Brisbane will be glittering with rainbows with ten reigning world champions confirmed in a stellar Australian Team for the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from December 13-15.The Brisbane round of the World Cup offers valuable qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and will be the Australians’ last race on home soil ahead of February’s World Championships.

The team boasts more than forty elite world titles, with ten reigning world champions, and eight Olympians set to line up on the Anna Meares Velodrome across the three days of competition.

Reigning men’s team pursuit world champion and world record holders Sam Welsford, Alex Porter, Kelland O’Brien and Leigh Howard are confirmed, along with reigning women’s world champions Ashlee Ankudinoff, Annette Edmondson, Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly. 

“There’s nothing like home soil, we had the 2012 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games on home soil and that was incredible,” said dual Olympian Edmondson. “It’s been three years since I’ve worn these rainbows and you never take it for granted. To have another chance to represent Australia in the rainbows in the team pursuit, with a home crowd, that is just amazing.”

Nine-time career world champion Cameron Meyer will also feature in the endurance events.

2019 team sprint world champions Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch headline the sprinting contingent, along with 2018 sprint world champion Matthew Glaetzer and Rio Olympian Nathan Hart.

“Racing is the best preparation for a big event like the Olympics and the World Cup in Brisbane is exactly that,” said Glaetzer, who claimed two gold medals on the Velodrome at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. “It will be a great dress rehearsal for us to really get in some good form and perform with the pressure of the crowd and everything going on around that.”

In superb signs for the next generation, four of the country’s developing athletes from the Australian Cycling Team’s Podium Potential Academy in Luke Plapp, Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish, Maeve Plouffe and Caitlin Ward have been selected.

Australia’s para-cycling stars will also be in action across the three days in Brisbane with the event to include a UCI category 1 event for the time trial, individual pursuit and scratch race with critical qualifying points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The Australian Para-cycling contingent will be named closer to the event.

Team Australia 

Sprint

• Stephanie Morton – SA – reigning team sprint world champion
• Kaarle McCulloch – NSW – reigning team sprint world champion
• Caitlin Ward – VIC – Dual reigning national champion, Podium Potential Academy Member
• Matthew Glaetzer – SA – 2018 sprint world champion
• Nathan Hart – ACT – 2018 World Cup gold medallist
• Matthew Richardson – WA – Podium Potential Academy Member
• Tom Cornish – NSW – 2019 junior world champion; Podium Potential Academy Member

​Endurance

• Ashlee Ankudinoff – NSW – reigning individual & team pursuit world champion
• Nettie Edmondson – SA – reigning team pursuit world champion
• Georgia Baker – TAS – reigning team pursuit world champion
• Alexandra Manly – SA – reigning points race & team pursuit world champion
• Maeve Plouffe – SA – reigning Oceania champion, Podium Potential Academy Member
• Sam Welsford – WA – reigning scratch & team pursuit world champion
• Alex Porter – SA – reigning team pursuit world champion
• Kelland O’Brien – VIC – reigning team pursuit world champion
• Leigh Howard – VIC – reigning team pursuit world champion
• Cameron Meyer – WA – nine-time career world champion
• Luke Plapp – VIC – dual junior world champion

2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup 

About

Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome will host the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup where the world’s best track cyclists will battle for gold and valuable qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games from December 13-15.

The event will be delivered by Cycling Australia in partnership with the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Marketing.

Schedule
​

• FRI 13 DEC: Team Pursuit; Team Sprint; Para-cycling Time Trial
• SAT 14 DEC: Men’s Omnium; Women’s Madison; Men’s Keirin; Women’s Sprint; Para-cycling Individual Pursuit
• SUN 15 DEC: Women’s Omnium; Men’s Madison; Women’s Keirin; Men’s Sprint; Para-cycling Scratch Race

Tickets

Ticket prices begin from only $10 for day sessions, while fans can get along to the evening’s finals action for as little as $30, with Family and Series passes also available. Secure your seats at the official website brisbanetrackworldcup.com/tickets

Follow

Via the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup digital channels

• brisbanetrackworldcup.com
• facebook.com/UciWorldCupAus
• twitter.com/UCIWorldCupAus
• instagram.com/UCIWorldCupAus
  
• #TissotUCITrackWC #ThisIsTrack #thisisbrisbane #thisisqueensland

Women's keirin

Stephanie Morton added a keirin bronze to her sprint silver at her first major meet since having knee surgery.

The team sprint world champion held on for third in the keirin medal race, behind gold medallist Hyejin Lee of South Korea and Canada's Lauriane Genest.

"I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this week," Morton said. "First real big race back since the op and I'm pleased with where I've landed, really happy with the progression and looking forward to Brisbane."

Morton won her opening round heat and finished third in her semi-final to secure a place in the medal race.

Men's sprint

Nathan Hart, the World Cup gold medallist on this Cambridge track last January, took fourth place in the men's sprint this round.

He was beaten in two straight races by Japan's Yudai Nitta in the bronze medal ride after being edged by NItta's teammate Tomohiro Fukaya in the semi-finals.

Hart qualified third fastest in 9.613secs with top qualifier Mateusz Rudyk of Poland going on to win gold, with Fukaya claiming silver. 

2018 world champion Matthew Glaetzer earlier lost in the second round after sneaking through to the last 16 by the slimmest of margins.

Glaetzer was judged the winner of his first-round heat against Frenchman Rayan Helal, after being deemed a dead heat to three decimal places.

One gold, one silver and two bronze medals for Australia on the second night of the fourth round of the TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Cambridge, New Zealand. 

Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly got Australia’s night off to the perfect start, winning gold in the women’s madison in dominant fashion, while Matthew Glaetzer claimed a remarkable bronze medal in the men’s keirin, little over a month after having surgery to remove a thyroid cancer.

Stephanie Morton secured Australia’s second bronze of the night in the women’s sprint, while Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer snatched silver in the men’s omnium.

Women’s madison

Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly got Australia’s night off to the perfect start, winning gold in the women’s madison in dominant fashion.

