, while Scott won the Tour's Rising Star award. 
 
The team, which will also feature Zack Gilmore and Jonathon Noble, will be one of the teams to watch in every stage, in particular the ground-breaking teams time trial at Naracoorte on Thursday.
 
The 16.4km time trial, from Naracoorte Showgrounds to the world heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, will see teams take off at two-minute intervals in a contest billed as “the race of truth.”
 
“The Great South Coast tour is a tremendous race because there’s something in the course for everybody,” said Australian Cycling Team Track Endurance Coach Tim Decker. “It’s an important build-up event for us, with the Tokyo Olympics looming.
 
“You’ve got to be a good bike rider to win this race – there’s nowhere to hide, whether it be in the hills around Casterton, the open windswept flats at Port MacDonnell or the three crits.”
 
Founded in 2012, the eighth Tour of the Great South Coast is backed by the Victorian State Government and four municipalities – the City of Mount Gambier, District Council of Grant and Naracoorte Lucindale Council in South Australia, and Victoria’s Glenelg Shire Council.
 
The NRS Facebook page and Kayo / FOX SPORTS will bring daily highlight shows with race coverage, rider interviews and more.  

Australia’s Carol Cooke (T2) and Paige Greco (C3) were crowned 2019 UCI Para World Cup Series champions following the third and final round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup season in Canada. 
 
After netting twelve medals at each of the first two rounds in Belgium and Italy in May, the Australian Team ended the season with five medals in Baie-Comeau, through Cooke, Greco, plus Darren Hicks (C2) and Grant Allen (H4). 

For the Series, Cooke won four gold and two silver in the time trial and road races held across the three World Cups including dual gold in Canada to cap her 2019 Series. 
 
“I came into this year deciding to just have fun racing and have no expectations of myself and I think that has worked,” said Cooke. “Winning the World Cup series was never on my radar for this year but it’s nice to have done it again.”

Rising star Greco claimed three gold, a bronze and a fifth place across her debut World Cup season. 
“I’ve loved being apart of the Australian team going to the world cups this year,” said Greco. “I’ve learned and gain so much knowledge and taken things away from each race. 

“Coming away with the series win was awesome and has given me the drive to keep improving! Thanks again to the staff on all the trips I couldn’t have achieved it without them.”

Darren Hicks (C2) finished second overall after finishing inside the top four in all six races in the season, including dual time trial gold. 

Grant Allen (H4) ended his season on a high with silver in the road race to finish sixth overall, while Stu Tripp (H5) finished fifth on the standings.     

In the women's C4 classification, Hannah Macdougall and Meg Lemon ended the season in third and fourth respectively despite only contesting the first two rounds. 

The Australian Team has now settled in Italy before heading to Emmen for the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships from September 12-15. 

“I love training in this area and feel very much at home here,” said Cooke, who has used the area as a training base for the last few years. “It’s great because I don’t have to worry about getting over jet lag for Worlds in the Netherlands. 

“It’s amazing to think that the Paralympics are only just over a year away. But first stop is Worlds and it will be tough. 

“There are a number of women who weren’t in Canada so anything can happen! I’ll just continue to do what I’ve done this year...have fun and do the best I can on the day."

The Australian Cycling Team won five medals, comprising one gold to Ella Sibley (SA) and four silver, at the 2019 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships held in Germany from 14-18 August.

Sibley claimed dual medals for the Championships after winning the scratch race and silver in the keirin, while Sam Gallagher (SA) raced to dual silver in the team sprint and keirin. In the omnium, Graeme Frislie (VIC) overcame two crashes to take silver.

Medal Snapshot

• Scratch - Gold - Ella Sibley (SA)
• Team Sprint - Silver - Sam Gallagher (VIC), John Trovas (NSW) and Carlos Carisimo (SA)
• Keirin - Silver - Sam Gallagher (VIC) 
• Omnium - Silver - Graeme Frislie (VIC)
• Keirin - Silver - Ella Sibley (SA)

The versatility of South Australia's Ella Sibley was on show as she celebrated on the podium in Germany in both the endurance and sprint categories.

