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

It was heartbreak for Australia in the elite finals at the 2019 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Belgium on Saturday with Saya Sakakibara (NSW) and Anthony Dean (SA) crashing in their finals after earlier dominating the competition.


The pair looked unstoppable as they won nine of ten finals between them through their Moto heats, 1/8, 1/4 and semi finals before their barnstorming run at the rainbow jersey sadly came to an end in the finals inside the first turn.


Australia did celebrate on the podium on the final day through Oliver Moran (NSW) who won silver in the junior men's final.

Recaps

Wollongong's Saya Sakakibara (NSW) opened her second World Championship account with three Moto qualifying wins, before adding the 1/4 final win as torrential rain began to cause havoc with the Zolder track.

The 19-year-old Sakakibara, who launched herself with sixth overall on her World Championship debut in 2018, then stormed into the final after winning the semi-final by more than five bike lengths.

In one of the most stacked finals in history, Sakakibara lined up against 2016 Olympic and world champion Mariana Pajón, reigning world champion Laura Smulders and 2017 world champion Alise Willoughby.

Devastatingly, however, Sakakibara's great form and run at her first World Championship podium came undone at the first jump after she skidded and crashed on landing. Willoughby, the wife of Australian two-time world champion Sam, rode to gold.

"I was really happy with how I rode today, yes the result isn't what I wanted, but I could see that I am one of the top riders out there and it is a big step up from the early races of the year," said Sakakibara, who also crashed out of the opening round of the 2019 World Cup season in April, before regrouping to claim two finals appearances across four rounds held in May and June.

"I was feeling pretty calm coming into this weekend as I know the track. I was really focused on going through my processes today and I surprised myself winning everything to get to the final.

"That was where it clicked, and I thought that maybe I could do well here. But I just think that I just hesitated a little bit out of the gate, I crashed on myself, I wasn't comfortable being in a tight position."

With a second career World Championship final under her belt before she exits her teens, and with Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games now less than a year away, Sakakibara could see the upside of today's result.

"Seventh, one worse than last year, that's hard. But an Australian in the final is really cool. And getting some Olympic points is really awesome, and I get to ride with a single-digit for another year, which is a plus.

"Big thanks to the Australian Cycling Team for supporting me and to all the staff here, I hope I made you proud."

2016 Olympic finalist Anthony Dean (SA) won all three Moto races, before storming to win both his 1/8 and 1/4 finals. In the semi-final, Dean was once again first out of the gate, however, he was pushed to fourth after the second turn before holding this to the line to secure a place in the final.

However, like Saya just moments before him, Dean's run at a maiden rainbow jersey in his sixth World Championships campaign was halted by a crash after he clipped the wheel of the rider in front of him on the first turn.

Recovering from the fall, Dean managed to cross the line in sixth. "I was having such a great day winning five laps, third in the semi-final, was set up for a great day," said Dean, who has enjoyed a consistent 2019 World Cup season.

"I had a perfect gate, but just wheelie'd to the bottom, and that is what cost me. I went into the first turn in third, was coming out going for second and just caught the guy's wheel in front of me who was turning really high in the wet conditions.

"I was in a bad spot turning at the wrong time.

"Pretty disappointed, I felt like this was the day it could have been mine, but what are you going to do? I will just come back and try again."

Kai Sakakibara (NSW) and Lauren Reynolds (WA) came agonisingly close to a finals appearance when they finished fifth in their respective semi-finals.

Sakakibara finished fourth in his 1/8 final run, before a stellar final corner move in the 1/4 final which saw him move from the last position into fourth and through to the semi-final. "It was a huge day, I had a great run through the Motos and it was survival of the fittest after that and just couldn't get out of the semi-final," said Kai, who season honours include a career-best World Cup fourth-place and three semi-final finishes. 

"Disappointed because I was aiming for the final, but I was proud of my preparation coming into the event, I was riding really nicely and I know success isn't too far away."

2013 World Championship silver medallist and dual Olympian Reynolds looked strong throughout the day, moving to the semi-finals with a strong ride to finish behind defending champion Laura Smulders (NED) and ahead of 2017 world champion Alise Willoughby (USA) in a stacked 1/4 final. 