They sealed victory by winning the double points final sprint, after building an early lead by winning four of the first six.

“It was a pretty tough madison actually. Not too many teams out there, but it was definitely a tough mado for Alex and I,” Baker said.

“We were just focusing on trying to get a consistent ride. Trying to get our changes and our timing right, trying to break the Madison down and just get all the basic things right and hope to come out with a result.

“That just goes to show all of our hard work in Adelaide paid off here.”

Baker, who claimed silver in the madison at the world championships earlier this year, and Manly finished 10 points clear of Poland, with the Subway New Zealand trade team a further 13 points back in third.
​

Team Sprint

Reigning world Stephanie Morton teamed with Podium Potential Academy rider Caitlin Ward to narrowly miss out on a medal in the women’s team sprint. The pair lost to Russian trade team Gazprom-Rusvelo in the bronze medal ride after earlier setting the third-fastest time in qualifying.

Nathan Hart, and Podium Potential Academy duo Thomas Cornish and Matthew Richardson fell short of the men’s team sprint medal races after recording the seventh-best qualifying time.​​

Follow the action at trackworldcup.nz  or tissottiming.com

Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer headlines a powerful Australian squad which will contest both the World Cup in Cambridge, New Zealand from December 6-8, followed by the 2019-2020 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Brisbane from December 13-15.

Following the reintroduction of the Madison to the Games programme, Meyer has been lured back to cycling after temporarily walking away from the sport.

“It’s a box I haven’t ticked yet. I’ve ticked nearly everything I can on the track except an Olympic medal,” said Meyer, 31, who competed at the 2008 Games, the last time the Madison was at the Olympics, having been inspired by watching fellow countrymen Graeme Brown and Stuart O’Grady win gold in Athens four years earlier.

“I watched that video of them winning the madison over and over again and that inspired me to try
and be an Olympian and try and be a track Olympian.

“There’s something about the madison that requires speed, skill, endurance; everything you can think of.

“It’s the longest event, which I like coming from an aerobic base, coming from the road base and there’s something special about it.

“Yes you’ve got to be explosive and have that speed but there’s still that element that if you’re not fit enough you don’t survive.”

Meyer will partner team pursuit world champion Kelland O’Brien at the Avantidrome in Cambridge and Sam Welsford in Brisbane. 
And they will be chasing New Zealand who sit at the top of the men’s madison world rankings.

“They’re a great combination Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart. They’d probably be the benchmark” Meyer said.

“They’re super strong and they’re super fast so they are a very hard combination to beat.

“They’ve won world cups, they’re deserved of having a good reputation and they’ll be there or thereabouts at the Olympic Games I’m sure.”

But first Meyer is eyeing the opportunity to get the better of Gate and Stewart in Cambridge.

“I’m looking forward to challenging them here at their home World Cup and I’m sure when we get to Brisbane they’ll be wanting to knock us off over in Brisbane.

“It should be a good battle. It always is between the two countries.”

The men’s madison is on Sunday, the final day of the Tissot UCI World Cup in Cambridge. Follow the results here. 

Brisbane Track World Cup

Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome will host the world’s best track cyclists for the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from 13-15 December. 

Riders will battle for gold in twelve events across three days, with valuable qualifying points on offer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
 
The 2019-2020 UCI Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup was secured by the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland in partnership with Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Marketing and Cycling Australia.

Schedule

• FRI 13 DEC: Team Pursuit; Team Sprint; Para-cycling Time Trial
• SAT 14 DEC: Men’s Omnium; Women’s Madison; Men’s Keirin; Women’s Sprint; Para-cycling Individual Pursuit
• SUN 15 DEC: Women’s Omnium; Men’s Madison; Women’s Keirin; Men’s Sprint; Para-cycling Scratch Race

Tickets 

Ticket prices for the morning qualifying sessions start at $10, while evening sessions tickets which feature the gold medal finals begin at just $30.  Family and Series passes are also available so you can catch the action with your friends.

Buy tickets here. 

The Australian Team has arrived in Cambridge ahead of round four of the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from December 6-8.

To be held at the Cambridge Avantidrome, the round continues the team’s charge at qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

Reigning men’s team pursuit world record holders Sam Welsford, Alex Porter, Kelland O'Brien, Leigh Howard and Cameron Scott are confirmed, as are Ashlee Ankudinoff, Annette Edmondson, Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly in the women’s. 

Nine-time career world champion Cameron Meyer will also feature in the endurance events. 
2019 team sprint world champion Stephanie Morton headlines the sprinting contingent, along with 2018 sprint world champion Matthew Glaetzer and Rio Olympian Nathan Hart. 

In superb signs for the next generation, four of the country’s developing athletes from the Australian Cycling Team’s Podium Potential Academy in Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish, Maeve Plouffe and Caitlin Ward have been selected. 

Follow the World Cup in Cambridge via www.trackworldcup.nz 

Team Australia for Cambridge, NZ, Round Four. 

Sprint 

• Stephanie Morton - SA - reigning team sprint world champion
• Caitlin Ward - VIC - Dual reigning national champion, Podium Potential Academy Member
• Matthew Glaetzer - SA - 2018 sprint world champion
• Nathan Hart - ACT - 2018 World Cup gold medallist
• Matthew Richardson - WA - Podium Potential Academy Member
• Tom Cornish - NSW - 2018 junior world champion; Podium Potential Academy Member

 
Endurance

• Ashlee Ankudinoff - NSW - reigning individual & team pursuit world champion
• Nettie Edmondson - SA - reigning team pursuit world champion
• Amy Cure - TAS - reigning team pursuit world champion
• Georgia Baker - TAS - reigning team pursuit world champion
• Alexandra Manly - SA - reigning points race & team pursuit world champion
• Maeve Plouffe - SA - reigning Oceania champion, Podium Potential Academy Member
• Sam Welsford - WA - reigning scratch & team pursuit world champion
• Alex Porter - SA - reigning team pursuit world champion
• Kelland O'Brien - VIC - reigning team pursuit world champion
• Leigh Howard - VIC - reigning team pursuit world champion
• Cameron Meyer - WA - nine-time career world champion 
• Cam Scott - NSW - reigning team pursuit world champion 

Following the New Zealand round, the Australian Team will head to Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome for round five of the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from December 13-15. 

