WOMEN’S TIME TRIAL
Gold Coast local Katrin Garfoot obliterated the field to win gold in the GC2018 women’s individual time trial, an upgrade from her bronze at the Glasgow Games four years ago. Garfoot, the heavy hometown favourite, was a class above in the women's event, which was 13km shorter than the men's, coming in at a distance of 25.5km, and included an 800m steep section known as "the beast" en route to the finish line. Leading at every checkpoint, Garfoot eventually stopped the clock at 35:08.09, almost one minute ahead of silver medallist and defending champion Linda Villumsen of New Zealand, while Scotland's Katie Archibald was fourth. "I knew I needed to go out hard. I was scared I was going to go too hard. I know the road, I know the lines, I know everything, but it doesn't protect you from the pain. "It was really exciting to be in front of a home crowd with all my friends and family watching. I've worked hard, and for it to come together for a gold medal is just extraordinary. It has never worked (out) like this before." Both Meyer and Garfoot will be aiming for a GC2018 golden double when they contest the Road Race on Saturday.
MEN’S TIME TRIAL
Meyer delivered Australian cycling’s 11th gold medal of the Games in a dominating win in the men’s time trial. In hot conditions, Meyer conquered the tricky course in 48 minutes 13.04 seconds to chase down the morning's previous-best time set by New Zealand's two-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Hamish Bond. The versatile cyclist, who finished fourth in the points race the track on Sunday, mastered the two steep climbs and avoided any drama over the tough 38.5km Currumbin course, while lady luck cruelled the hopes of teammate Callum Scotson who finished in fourth. Speaking after his gold medal ride, Meyer said, "It's been a while since I've done a time trial and I broke my collarbone in the last one I did, so luckily I stayed upright this time and I couldn't be more thrilled than I am today. “I've got to thank all the stuff who got behind me and prepared me for today, they did everything right and my coach Tim Decker who said 'give it a crack'." "It was only two weeks ago that we decided, it was Tim Decker who knew I had good aerobic form and I was concentrating on the points race which is a 45-minute effort and today is roughly the same," Meyer said. "And he said 'Cam I reckon you could have a crack in the time trial', and I said 'why not? Let's have a go'. We scrambled a bike together, did my measurements and I had nothing to lose and somehow it paid off." It was a devastating start for Scotson as he suffered a rear wheel puncture just five minutes into his ride, losing 30 seconds and valuable momentum with the swift wheel change, eventually finishing in 49mins 35.65secs. “It wasn’t to plan, little my own fault, I didn’t nail the line on the corner and went near the barrier and to the stones. I heard the puncture, but you have to not panic in that situation, you know you’ve lost time, but you had to treat it like it hadn’t happened til it finished.” “Nothing I would change apart from the puncture, it is a really fast course, I had fun out there.”
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The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Track competition will take place at the Anna Meares Velodrome (Brisbane) from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 April.
It will feature 20 events - eight endurance, eight sprint and four para-cycling - with the eight track endurance events to include the points race and scratch race, and the team and individual pursuits. The team pursuit is set to make its Commonwealth Games debut for women. The 2018 Games is likely to provide a milestone for team, with Australia having won 96 Commonwealth Games cycling gold medals. WOMEN'S TEAM
Photo - Cycling Australia
A six-member women’s endurance squad with a rich blend of World Championship, Olympic and Commonwealth Games experience will line up for Australia at the Games.
Reigning Games scratch race champion Annette Edmondson, 26 (SA) is back on the track for her second Games, with the dual world champion eyeing a spot in Australia’s team pursuit quartet for the event’s debut. Edmondson’s 2015 team pursuit world champion teammates Amy Cure, 25 (TAS) and Ashlee Ankudinoff, 27 (NSW) will provide tremendous experience and multiple options for all four events. Cure, a dual 2014 Games medallist and 2014 points race world champion, is fresh from two national championship crowns in the scratch and points races. Ankudinoff, Australia’s only dual world champion in the team pursuit, boasts two World Championship medals in the individual format. Dual individual pursuit world champion Rebecca Wiasak, 33 (ACT), who narrowly missed selection to the 2014 Commonwealth and 2016 Olympic teams, will make her major Games debut. 2016 Olympian Georgia Baker, 23 (TAS) overcame heart surgery in November to make her first Games team, while Alexandra Manly, 22 (SA) will also make her debut. Manly, with Cure, Ankudinoff and Wiasak claimed silver at the 2017 World Championships, less than half a second behind world champions USA. MEN's TEAM
Photo - Kevin Anderson
The seven-member men’s endurance squad might feature six Games debutants, but the team enjoys a wealth of experience, collectively boasting 19 rainbow jerseys and countless options for the pursuit and bunch races.