In other Elite results, Izaac Kennedy's (QLD) World Championship debut came to a thrilling end in the 1/4 final stage when he was pipped on the line after getting back to ride the final straight after a crash early in the run. Erin Lockwood (QLD) and Matt Krasevskis (QLD) were unable to progress through the Motos, while Josh McLean's (VIC) day ended in the 1/8 final stage. 

In the Under 19 events, Oliver Moran (NSW) won the silver medal behind France's Tatyan Lui Hin Tsan. 

Des’ree Barnes (QLD) produced solid rides in her motos and 1/4 finals, however, she was unable to progress to the final after finishing seventh in the semi-final. 

Jack Davis' (NSW) Championships came unstuck on the wet track early in his 1/4 final, while Corey Taylor (WA) pipped on the line for fifth in the same heat which ended his 2019 run. Matt Tidswell's (SA) campaign ended in the Moto rounds. 

​Team Australia

• ELITE MEN Anthony Dean (SA), Kai Sakakibara (NSW), Matt Krasevskis (QLD), Izaac Kennedy (QLD), Josh McLean (VIC)
• ELITE WOMEN Saya Sakakibara (NSW), Lauren Reynolds (WA), Erin Lockwood (QLD)
• UNDER 19 MEN Matt Tidswell (SA), Jack Davis (NSW), Oliver Moran (NSW), Corey Taylor (WA)
• UNDER 19 WOMEN Des’ree Barnes (QLD)

Watch 

• Final Day Highlights - Foxtel Channel 507 - Sunday 28 July 1:00pm

With less than one year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Australian Team has its sights on the 2019 UCI BMX Racing World Championships. 
​
The Championships will be held at the BMX Club Circuit in Zolder, Belgium, with the finals on Saturday 27 July. 

Team Australia

• ELITE MEN Anthony Dean (SA), Kai Sakakibara (NSW), Matt Krasevskis (QLD), Izaac Kennedy (QLD), Josh McLean (VIC)
• ELITE WOMEN Saya Sakakibara (NSW), Lauren Reynolds (WA), Erin Lockwood (QLD)
• UNDER 19 MEN Matt Tidswell (SA), Jack Davis (NSW), Oliver Moran (NSW), Corey Taylor (WA)
• UNDER 19 WOMEN Des’ree Barnes (QLD)

BMX World Championships

• July 23-27, BMX Club Circuit in Zolder Official website

Schedule 

• 9pm AEST Saturday 27 July (13:00 local time) - Motos
• 1am AEST Sunday 28 July (17:00 local time) - Races 1/8 1/4, Semis, Finals

Watch 

• Final Day Highlights - Foxtel Channel 507 - Sunday 28 July 1:00pm

Follow #AusCyclingTeam

• australiancyclingteam.com
• facebook.com/AustralianCyclingTeam 
• instagram.com/australiancyclingteam
• twitter.com/AusCyclingTeam ​​

 Team Preview

Wollongong's Saya Sakakibara heads into the World Championships following a mixed opening to her 2019 World Cup season which saw her crash out of the semi-final of April’s opening round, forcing her to miss the second round with concussion. 

“I am excited to be racing Worlds,” said Saya, who regrouped to claim two finals appearances, highlighted by a fifth in the last round in France, across four rounds held in May and June. 

“I haven't had the best season so far having a few crashes early which set me back. But I really feel that over the past few weeks I have made some small improvements coming into worlds and my helping with my confidence."

It will be the 19-year-old’s second World Championship campaign in the elite field following an outstanding debut in 2018 which saw her finish sixth. And with the Tokyo Olympic Games just one year away, Saya knows the level of competition will be higher than ever this week in Belgium. 

“The women’s field is quite competitive and tough, it will be difficult for me to keep the single-digit [a number six race plate] I have been running for the past twelve months, but it is possible and I have high hopes I can get myself into the final and come away with a good result."

Kai Sakakibara enters his fifth consecutive elite World Championships with season honours including a career-best World Cup fourth-place in May’s third round, plus three semi-final finishes. 

"Always anxiety, anticipation and excitement coming into a Worlds, it is a whole new event every year, the most important event of 2019 for BMX," said Kai. "I know the Zolder track well having raced my first elite Worlds there five years ago in 2015, and I know have improved a lot in the past four years, and I would like to showcase that in 2019.  

“I’ve been getting some great practise in over the past few months and I’m feeling ready and confident coming into the racing.” 

2016 Olympic finalist Anthony Dean heads to a sixth straight Worlds Championships off the back of a consistent World Cup season which has seen him recently reach the finals in the third round held in France in June.