Ticket prices for Brisbane’s 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup begin from only $10 for day sessions, while fans can get along to the evening’s finals action for as little as $30, with Family and Series passes also available. Secure your seats at the official website http://brisbanetrackworldcup.com/tickets 

Australia's Freestyle BMX stars will continue their chase toward the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Rampfest Indoor Skate Park in Melbourne's inner west when it hosts the inaugural Oceania Freestyle BMX Championships from December 7-8. 

The weekend will include two Pro/Elite Competitions - the Oceania Championships and the Rampfest International C1.  Plus, amateur and junior competition classes for young riders to compete alongside the Pro’s.

Sydney's Brandon Loupos, who was crowned 2019 world champion earlier this month in China, will be in action along with 2017 world champion Logan Martin of the Gold Coast. 

“Winning the World Championships was a dream come true - it’s taken a bit to sink in, but I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve this.  And now, I can’t wait to come down to Melbourne and ride in front of a home crowd again," said Loupos, who is also the reigning Australian National Champion having won the inaugural title at Rampfest in November 2018. 

The women's field will be headlined by Queensland's Natalya Diehm who launched into contention for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after a stunning World Championship debut for Australia to finish sixth.

With Freestyle BMX included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for the first time, the Oceania Championships will be a key opportunity for top Australian athletes to earn critical qualification points for the games. 

Australia currently sits in second in the Olympic Points Rankings to the USA, with the top nation at the end of the qualification period (in May 2020) securing two athlete positions in the competition for Tokyo 2020.   

An incredible two days of competition is expected at Rampfest which will be open from 9am each day for anyone to come down and watch the action.

Entry for spectators is FREE.

Riders can enter the contest via the event website.

Details

• Event Date:  7-8 December 2019
• Location:  Rampfest Indoor Skate Park, 47-85 Hillary St, Braybrook VIC 3019
• Event Website:  rampfest.com.au

Australia’s para-cycling stars will be chasing Tokyo 2020 glory at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome when it hosts the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from December 13-15. 
​
Para-cycling will take centre stage across the three days with the event to include a UCI category 1 event for the time trial, individual pursuit and scratch race with critical qualifying points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

Read more >>> brisbanetrackworldcup.com 

Dual Olympian Caroline Buchanan has burst back onto the BMX racing stage over the weekend after finding the podium twice in her first C1 and HC event since her accident back in late 2017.

The eight-time BMX and Mountain Bike world champion Buchanan suffered a horrific accident while driving an off-road vehicle on New Year's Eve in 2017 which resulted in life-threatening injuries, including a broken sternum, collapsed lungs, a broken nose and dangerous bleeding around her heart.  The injuries would keep her off the bike for nineteen months, with the 28-year-old suffering a number of setbacks during rehabilitation. 

Caroline's Indonesian comeback came at the Banyuwangi BMX International in Indonesia, which also had a multitude of talent on show including Australia's elite men's national series champion Joshua Boyton, junior rider Damon Hocking.

Lining up on the gate alongside Buchanan was New Zealand's Sarah Walker, and the pair squared off like they have on so many occasions in the elite women's class. 

Day 1 had Walker find the top spot on the podium, with Buchanan narrowly missing out after leading for the majority of the race. 

The following day was Australia's most successful, and for Buchanan, a big return to the international BMX racing stage as she beat home Walker to the top spot on the podium.

Madison gold to Annette Edmondson and Georgia Baker, Madison bronze to Sam Welsford and Leigh Howard, and omnium bronze to Edmondson highlighted round two of the 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow

"We head back home tomorrow, and then the New Zealand and Brisbane World Cups become our goals. There are not many more opportunities to race and practice, so to know what we are doing is working is great for the confidence," added Edmondson.  

Edmondson celebrated twice on the podium at the World Cup after claiming bronze in the four-event Omnium final. The 2015 omnium world champion finished on 111 points, just ten behind dual reigning world champion Kirsten Wild (NED). 

"Each race was close together, and it all came down to a hard points race and the final sprint to get ono the podium," said Edmondson, who finished sixth, third and fourth in the scratch, tempo and elimination races before grabbing a medal with third in the points race.

​"I'm satisfied with that performance, and we came here to try to be consistent with all the races and to make improvements on what we learned at Worlds. There were movements made forward with that regard, but still plenty of room for more improvements."

Reigning team pursuit world champion Sam Welsford and three-time Madison world champion Leigh Howard won bronze in the men's Madison. 

In a frantic race, the Australian duo were one of three teams with winners France and silver medalists Great Britain to take three laps in the 200-lap race. It was a gallant effort by the pair to find the podium after a crash by Howard with sixty laps to go, put pressure on the pairing as the race lifted in intensity over the final fifty laps. 

"We went into the race with a reasonably tight plan, and we executed it very close to what we envisaged," said Howard. "But the crash put us both under the pump, and in the end, the French pairing was too strong.

"We managed to hold third place, so not too shabby, but without the crash, I think we could have shaken things up a bit more in the last 50 laps, but that's bike racing!".

Welsford finished seventh in the omnium, while Howard donned his rainbow jersey to lead a young team pursuit quartet comprised of Podium Potential Academy duo Conor Leahy and Godfrey Slattery, and guest rider Joshua Duffy to seventh. Howard also finished fifth in the scratch race. 

Baker finished seventh in the scratch race, while she also teamed with Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart plus Podium Potential Academy member Alexandra Martin-Wallace to finish sixth in the team pursuit. 

The Podium Potential Academy represented Australia in the sprint competition with Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish and Tom Clarke finishing eighth in the team event. Clarke was ninth in the keirin, while Richardson was eleventh in the sprint.