On the opening day of competition, a superbly executed race plan from Sibley saw her claim the rainbow jersey in the scratch race before the Adelaide cyclist capped her World Championship debut by sprinting to keirin silver on the final day of racing.

​A fearless performance from Graeme Frislie (VIC) saw him overcome two crashes to take silver in the four-race omnium event. After finishing third in the scratch and tempo races, Graeme came down in no less than two separate crashes in the elimination race before amazingly claiming third. Frislie then staged an epic battle in the points race to move up in the standings to take home the silver medal.

In the team sprint, John Trovas (NSW), Sam Gallagher (VIC) and Carlos Carisimo (SA) clocked the second-fastest time in qualifying (45.162), before defeating the Greek outfit (45.023) in round one.

In the final, the trio scorched the German track in 44.681secs, the fastest time ever ridden by an Australian Under 19 outfit, however, they were pipped for gold by just six hundredths of a second by India (44.625). 

Sam Gallagher's red hot form continued on day two, with the Victorian winning two heats on the way to winning silver in the keirin. 

On day three, Gallagher clocked a personal best in the sprint qualification (Flying 200m) to qualify second fastest (10.159), as did John Trovas who qualified tenth (10.375). Trovas won his round 1/16 heat, but his campaign came to an end in the next round which would see him finish tenth overall. Sam ended the competition in fifth after being knocked out by the eventual silver medallist in the quarter-finals.

In a disappointing team pursuit competition for Team Australia, crashes ended the green and gold assault on the podium.

In the men's, the quartet Graeme Frislie (VIC), Bill Simpson (VIC), Liam Walsh (QLD) and James Moriarty (QLD) finished fourteenth after crashing in their qualifying round (4:17.944).

Francesca Sewell (QLD), Lauren Robards (QLD), Ashlee Jones (VIC) and Ella Sibley (SA) clocked the seventh fastest time (4:39.222) in women's qualifying before a crash in round one brought down three riders. Sewell and Robards escaped with bumps and bruises, however, Jones was withdrawn from any further competition (Omnium).

It was an energetic and aggressive performance by Sewell who finished a gallant 18th as Jones' replacement in the women's omnium. 

In the individual pursuits, personal bests to Queenslanders Lauren Robards (2:22.971) and Francesca Sewell (2:24.453) ensured two Australians in the top eight in the women's event. In the men's, Liam Walsh (14th - 3:19.251) and Bill Simpson (19th - 3:22.471) finished inside the top twenty. 

James Moriarty (QLD) shone in the men's points race as he lapped the field twice, before finishing just three points off the podium in fifth. Rohan Haydon-Smith (NSW) finished tenth in the scratch race. 

In the time trials, Ella Sibley's four-event World Championships ended with 15th (36.657), while Rohan Haydon-Smith (10th - 1:03.315) and Graeme Frislie (12th - 1:03.540) finished inside the top twelve in the men's. 

Unfortunately, illness forced the withdrawal of our women's Madison team, while James Moriarty (QLD) and Bill Simpson (VIC) finished eighth in the men's final.
 
Event Information

The 2019 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships was held in Frankfurt, Germany, from 14-18 August 2019.  

• Team Australia Guide australiancyclingteam.com/juniortrackworlds
• Results jrworlds2019.veloresults.com
• Live Stream via Sportdeutschland

A twelve-member Australian team will contest the 2019 UCI Junior Track World Championships from 14-18 August, Frankfurt, Germany.

Watch Live Stream Via sportdeutschland.tv

Meet the 2019 Australian Junior Team which will contest the 2019 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Germany from 14-18 August.

We caught up with Ashlee Jones (VIC), Lauren Robards (QLD), Francesca Sewell (QLD), Ella Sibley (SA), Graeme Frislie (VIC), Bill Simpson (VIC), Liam Walsh (QLD), James Moriarty (QLD), Rohan Haydon-Smith (NSW), Carlos Carisimo (SA), Sam Gallagher (VIC) and John Trovas (NSW). 

Watch the play list below to learn more about each of our team members! 

Watch the UCI Junior Track World Championships 2019 Live Online here.

The 2019 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup season wraps up in Baie-Comeau, Canada, August 8-11. 

The Australian Team netted twelve medals at each of the the first two rounds in Belgium and Italy in May.