"I am excited to be a part of the team and excited to get there and showcase my skills,” said Dean, who enjoyed success on the Zolder track with a podium at the 2018 World Cup. “This year, especially leading into the Olympics for 2020, I am focused on getting better and improve as much as I can in all aspects.  

“I think I am bringing a pretty good package this year to Worlds, and I am excited to get back to this track and land on the podium this year."

Dual Olympian Lauren Reynolds will take her place in the starting gate for twelfth consecutive World Championships, with the 28-year-old’s green and gold campaign beginning in 2008 in the junior category. 

“It is an absolute honour to be a part of the team again and putting on the national jersey, and I am very excited for the World Championships,” said Reynolds, who won World Championship silver in 2013.  “It is the biggest race of the year and with one year out from the Olympic Games, the level of racing is higher than it has ever been. 

“Certainly I have high expectations, like every year, I have had a great preparation so am excited to get out there and put out a good performance.” The elite team also features Erin Lockwood, Matt Krasevskis, Izaac Kennedy and Josh McLean who will make their elite World Championship debut.

The Under 19 team includes Des’ree Barnes, Matt Tidswell, Jack Davis, Oliver Moran and Corey Taylor. 

With one year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Kaarle McCulloch is gearing up for the ride of her career.

The London 2012 Olympic Games team sprint bronze medallist with Anna Meares is enjoying some of the best form of her career in 2019 with a triple World Championship medal haul including the team sprint world title with Stephanie Morton. 

"Things are going really well for me this time around," said McCulloch, 31. "I became World Champion in February with Stephanie Morton in the Team Sprint, and we're just getting faster and faster every time we get on the track together. I think we're in a good spot."

McCulloch is hoping to claim her second Olympic team nod and is hungry after narrowly missing selection for the 2016 Rio Games.  The veteran knows the task ahead is tough and long, but will be using all of the experience gained over the past twelve years within the Australian Cycling Team program. 

"Everything seems to be coming together for me, I feel in a good position, everything I have learned from my experiences over the last three Olympic cycles is holding me in a good place," she added. "Really looking forward to seeing what I can do in Tokyo. When it comes to race day in Tokyo, I will know I have done everything I possibly could have done and whatever happens, happens." 

McCulloch, along with Morton, Matthew Glaetzer and Nathan Hart will head to Colorado in the USA in late July for a three-week altitude training camp.

The track cyclists will then turn their attentions to the Oceania Track Championships in New Zealand (October), 2019-20 UCI Track World Cups in Hong Kong and Brisbane (November/December), followed by the 2020 UCI Track World Championships in Germany (February), 

July 24, 2019 marks one year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

THE TEAM 

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) hopes to send the biggest Team ever to leave Australian shores, with cyclists set to make up a strong part of the green and gold contingent. 

​Cycling Australia (CA) will consider athletes for nomination to the AOC that it believes can achieve or contribute to Gold medal winning performances at the Olympic Games. CA may also consider athletes for nomination that can achieve or contribute to medal winning performances.

For all Disciplines, quota places are allocated to the AOC in accordance with the Qualification System as set out by the International Federations.  CA may not nominate more athletes than are permitted to be nominated by the AOC, but may nominate fewer athletes than are permitted.

The cyclists named to the Australian Team will be announced by the AOC in early-mid 2020. 

Cycling Australia Nomination Criteria  |  IOC Tokyo 2020 Official Documents
​
EVENTS

Five cycling disciplines will be contested - Track, Road, Mountain Bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle. 

BMX - Ariake Urban Sports Park

• Freestyle Park (Men/Women)
• Racing Race (Men/Women)

​
Mountain Bike - Izu MTB Course

• Cross-Country (Men/Women)

Road - Fuji International Speedway

• Road Race (Men/Women)
• Individual Time Trial (Men/Women)

​Track - Izu Velodrome

• Team Sprint (Men/Women)
• Sprint (Men/Women)
• Keirin (Men/Women)
• Team Pursuit (Men/Women)
• Omnium (Men/Women)
• Madison (Men/Women)

Official Tokyo 2020 Schedule

WATCH

Seven has launched The Olympics Channel on 7plus which will broadcast until the Tokyo games start feature highlights and stories about the athletes and the Olympics. 
​
Via 7 Plus online or the app. 