​Caitlin Ward won her keirin heat, before going on to win the 7-12 final to finish seventh overall.

The Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy (PPA) Endurance riders raced in support of the Sport Australia #findyour30 campaign.

Brandon Loupos claimed the rainbow jersey, Logan Martin took silver, while Natalya Diehm moved Australia a step closer to Olympic qualification, in a dominant display by Australia in the BMX Freestyle finals at the 2019 Urban Cycling World Championships in China on Sunday. 

"It (rainbow jersey) has been my phone background for 365 days, now it is on my chest, I can't believe it. I am absolutely speechless," said Loupos, the 2018 World Championship bronze medallist. 

"It just shows you dreams can come true if you put your mind and heart to it and you just go for it."

Loupos, 26, began Sunday's final in unfortunate circumstances, crashing on a backflip attempt in his first run. However, in a stunning second run, Loupos shot to the top of the leaderboard with a double backflip, flair whip, a 1080, a 720 into a double whip transfer and cash roll, before ending with a five flair scoring 93.20 points. 

"I can't believe what is going on right now, especially after crashing in my first run. I was thinking about whether I should change my run or stay consistent for my second run," Loupos said. "But I said stick to the plan, went out there and just charged. 

"I put everything into God's hands, I asked the Lord to give me the strength to get through the second run. Thank you to the man above watching over me, not for giving me the world title, but for allowing me to finish my run fit and healthy and be able to ride again tomorrow."

'sSydney's Loupos opened the 2019 season in stunning style by recording the highest score ever recorded at a World Cup at the first round in Japan in April. In September, he claimed gold at the inaugural Urban Games in Hungary. 

"I couldn't be happier. So stoked to be standing here right now, stoked to be Australian and representing Australia," said Loupos, who is targeting a spot on the Australian team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where the discipline will make its Olympic debut.
 
"My goal is to represent my country, I feel just being there (Tokyo) would be winning, but I want to go there and not just get a medal, but win a gold medal for my country."

2017 world champion Logan Martin scored 92.90 in a clean first run to sit just behind his teammate in second. But Queensland's Martin was felled by a flat tyre in his second run, the final run of the day, which sealed the world title for Loupos. 

"I was feeling good all weekend, and during practice today I also got a flat so I had to regain my composure, get my wheel fixed and back into the zone and do the run I had planned,"said Martin, 25, the dual 2019 X Games gold medallist who also finished the 2019 FISE World Series in second overall. "I did that and it got me into second place, but in my second run, I, unfortunately, got another flat.  

"But congratulations to Brandon, it was a great result for Australia."

Queensland's Natalya Diehm, 22, launched Australia into contention for the women's competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after a stunning World Championship debut for Australia.

Diehm, finished sixth in the BMX Park Final to move Australia closer to securing a position at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

"My first run didn't go as planned, but I did my best in my second run, even though I was trying to play it safe," Diehm, who took out the 2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series in her first international season.

Only nine women will get to contest the Freestyle competition in Tokyo, which will be comprised of two riders from the top-ranked nation, one rider from each nation ranked second to fifth, and one rider from host nation Japan. The final two spots will go to the next two best countries outside the top five at the end of qualifying in May.

"I am super happy for myself, and everyone here, and I hope this means we get a spot at the Tokyo Olympics," added Diehm. 

Martin, Loupos and Diehm will head back to Australia where they will contest the Oceania Championships in Melbourne followed by the 2019 Cycling Australia National Championships in Brisbane this December.

When Australian Cycling Team track sprinter Matthew Glaetzer had a sore neck in October, his first thought was that he suffered a bulged disc following a substantial period of strength training.  

Earlier this month, Glaetzer was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, with the South Australian dual world champion and dual Olympian undergoing surgery last week to remove the cancerous growth. 

“This all came about from me pulling up a bit sore in early October after doing a heavy leg press effort. I thought I had strained my neck somehow. 

“Then leading up to and at October’s Oceania Championships, I was seeing the physio almost every day, and it just wasn’t getting better at the rate that it should’ve been.”

Following the insistence of Australian Cycling Team staff, Glaetzer underwent further tests in Adelaide to find the underlying cause, with an MRI and ultrasound revealing nodules on his thyroid gland.

It wasn’t until he was hurriedly moved to the top of specialists’ waiting lists over the coming days that Glaetzer suspected it wasn’t due to him going too hard in the gym. 

“They had me contact my doctor in the next hour, have a CT scan and a biopsy. That afternoon was pretty hectic seeing specialists, so I had a feeling that it was probably going down the line that I didn’t want it to.”

Following the scans, Glaetzer continued his regular schedule, making a trip to Melbourne the next day for a session in the Monash University wind tunnel for Olympic equipment testing. 

On the way home in the taxi, Glaetzer received the phone call that would change his life. The doctor called to deliver the news he had thyroid cancer, with a silver lining that it was the most treatable form.

The dual world champion underwent surgery early last week and has been advised to allow the wound in his neck to heal and to keep his heart rate and blood pressure under control before resuming normal training in a few weeks. 

“You never want to hear that you’ve got cancer, it’s got such an ominous connotation to it, and it’s pretty heavy. And I’m there with some taxi driver next to me, and I’ve just been notified that I’ve got cancer and you need to take a moment and be ok. 

“But I anticipated this throughout the process, I was preparing myself for the worst-case scenario. I figured there's nothing I can do about it, at this point worrying about it wasn’t going to make it better. 

“So I drew on my faith in God, I knew that he had it under control. 

“I am thankful for the type of cancer that I do have and that it is treatable. I am grateful for the fact that my medical team caught it when they did, that they went through the steps, that they were very diligent in checking my sore neck that has then led to catching this.” 

Glaetzer is resolved not to let this stop his pursuit of a third Australian Olympic Team selection for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“It helps me to deal with it if I downplay it, obviously I know it’s very serious, but at the same time, it’s very treatable. So it is now about what’s the plan from here, how can I minimise its impact on myself as an athlete. 