The Australians in action in Canada includes Carol Cooke (T2) and Paige Greco (C3) who boast the World Cup leader's jersey, plus Darren Hicks (C2), Stuart Tripp (H5) and Grant Allen (H4). 
​

• WATCH LIVE at paracyclismebaiecomeau.com 
• RESULTS via uci.org/para-cycling/events

“It is always great to work with a fresh group of athletes, we have learned a lot about them of individuals and they have gelled as a team really quickly,” said Gilmore during the team’s final training camp at the Australian Cycling Team Headquarters at the Adelaide Superdrome. 

“We have been working hard we don’t apologise for that, it is a really good stepping stone for them to understand what it is like to be a national team member. 

“Ultimately, we have focussed on the processes, get the process right, nine times out of ten, the outcome will be there as well.” 

VIS Sprint Coach Kelly is excited about the wealth of knowledge and experience the pair can provide to the athletes. 

“Between myself and Matt, there is a bit of experience and we work well together, it has been a really good partnership,” Kelly said. “We draw on the experience and how can we get them best prepared for the big show.”

The 2019 UCI Junior Track World Championships will be held in Germany from 14-18 August 2019.  

>>> Visit the Team Hub.

“Pretty cool to be here, it is an amazing place to have the finish line for the Olympic Games, will certainly be a great spectacle with the grandstands,” Amanda Spratt, 2018 World Championship road race silver medallist. 

“It is very different having such wide roads to race on, this is very different for us. But it is about picking which lines to take, so it has been really valuable to be here and ride the course.”

Greco who is aiming for selection to the Australian Paralympic team which will contest the Paralympic Games road race, individual time trial and team relay events, could picture the atmosphere expected in twelve months time. 

“Good to come here ahead of the Games to learn about the heat, to feel the atmosphere of being at the track, it is exciting knowing how big it will be next year with the crowd.” ​

Australia's Logan Martin celebrated dual gold at the 2019 Summer X Games in Minneapolis.

Gold Coast's Martin grabbed his first victory over Japan's Rim Nakamura and Jose Torres of Argentina on Friday, before doubling up in the BMX dirt event with a huge 94.66 score on the last of his three runs.

Martin overhauled fellow Aussie Brandon Loupos, who had posted 92.00 points on his first run.

Men's BMX Park
Gold: Logan Martin
Silver: Rim Nakamura
Bronze: Jose Torre

BMX Dirt
Gold: Logan Martin (94.66)
Silver: Brandon Loupos (92.00)
Bronze: Dawid Godziek (90.66)

Lucy Kennedy took victory in the inaugural women’s edition of the Clásica San Sebastián, attacking twice after a puncture neutered her first attack.  The Queenslander finished 20 seconds ahead of Janneke Ensing (WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling) in second and Pauliena Rooijakkers (CCC-Liv) in third.

Kennedy's team-mates Annemiek van Vleuten and Amanda Spratt finished nearly five minutes down, in 16th and 18th place respectively.

With 35km to go a chase group were 15 seconds behind when Kennedy punctured, dragging her back as Ensing surged forward and opened up a gap of more than a minute with 20km to go.

Team-mate Georgia Williams joined Kennedy in the chase group, the New Zealander working hard to bring the gap back to within 30 seconds.

Kennedy then reeled in and passed Ensing on the final climb of the day, which reached gradients of 16 per cent, pulling clear with 8km to go and maintaining her advantage to cross the finish line first.

Results - Clásica San Sebastián 2019

​1. Lucy Kennedy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, in 3-38-04
2. Janneke Ensing (Ned) WNT-Rotor, at 23 seconds
3. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) CCC-Liv, at 1-04
4. Anastasiia Pliaskina (Rus) Cogeas-Mettler, at same time
5. Edwige Pittel (Fra) Cogeas-Mettler, at 1-06
6. Lourdes Oyarbide (Esp) Movistar, at 1-12
7. Ahreum Na (Kor) Alé Cipollini, at 1-38
8. Kathrin Hammes (Ger) WNT-Rotor
9. Hanna Nilsson (Swe) BTC City Ljubljana, both at same time
10. Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Valcar Cylance, at 2-04