​#TokyoTogether

Kai Sakakibara enters his fifth consecutive elite World Championships with season honours including a career-best World Cup fourth-place in May’s third round, plus three semi-final finishes. 

“Always anxiety, anticipation and excitement coming into a Worlds, it is a whole new event every year, the most important event of 2018 for BMX,” said Kai.  ”I know the Zolder track well having raced my first elite Worlds there five years ago in 2015, and I know have improved a lot in the past four years, and I would like to showcase that in 2019.  

“I’ve been getting some great practice in over the past few months and I’m feeling ready and confident coming into the racing.” 

The 2019 BMX Racing World Championships finals for the elite and junior categories will be held at the BMX Club Circuit in Zolder on Saturday 27 July. ​

2019 AUSTRALIAN TEAM 

ELITE MEN

• Anthony Dean (SA), Kai Sakakibara (NSW), Matt Krasevskis (QLD), Izaac Kennedy (QLD), Josh McLean (VIC)

ELITE WOMEN

• Saya Sakakibara (NSW), Lauren Reynolds (WA), Erin Lockwood (QLD)

UNDER 19 MEN

• Matt Tidswell (SA), Jack Davis (NSW), Oliver Moran (NSW), Corey Taylor (WA)

UNDER 19 WOMEN

• Des’ree Barnes (QLD)

FOLLOW

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam

• australiancyclingteam.com
• facebook.com/AustralianCyclingTeam 
• instagram.com/australiancyclingteam
• twitter.com/AusCyclingTeam 

BMX World Championships 

• Official website

The Australian women's road development team has launched its 2019 winter road racing program in Belgium.

Four National Road Series (NRS) riders in Sarah Gigante (Roxsolt Attaquer), Josie Talbot (Roxsolt Attaquer), Ruby Roseman-Gannon (St LukesHealth TIS Racing Team) and Anya Louw (St LukesHealth TIS Racing Team) have joined Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy members Maeve Plouffe (SA), Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD), Samantha de Riter (VIC) and Sophie Edwards (SA) for the trip. 

The riders opened their season on July 14 with two Belgian kermesses, with the outfit set to be tested at the Bene Tour (UCI 2.1) from July 18-21. 

Unfortunately, Plouffe will return to Australia after breaking her ulna and radius in a race crash in the opening weekend.

The program follows a successful partnership between CA and NRS teams in the 2019 Summer of Cycling which saw riders contesting the Santos Women's Tour Down Under, Deakin University Women's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Lexus of Blackburn Women's Herald Sun Tour.

Launched by Cycling Australia in November 2018, the Podium Potential Academy focuses on long term athlete development with the current cohort aiming for success at the 2024 Olympic Games and beyond.

Schedule

• Jul 14 GP Sofie Goos Borgerhout 1.15A
• Jul 17 Arendonk 1.15A
• Jul 18 to 21 Bene Tour UCI 2.1
• Jul 19 Vrasene 1.15A
• Jul 23 Zottegem-Strijpen 1.15A
• Jul 26 Bambrugge-Erpe Mere 1.15A
• Jul 27 St Maria-Lierde 1.15A
• Jul 29 Boezinge WE UCI Crit
• Jul 30 Kapellen 1.15
• Jul 31 Antwerpen WE UCI Crit
• Aug 1 Herentals Fietst WE UCI Crit
• Aug 3 Erondeg Pijl (Erpe Mere) UCI 1.2

The elite team features siblings Saya Sakakibara and Kai Sakakibara, along with Erin Lockwood, Matt Krasevskis, Izaac Kennedy and Josh McLean who will make their elite World Championship debut.

The Under 19 team includes Des’ree Barnes, Matt Tidswell, Jack Davis, Oliver Moran and Corey Taylor. 

Meet the whole team at our Instagram Page

The 2019 BMX Racing World Championships finals for the elite and junior categories will be held at the BMX Club Circuit in Zolder on Saturday 27 July. 