“Because I don't want to stop being an athlete anytime soon, I love what I do.  

“I’m not going to stop chasing the Olympics and trying to be the best in the world, it’s what I love to do. 

“It puts everything into perspective, but I’m not going to let this stop me. If I’m able to, and it's safe to, I'm not going to let this have power over what I want to do.

“It’s just going to set me up for my next charge and make me stronger.” 

Glaetzer still plans to contest two UCI Track World Cups in New Zealand and Brisbane in December, following which he will have further treatment in the form of iodine tablets. 

“I’m planning to go to the Cambridge and Brisbane World Cups to continue my preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Then after the World Cups is when the next part of my treatment happens and that might knock me around for a bit. 

“But we have a rest week after the Brisbane World Cup anyway so it fits in relatively well to our preparation and the impact shouldn’t be too severe if all goes well.”

In addition to the support from his family and church congregation, Glaetzer is grateful for the support of the Australian Cycling Team. 

“The support network I have is incredible, the coaches, the medical staff and my church community who I told about the details have given me support, and it was a really good tight-knit group of people who were close to me and that were supporting me through the secret stage and keeping it under wraps up until the surgery. 

“It’s a pretty massive elephant in the room for me, so it helped me knowing my teammates knew, so if I got upset or if they saw something a bit unusual on a normal training day, they would know why and that helped me. 

“It’s a credit to the team we have here at Cycling Australia, and it’s about more than just cycling. We care about each other, we care about each other outside of cycling, and that’s shown through the last two weeks.”

With a favourable prognosis due to catching the cancer so early, Glaetzer is calling on all men to make sure they have regular health checks. 

“Going through everything that I have, it has just highlighted that if there is anything unusual or if there’s something that’s not normal to you, then you need to go and get it checked. 

“In my case, I’m grateful that I had a sore neck and that I went through the super detailed process of checking it. 

“So many guys have the ‘yeah that’ll be right, it’ll get better’ mentality, but you don't know what it could be, or how it could impact you and your family in the future. 

“So I just recommend to blokes that if there's anything unusual, just go and find out what's going on.

Brisbane's Natalya Diehm will sport the Australian Team green and gold for the first time this weekend as she embarks on her maiden World Championships campaign.

The 2019 UCI Urban World Championships in Chengdu, China, will also double as a key qualifying opportunity for Diehm the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where the sport will make its debut.

Diehm, 22, who started in the sport at the age of eight years at a local skatepark on her ride home from school, only launched her international career twelve months ago.

She enters the 2019 World Championships off the back of victory in the 2019 Vans BMX Pro Cup which featured events in the USA, Australia, Germany and Mexico.

"I've had some massive highs this year like winning Vans, but coming into Worlds there's a different kind of pressure," Diehm said. "I'm just wanting to perform at my best and hope it all goes well."

Only nine women will get to contest the Tokyo 2020 Games Freestyle competition comprised of two riders from the top ranked nation, one rider from each nation ranked second to fifth, with one rider automatically qualifying from host nation Japan.

With Australia currently ranked tenth, and the World Championships one of the last key events before the qualifying ends in May, Diehm is hoping to secure as many qualifying points this weekend to Australia is one of the top two nations outside the top five.

"My goal is try and qualify for a spot in the 2020 Olympics. All I can do is my best and hopefully that gets me a spot."

As Australia's lone female competitor at the Worlds, and just one of a handful women who compete in the sport domestically, Diehm understands the challenges for women competing in the fledgling discipline.

"It has been a struggle, but when you love something so much you find a way to be able to continue. I would love to see more women in Australia get into the sport!"

Diehm will take part in qualifying on Saturday, with finals on Sunday.

2019 World Championships

The 2019 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships will take place in Chengdu, China, from 6-10 November 2019. 

Team Australia Hub australiancyclingteam.com/urbanworlds19
Championship Website www.urbanworlds.cn 
Results uci.org/uci-urban-cycling-world-championships 

ELITE MEN

• Logan Martin - Gold Coast: 2017 World Champion; Current leader - 2019 FISE World Cup Standings; Dual gold - 2019 Summer X Games; 2nd - 2019 Urban World Games
• Brandon Loupos - Sydney: Gold - 2019 Urban Games winner; Bronze - 2018 World Championships; Gold - 2019 World Cup Round 1,  2018 National Champion
• Jake Wallwork - Melbourne: Gold -2018 World Cup Round 3; 4th - 2018 World Championships: 3rd - 2018 National Championships 
• Jason Watts - Melbourne:  2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series: 2nd - 2018 National Championships. 

ELITE WOMEN

• Natalya Diehm - Gladstone: Winner - 2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series; 9th/13th 2019 World Cups

Reigning team pursuit world champion Annette Edmondson (SA) will leave no stone unturned as she strives towards representing Australia on home soil at the 2019-2020 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup to be held at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome from 13-15 December. 

Edmondson and the Australian Cycling Team’s best will battle for gold across the three-day event which acts the penultimate round of the World Cup Series and a chance to grab valuable qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“There’s nothing like home soil, we had the 2012 World Championships on home soil and the 2018 Commonwealth Games and that was incredible,” said Edmondson. “It’s been three years since I’ve worn these rainbows and you never take it for granted.

"To have another chance to represent Australia, in the rainbows in the team pursuit, with a home crowd, that is amazing.”

Read the full story here >>> ​brisbanetrackworldcup.com

Australia's Logan Martin has finished second overall in the 2019 BMX Freestyle Park World Cup Series. 

The third and final round of the International Festival of Extreme Sports (FISE) World Series in Chengdu, China was cancelled due to heavy rain prior to the men's final.

With no final being held, Nakumara topped the final podium due to his semi-final score of 93.20 points, with Martin taking fourth. 

Nakumara also took the victory in the overall standings with 26.200 points, followed by 2017 world champion Martin on 24.100 and reigning world champion Justin Dowell (USA) on 23.400.

"Not a bad results with Worlds next week, I will go there and do my best there as well." said Martin. 

Martin will now switch his focus to the 2019 BMX Freestyle World Championships also to be held in Chengdu, China from November 6-10. 

The Australian Team is headlined by 2017 world champion Martin and 2018 World Championship bronze medallist Brandon Loupos.

Jake Wallwork, who finished just off the podium at the 2018 World Championships, will also line up.

Jason Watts and Natalya Diehm will make their Australian Team debuts off the back of winning the 2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series. 

2019 World Championships

The 2019 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships will take place in Chengdu, China, from 6-10 November 2019. 

Website → www.urbanworlds.cn 
Results → https://www.uci.org/bmx-freestyle/events/uci-urban-cycling-world-championships 

ELITE MEN

• Logan Martin - Gold Coast: 2017 World Champion; Current leader - 2019 FISE World Cup Standings; Dual gold - 2019 Summer X Games; 2nd - 2019 Urban World Games
• Brandon Loupos - Sydney: Gold - 2019 Urban Games winner; Bronze - 2018 World Championships; Gold - 2019 World Cup Round 1,  2018 National Champion
• Jake Wallwork - Melbourne: Gold -2018 World Cup Round 3; 4th - 2018 World Championships: 3rd - 2018 National Championships 
• Jason Watts - Melbourne:  2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series: 2nd - 2018 National Championships. 

ELITE WOMEN

• Natalya Diehm - Gladstone: Winner - 2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series; 9th/13th 2019 World Cups

Follow the Australian Cycling Team - Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

A mix of world champions and rising stars make up the Australian Team set to contest round two of the 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow from 8-10 November.

Reigning team pursuit world champion Sam Welsford will leave the pursuit bars back in Australia as he targets the bunch races in Scotland. Welsford will race the omnium and the Madison with three-time Madison world champion Leigh Howard at the Glasgow World Cup, his first trip back to the track since racing as part of the Australian Junior Team in 2013.

“Really keen to go back to Glasgow and give it a big crack, I have a busy schedule, and a bunch race focus,” said Welsford, who is looking forward to racing with Howard in the Madison. “Leigh has won countless World Championship and World Cup Madison events so to be able to draw on experience from him, I am really looking forward to that.

Howard will sport his rainbow jersey when he leads a youthful team pursuit quartet which includes Podium Potential Academy duo Conor Leahy and Godfrey Slattery, plus guest rider Joshua Duffy.

“I’m super excited, the knowledge you gain from these World Cup experiences can’t be compared to anything else,” offered Slattery, who with, Leahy, Duffy and Lucas Plapp teamed to win Oceania Championships team pursuit gold in October. “I’m really excited to be lining up alongside world champion Leah Howard in the team pursuit and I feel like we’ll learn quite a bit from his experience.”

Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart will join Podium Potential Academy members Alexandra Martin-Wallace and Sophie Edwards in the team pursuit.

One year ago, Clonan and Stewart teamed with veterans Ashlee Ankudinoff and Georgia Baker to win team pursuit gold in the 2018-19 World Cup's opening round in France. At what will be Team Australia's opening World Cup for season 2019-20, Clonan is excited to offer her knowledge to two of Australia’s rising stars.

“It is amazing to think last year I was racing with Ash and Georgia at the World Cup in France and I was the young one. Now, Macey (Stewart) and I have Alexandra Martin-Wallace and Sophie Edwards,” said Clonan, now 21, who lauded the depth of the team’s program. “It is super exciting ahead of Glasgow, as we have been training really hard and super excited to see what we can do.

"But, with the inclusion of the Podium Potential Academy, we have huge prospects for 2020, 2024, 2028. We have plenty of cycles ahead, that’s for sure."

Martin-Wallace is eager to contest her second-career World Cup after racing the final round of last season in January.

“I’m really looking forward to it, it’s been a really big year building up to it, we’re coming together so well as a team, so I’m really excited,” said Martin-Wallace.

In the other women’s endurance events, 2015 omnium world champion Annette Edmondson will tackle the four-event omnium in addition to teaming with Georgia Baker in the Madison.

It will be an all Podium Potential Academy line up in the sprint competition with Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish, Tom Clarke and Caitlin Ward set to race.

The Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy (PPA) Endurance riders will race in support of the Sport Australia #findyour30 campaign.

Following the Scottish round, members of the Australian Team will contest the World Cup's second round in New Zealand from December 6-8.
​
Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome will host round five the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from 13-15 December. ​

Team Australia for 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow from 8-10 November

Sprint

• Matthew Richardson
• Tom Cornish
• Tom Clarke
• Caitlin Ward

Endurance

• Annette Edmondson
• Georgia Baker
• Kristina Clonan
• Macey Stewart
• Sophie Edwards
• Alexandra Martin-Wallace
• Sam Welsford
• Leigh Howard
• Conor Leahy
• Godfrey Slattery
• Joshua Duffy​​

Follow

• trackworldcup.co.uk
• facebook.com/trackworldcup
• twitter.com/trackworldcup
• instagram.com/trackworldcup
• tissottiming.com/Results

A rainbow jersey on her shoulders and a home crowd on her side has reigning world champion Kaarle McCulloch feeling like a superwoman ahead of the 2019-2020 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup to be held at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome from 13-15 December.

McCulloch will be joined by a host of the Australian Cycling Team’s best as they battle for gold across the three-day event which acts the penultimate round of the World Cup Series and a chance to grab valuable qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Read more at https://brisbanetrackworldcup.com/kaarle-mcculloch/ 

Australia’s summer of track cycling begins on Friday 1 November when Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome hosts the 2020 Para-cycling Track National Championships.

Australia’s para-cycling stars will be on show including reigning world champions Alistair Donohoe (VIC), Amanda Reid (NSW), Darren Hicks (SA), David Nicholas (QLD), Emily Petricola (VIC) and Paige Greco (SA).