2019 AUSTRALIAN TEAM 

ELITE MEN

• Anthony Dean (SA), Kai Sakakibara (NSW), Matt Krasevskis (QLD), Izaac Kennedy (QLD), Josh McLean (VIC)

ELITE WOMEN

• Saya Sakakibara (NSW), Lauren Reynolds (WA), Erin Lockwood (QLD)

UNDER 19 MEN

• Matt Tidswell (SA), Jack Davis (NSW), Oliver Moran (NSW), Corey Taylor (WA)

UNDER 19 WOMEN

• Des’ree Barnes (QLD)

FOLLOW

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam

• australiancyclingteam.com
• facebook.com/AustralianCyclingTeam 
• instagram.com/australiancyclingteam
• twitter.com/AusCyclingTeam 

BMX World Championships 

• Official website

Following further consultation with BMX Australia, Cycling Australia has named an additional athlete, Erin Lockwood, to the 2019 UCI BMX World Championship team. 

​We wish her and the rest of the team the best of luck at the World Championships.

2019 AUSTRALIAN TEAM

ELITE MEN

• Anthony Dean (SA)
• Kai Sakakibara (NSW)
• Matt Krasevskis (QLD)
• Izaac Kennedy (QLD)
• Josh McLean (VIC)

ELITE WOMEN

• Saya Sakakibara (NSW)
• Lauren Reynolds (WA)
• Erin Lockwood (QLD)

UNDER 19 MEN

• Matt Tidswell (SA)
• Jack Davis (NSW)
• Oliver Moran (NSW)
• Corey Taylor (WA)
  
  

UNDER 19 WOMEN

• Des’ree Barnes (QLD)

FOLLOW

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam
​

• australiancyclingteam.com
• Facebook - AustralianCyclingTeam
• Instagram - @australiancyclingteam
• Twitter - @AusCyclingTeam

BMX World Championships 

• Official website

‪#UCIBMXWC Round 5 & 6

The 2019 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup season continues with round 5 and 6 at Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines in Paris on June 8-9.

In action for the Australian Cycling Team will be Wollongong’s Saya Sakakibara, Kai Sakakibara and Adelaide's Anthony Dean.

Saya heads into the weekend fresh off a final and semi-final appearance at the third and fourth rounds held in April, with two podium finishes at the equivalent 2018 rounds held on the Paris track also strong in her memory.

Kai equalled his career-best World Cup result with a fourth-place finish in the third round last month, while Anthony progressed to the semi-final at the opening two rounds in England in April.

The World Cups provide valuable points towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification.  

• Website ffc.fr/coupe-monde-bmx-2018
• Results uci.org/uci-bmx-supercross-world-cup
• Watch live facebook.com/UCIBMXSupercross

Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the 14 athletes selected to the Australian Team for the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships to be held from 12-15 September in Emmen, the Netherlands.

It has been a stellar opening to the 2019 international season for Australian para-cyclists with a 24-medal haul, including eight gold, captured across the first two rounds of the 2019 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup season in May.

Seven-time world champion Carol Cooke (VIC), reigning world champion Emilie Miller (NSW), and newcomer Paige Greco (SA) have been selected following their superb start to 2019 which sees them wearing the World Cup leader's jerseys in their respective categories.

2019 world champion on the track Emily Petricola (VIC) receives her first road team selection, with 2018 Road World Championship medallists Kaitlyn Schurmann (VIC), Hannah Macdougall (VIC) and Meg Lemon (SA) also selected.

Reigning road champion Alistair Donohoe (VIC), dual Paralympic champion David Nicholas (QLD) and Darren Hicks (SA) will all be eager to add a road world title to the rainbow jerseys claimed at the 2019 Track World Championships in March.

The Australian Team will contest the third round of the World Cup in Canada in August ahead of September's World Championships.

Offering valuable qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the Championships will see the Australian Team vie against 200 of the world's best from 30 countries in the road races and time trials.

Australian Team

• Alex Welsh (VIC) H3
• Emilie Miller (NSW) H1
• Stuart Tripp (VIC) H5
• Kaitlyn Schurmann (VIC) C1
• Darren Hicks (SA) C2
• Paige Greco (SA) C3
• David Nicholas (QLD) C3
• Emily Petricola (VIC) C4
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4
• Hannah Macdougall (VIC) C4
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5
• Carol Cooke (VIC) T2
• Stuart Jones (NSW) T2
• Gabrielle Vassallo* (NSW) T1

​* Selection dependent upon further medical signoff

Roaring into the finals with the best semi final score, a bout of food poisoning the morning of the finals halted the Logan Martin run at the top spot at the second round of the BMX Freestyle World Cup competition in Montpellier. 