Victoria’s reigning C4 individual pursuit world champion and world record holder Emily Petricola is eager to get back on the track to begin the build towards Tokyo 2020. 

“I really I want to go out and have a solid performance in the pursuit and I’m keen to see how my starts go, as generally, that is my weak spot due to my impairment,” said Petricola, who will line up in the rainbow on Saturday in the individual pursuit, while also contesting three other Championship events. 

“I would really like to do a good 500 (metre time trial). I love the 500 find it really fun, and I am having a crack at the team sprint with Paige (Greco) and Amanda (Reid) which will be fun.”

Cycling Australia and Sport Australia are pleased to announce that riders from the Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy (PPA) Endurance squad will race in support of the #findyour30 campaign at the 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow from 8-10 November. 

Launched in November 2018 with an inaugural class of thirteen athletes across both endurance and sprint disciplines, the PPA programme, which is supported and part funded by Commonwealth Games Australia, focuses on the long term development of athletes orientated around success at the 2024 Olympic Games and beyond. 

The PPA Endurance riders set to contest the World Cup in Glasgow are Alexandra Martin-Wallace, Sophie Edwards, Conor Leahy and Godfrey Slattery. 

Sport Australia’s national “Find Your 30” campaign is all about encouraging every Australian to get 30 minutes of heart rate raising sport or physical activity a day to live healthier, happier and more active lives. 

Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer said: “It’s fantastic that Cycling Australia and our incredible track cyclists are joining us to encourage all Australians to be more active.”
“We take immense pride and joy in supporting our elite athletes to win medals and become world champions, but our ultimate goal at Sport Australia is to be the world’s most active sporting nation.

“You don’t have to win a race or even compete in a race, but 30 minutes of physical activity a day can help anyone unlock more of their own potential. Collectively, that can be a game-changer for our nation’s health, economy and productivity."

Australians can get tips on how to ‘Find Your 30’ at the Sport Australia website, sportaus.gov.au. 

Cycling Australia’s Performance Director Simon Jones: “We are really excited to be in a position to promote such an inspirational campaign through the performances of these athletes. 

“Whether it be an international track competition or a walk around the block, we can all relate to and support each other in making positive decisions around our health and wellbeing.”

Riders from Australian Cycling Team Podium group in Sam Welsford, Leigh Howard, Annette Edmondson, Georgia Baker, Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart will also contest the Glasgow round. 

Following the Scottish round, members of the Australian Team will contest the World Cup's second round in New Zealand from December 6-8.
​
Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome will host round five the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from 13-15 December. ​

The Australian Team opened the 2020 track season last weekend at the 2020 Oceania Track Championships in Invercargill in New Zealand. 

The Oceania Championships opened the busy 2019-20 summer of international track cycling which continues in November and December with the six-round Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup. 

Members of the Australian Team will contest the World Cup's second round in Scotland, round four in New Zealand, before a blockbuster round five on home soil at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome from 13-15 December. 

"Overall these performances were good for the riders and coaches to assess how the preparation has been progressing," said Simon Jones, Performance Director, High Performance, Cycling Australia. "It is also pleasing from my perspective to see the progress from both the Podium and the Academy athletes with the World Cup season just about to start." 

Oceania Recap

Reigning scratch and team pursuit world champion Sam Welsford claimed dual gold the omnium and the Madison with Kelland O'Brien. Welsford dominated all four events in the omnium, before sealing Madison gold with victory on the double points final lap.

"The Australia and New Zealand showdown is always really intimate and personal, they throw it all at us, so they were really tough races," said Welsford. "Coming into Oceania, I had a bunch focus, targeting a couple of events like the Omnium and Madison, so to execute and nail some good results, is important for me."

Welsford will now turn his focus to a busy 2019-2020 UCI Track World Cup season in which he will contest three rounds - Scotland (November), New Zealand (December), Brisbane (December).  

"To get back on the track and set up a good season ahead is pretty vital for me," Welsford added. "I have a big World Cup season ahead, there will be a lot of racing, but I am looking forward to getting more and more accustomed to racing the World Cup races in the Madison and the omnium." 

O'Brien took silver in the 15km scratch race. 

In a dominant performance across the bunch races, Amy Cure claimed three gold at the Championships in the omnium, points race and Madison with Alexandra Manly. The three-time world champion Cure was all class on the way to winning all four events in the omnium, while in the Madison, Cure and Manly dominated the 30km final.

"I wasn't sure how I was going to go here as I've been a bit up and down lately, but I set myself up early by getting some wins, and I had a good buffer going into that points race," said Cure. "I don't mind a points race, it's always tough, but I just went in there and treated it like any other points race."

Reigning team sprint world champions Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch broke their Oceania Championship record (32.591secs) en route to gold. 
Morton then powered to gold in the sprint while Kaarle McCulloch, who posted a personal best to top sprint qualifying (10.759secs), won bronze. 

“I exceeded my expectations of where I was going to be at. I am not firing on all cylinders yet, but am ahead of where I thought I was going to be," said Morton after the Championships, her first competition since February's Track Worlds and since undergoing off-season knee surgery.  

“I haven’t raced the team sprint in a while and off the back of the surgery, I knew I didn’t have the strength and fitness traditionally I would have at Oceanias. Kaarle was great in giving me confidence in our ability as a team and it just showed that being able to work together and rely on your teammate, you will get the job done even when you’re not in the best form.”

Morton will now head back to Adelaide for six weeks of training before contesting the New Zealand (December) and Brisbane (December) rounds of the World Cup. 
“I am going to be training pretty hard leading into the World Cups as my offseason was pretty interrupted, but as per this week, I will be confident I will be able to go out there and still be competitive.

“But it is a great time to rehearse everything now, there are so many things behind the scenes that you have to get right to be a champion, whether it is nutrition or recovery, it is not just race day.” 

Nathan Hart, and Podium Potential Academy duo Matthew Richardson and Thomas Clarke, took silver in the team sprint (43.360secs) with New Zealand breaking the Oceania record (42.508) on the way to the gold medal. 
 