19-year-old American Justin Dowdell (91.20 points) took the win, Martin scoring 89.6 points on his first final run, before calling off his second early.  It was the second straight bronze for the Gold Coast cyclist who now leads the World Cup rankings after two rounds. 

​"Qualified first going into finals, got a bit of food poisoning the morning of finals but came pretty good come time to ride, just lacked a bit of energy," Martin told his fans via social media. "Ended up taking third place which also means I’m sitting in first overall leading into China so I’m pumped on!!

"Can’t really complain with third but definitely felt better on my bike the previous few days! I had a lot more to do but couldn’t make it happen this time around, looking forward to the last stop in China later in the year!"

Brandon Loupos, who took the gold in the World Cup's opening round in Japan in May, landed heavily on the second jump of his first final run which ended his run, before pulling off a series of spectacular tricks including a double back flip in his second run to score 72.40 points which placed him ninth.

The third round of the 2019 BMX Freestyle World Cup will be held in China in November, just ahead of the World Championships also in China. 

The Australian team continued its superb start to the 2019 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup season with a twelve medal haul in Belgium's second round, equalling the team's opening round performance in Italy. 

In another stellar display, the team netted six gold for the round with Carol Cooke (T2) and Emilie Miller (H1) winning dual gold and the World Cup leader's jerseys in their respective categories.

"I'm extremely proud of my start to the international season here in Ostend. I am incredibly humbled and surprised to receive the World Cup leaders jersey, and two golds tops off a great week," said the dual reigning world champion Miller.

"I am pleased with the execution of my technical skills throughout the time trial, which has been a major focus for this early part of the season, and my road race was my best result for this competition and my best ever road race performance.

"I believe I exceeded where we thought I would be at in this early part of the year and it's great to see I'm just building on the form I found at the 2018 World Champs.

"A massive thanks to all the Australian Cycling Team staff and my home coaches who make the magic happen."

"I came into this season with no expectations, really wanting to have fun racing and just do the best that I could. It is such an important year for us to gain points for Tokyo so I’m happy to have been able to do my part," said Cooke, the 2018 T2 World Cup champion, who claimed dual silver in last week's opening round in Italy.

"I always knew it would be difficult in Italy due to the climbing involved and my German competitor, Jana, being an amazing climber. So I was just happy to come away with the two silvers.

"In round two in Belgium, I knew it was a good time trial course for me and I’m happy racing in the wind. The road race was probably one of the best our category has ever had, everyone picking it up a year out from Paralympic Games. With four of us sprinting to the line I just had to dig deep and go for it."

Paige Greco (C3), who claimed dual gold in the opening round of the World Cup in Italy, added a third gold to her haul with victory in the time trial, while Darren Hicks won the C2 race against the clock. 

Greco also claimed bronze in the road race which secured her the World Cup leader's jersey. Hannah MacDougall (C4) claimed road race silver. 

In other time trial results, Stuart Tripp (MH5) claimed silver, while a heroic effort from Stuart Jones (MT2) saw him win bronze after breaking his collarbone in a mid-race crash.

Emily Petricola (C4) won her maiden World Cup road medal with time trial silver, while Meg Lemon (C4) shared the podium after winning bronze.  

The Australian Team for September's 2019 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships will be announced by Cycling Australia on June 5. 

The third round of the World Cup will be held in Baie-Comeau, Canada, in August. 

Results 

• Results votrecourse.com
• Series Info uci.org

Wollongong's Kai Sakakibara equalled his career-best UCI BMX Supercross World Cup result with a fourth place finish in the season's third round held in Papendal, the Netherlands.
 
Sakakibara recovered after a slow start in Saturday's third round final to finish just off the podium behind Dutch 2018 World Cup champion Niek Kimmann. 
  
"I felt great all day," Sakakibara said after equalling his career best result which he achieved in 2018 in Belgium. "I won my first round, the round of 16 and the eighth (final). I even got a second place in my quarter, but coming down to that final, it was really tight, and I was really excited to be there as it was my first World Cup final of the year.
 
"I got a bit shot down in the first straight and tried to work my way back but finished fourth. Overall a really good result and I'm happy to get the score on the board. A couple of things to work on for tomorrow but I can't wait."
 
In Sunday's fourth round, Sakakibara's campaign ended in the quarter-final stage.  The 22-year-old now sits eighth on the overall World Cup standings.

Kai's sister Saya Sakakibara grabbed a semi final and final finish for the two rounds, just two weeks after crashing out of the World Cup opening round in England.

"I was already thankful I was able to race," said Saya after her round three semi final finish on Saturday. "I chose lane eight in the semi final to give myself some room and I was confident I was able to get through the first few jumps OK.

"Later in the race, I made a decision to not jump, but to pump in the second straight, which unfortunately was the wrong decision and I lost position and I ended up fifth.

"That was disappointing, but I am happy that I was able to have a good race and stayed on my bike which was a big box to tick in this round for me."

Round 3 & 4 Results - Papendal

• Saya Sakakibara: Round 3 - 5th in semi-final; Round 4 - eighth in the final
• Kai Sakakibara: Round 3 - 4th in final; Round 4 - seventh in quarterfinal

World Cup standings - after Round 4: 

• Men's: Kai Sakakibara 8th; Anthony Dean: 24th
• Women's: Saya Sakakibara: 14th

Full results from the 2019 World Cup season. 

The 2019 UCI BMX SX World Cup now moves to France for Round 5 and 6 which will be held in St Quentin en Yvelines on June 8-9. â€‹

The 2019 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup season has opened in Manchester England with mixed results for the Australian Cycling Team.

Saya Sakakibara, who finished second overall on the 2018 international rankings, unfortunately, crashed out of Saturday's opening round in the semi-final stage and was forced to miss Sunday's second round.

In a semifinal littered with some of the sport's biggest names including Olympic gold medallist Mariana Pajon, reigning world champion Laura Smulders and former world champion Alise Willoughby, Sakakibara crashed in the front straight on the first jump.  

The Wollongong cyclist was knocked unconscious and was taken to hospital for tests but was later cleared of major injury. She ultimately finished 16th in the round and sat out Sunday's second round.

"In the semi, it was quite a stacked race, I lined up next to Mariana and Alise so it was quite the mental challenge at the start," Sakakibara, who is hoping to be ready for the next leg of the World Cup season in the Netherlands on May 11-12. "But I was able to do a good gate but got squeezed on the first jump and unfortunately went down, hitting my head, and blacked out a bit.

"Just looking to rest up and hoping to be fine for Papendal in two weeks."

In the men's competition, Adelaide's Anthony Dean and Wollongong's Kai Sakakibara progressed to the semifinals in both rounds.

Dean narrowly missed a final in round one after finishing fifth in his semifinal, before his second round campaign was cut short by after a mechanical. 

"First World Cup of the season, I was having a great opening day, won some laps and rode my way into the semifinal," said Dean. "I had a great start, executed everything I needed to and went into the first turn in second but was ridden high and ended up being pushed into fourth and then got past right on the last straight for fifth. 

"Then in round two, qualifying through the rounds ended up in the semifinal, I had a great gate state but had a mechanical error when my foot came out of the pedal, which disappointingly ended my day." 

• Results Round 1  | Round 2
• Watch the Round 1 & 2 action from Manchester UCI BMX SX Live video
• Next Up Round 3 & 4 - Papendal, The Netherlands, 11- 12 May 2019 UCI BMX SX Home​

Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the athlete selections for the Australian Team for the 2019 UCI Junior Track World Championships (14-18 August, Frankfurt, Germany) and the 2019 UCI Junior Road World Championships (22-29 September, Yorkshire, Great Britain). 

2019 Junior Track World Championships

Track Endurance

• 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)

Track Sprint

• Carlos Carisimo (SA)
• Sam Gallagher (VIC)
• John Trovas (NSW)

2019 Junior Road World Championships

• Patrick Eddy (VIC)

 Jonathan Norfolk, Head of Performance Pathways and People. 

"The Junior World Championships provides a privileged opportunity to represent Australia on the international stage and we are pleased to be able to select a number of athletes who have a genuine opportunity to challenge for a podium performance. 

"The performance level at the Road World Championships is set very high and this is reflected in our selection criteria where the focus is on the ability of the athlete to achieve a podium performance at the World Championships as well as giving them an experience which will positively contribute to their long term development.

"This long term development of our up and coming athletes is our priority and we are invested in creating additional opportunities for meaningful endurance development through a number of European based road racing camps in those categories where the Road World Championships is currently not able to create this developmental impact. 
​
"To all the athletes who have been selected, we wish you the best and hope you enjoy the honour of representing the green and gold."