The Australian Cycling Team's Podium Potential Academy enjoyed strong results at the Championships with gold in the team pursuit, scratch race and individual pursuit.  
Conor Leahy, Godfrey Slattery, Lucas Plapp teamed with guest rider Joshua Duffy, to produce a dominant display to take gold in the team pursuit, catching a young New Zealand team in the final. 

"It was awesome, we had a pretty hefty goal in the way we were going to do our turns, and we stuck to it 100 percent, we couldn't have asked for a better outcome," Leahy said. "We took it conservatively in qualifying and then let it all out in the final. Once we got a sniff of them (New Zealand), it was a matter of hunting them down and catching them. 

In the women's team pursuit, Maeve Plouffe, Sam De Riter, Sophie Edwards and Alexandra Martin-Wallace (4:22.057) claimed silver. 

Plouffe's comeback following wrist surgery in July saw her grab four medals at the Championships including silver in the individual pursuit, bronze in the points race, plus a superb effort in the scratch race which saw her lap the field twice to win gold. 

"I was not expecting that at all. I had a pretty big ride with my teammates in the team pursuit earlier, and I have a pretty full schedule," said Plouffe. "Once I lapped the field, it was all about protecting myself and making sure the final sprint was perfect, and the end couldn't have gone any more perfectly."

Top qualifier Leahy took out the 4000m individual pursuit, with the Western Australian fending off New Zealand's former world champion Jordan Kerby in the final.
​
"I always tend to back up pretty hard, so I had good confidence that I could put it to Kerbs - he's a renowned IP, so I knew I had a good challenge ahead of me, but I just went out hard and tried to stick to as good a time as possible."

In the sprint, Matthew Richardson (9.797) clocked a personal best in qualifying, while Thomas Clarke (9.896) finished just off the podium in fourth.

The Australian Team wrapped up the Oceania Champs in Invercargill on the weekend with five gold medals highlighting the team's results:

• Madison - Amy Cure & Alexandra Manly - Gold
• Madison - Sam Welsford & Kell O'Brien - Gold
• Points Race - Amy Cure - Gold
• Sprint - Steph Morton - Gold
• Sprint - Kaarle McCulloch - Bronze
• Individual Pursuit - Conor Leahy - Gold
• Individual Pursuit - Maeve Plouffe - Silver
• Points Race - Maeve Plouffe - Bronze

Stephanie Morton powered to gold in the women's sprint over hometown favourite Olivia Podmore. 

"Off the back of knee surgery backing up is pretty tough so I just wanted to go out there and get the set up right and then whatever happened at the end happened, so to get the win. I'm really happy."

Kaarle McCulloch, who rode a personal best to top qualifying in 10.759secs, won bronze.

In the Madisons, Amy Cure and Alexandra Manly dominated the elite women's 30km final ahead of the New Zealand combination of Michaela Drummond and Jessie Hodges.

Kelland O'Brien and Sam Welsford won gold in the men's 40km event, sealing the win after Welsford took victory in the double points final lap.

Amy Cure made it three gold for the Championships after claiming points race gold to add to her scratch race victory earlier in the week.

Top qualifier Conor Leahy took out the elite men's 4000m individual pursuit, with the Western Australian fending off New Zealand's former world champion Jordan Kerby in the final.

"I always tend to back up pretty hard, so I had good confidence that I could put it to Kerbs - he's a renowned IP, so I knew I had a good challenge ahead of me, but I just went out hard and tried to stick to as good a time as possible."

Maeve Plouffe's comeback following wrist surgery continued with silver in the elite women's 3000m individual pursuit and bronze in the points race.

MORE

• Event: Oceania Track Championships
• Date: 16 -19 October 2019
• Location: SIT Zero Fees Velodrome Surrey Road Invercargill
• Live Stream: Watch all sessions live via Cycling Southland
• Results: Results by event
• Program: Complete 2020 event programme​

Dianne Manson.

Amy Cure and Sam Welsford’s omnium victories highlighted day two action at the Oceania Track Cycling Championships at Invercargill’s SIT Zero Fees Velodrome.

Three-time world champion Cure was all class on the way to winning the elite women’s omnium won the scratch race, tempo and elimination rides before comfortably accounting for the field in the points race.

“I wasn’t sure how I was going to go here as I’ve been a bit up and down lately, but I set myself up early by getting some wins and I had a good buffer going into that points race,” said Cure, the reigning team pursuit world champion and a former points race world champion. 

“I don’t mind a points race, it’s always tough but I just went in there and just treated it like any other points race.”

Like Cure, reigning scratch and team pursuit world champion Welsford dominated the elite men’s omnium, winning the first three events and then taking out the final sprint in the points race ahead of Stewart to secure victory.

Welsford was made to work by the New Zealand trio of Campbell Stewart, Regan Gough and Corbin Strong, with only nine points separating the top three riders heading into the final ten laps of the points race.

“I enjoy racing against the New Zealanders. It is always good and fair racing between us and it is really enjoyable. I was happy with my form so early in the season,” said Welsford.

In the men’s sprint, Nathan Hart (9.755) topped qualifying with Matthew Glaetzer (9.782​), Matthew Richardson (9.797) and Thomas Clarke (9.896) ensuring four Australians finished inside the top six. 

The quartet progressed to the quarterfinals where Clarke edged Glaetzer in three heats, Sam Webster (NZL) defeated Richardson and Hart’s run was ended by Jordan Castle (NZL). 

In the semi finals, Eddie Dawkins (NZL) pushed Clarke into the bronze medal ride off against Castle which the kiwi took in straight heats.

MORE

• Event: Oceania Track Championships
• Date: 16 -19 October 2019
• Location: SIT Zero Fees Velodrome Surrey Road Invercargill
• Live Stream: Watch all sessions live via Cycling Southland
• Results: Results by event
• Program: Complete 2020 event programme​