Triple 2010 Games gold medallist Cameron Meyer, 30 (WA) returns to the Australian team and enters fresh from claiming the points race world crown last month, his ninth career rainbow jersey. Like his fellow Perth native, Olympic team pursuit silver medallist and reigning individual pursuit national champion Samuel Welsford, 22 (WA) will be a threat in any race, as will three-time world champion Leigh Howard, 28 (VIC) who receives his first Games nod. Hometown fans will be eager to see Jordan Kerby, 25 (QLD) in action, with the 2017 individual pursuit world champion rocketing to cult hero status after riding to the third fastest time in history just months after returning to track cycling. Rounding out the side is 2017 world champions Alexander Porter, 21 (SA), Nicholas Yallouris, 24 (NSW), plus Kelland O’Brien, 19 (VIC) - the youngest member of Australia’s 36-member cycling team. While the men’s, and women’s, track endurance teams bypassed March’s World Championships a part of the Australia Cycling Team strategy to focus on the Games, the quartet of O'Brien, Yallouris, Kerby and Howard soared to Oceania gold last November in 3min 52.421secs - one of the top ten fastest pursuit times in history. The focus for both squads lies firmly with the team pursuit on day one, with the exact line up for each of the four events, to be confirmed closer to the competition start date.
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Photos © Kevin Anderson, and Cycling Australia.
 Photo © Casey Gibson Two final day medals wrapped up the Australian Cycling Team’s 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships campaign in the Netherlands, with the team's six medals equalling Germany, Great Britain and Italy for second most behind hosts the Netherlands (12 medals). Each of the four members of the team celebrated on the podium during the Championships, with sizzling wins from Matt Glaetzer (sprint) and Cameron Meyer (points race) highlighting the performances. Stephanie Morton (sprint) and Glaetzer (time trial) claimed silver, while Callum Scotson bookended his Championships with bronze medals in the scratch and in the Madison with Meyer. Madison Dual Madison world champion Cameron Meyer teamed with Callum Scotson to ensure Australia finished on the podium for the second straight year with the pair taking bronze in a punishing men’s Madison. “To be on the podium in a Madison world championships isn’t an easy to do, it is one of the hardest events to back up a win, even just to back up a podium appearance,” said Meyer after claiming his sixth World Championship Madison medal. “So for us to be consistent two years in a row, last year with silver and this year with bronze, it is another step in the right direction and it shows that we are around the mark.” The major contenders kept their cards close to their chests in the opening laps of the 200-lap race, with Belgium, Spain, France and Italy figuring prominently in the first five sprints. The first major move of the day came from Austria, with the duo of Andreas Graf and Andrew Muller taking a lap, and the twenty points, to move into the lead (30points) after fifty laps. A deliberate move from Meyer and Scotson at the halfway mark saw them pounce on a lull in the action to claim two straight sprint maximums, and a lap on the field, which catapulted them into the joint lead with Austria on 30pts. With 70 laps remaining, Germany’s Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt and Spain’s Albert Torres Barcelo and Sebastian Mora Vedri rocketed into the top two positions on 40 and 31 points respectively after taking a lap. With the race beginning to splinter as the pace hovered at an excruciating pace just shy of sixty kilometres an hour, Australia and Belgium joined forces in the hunt at the front for a lap on the field. However sensing the imminent danger, the Germans and Spanish duos nullified any notion of an attack by keeping the teams within a bike length’s distance. In a classy finish to their masterful race, Germany won two of the final four sprints to to all but secure their victory heading into the final sprint on 53points. In an pulsating final few laps, Australia held off a late surge by Great Britain to hold onto bronze (37pts), just eight points behind Spain (45pts) who grabbed the silver medal. “It was quick out there again tonight, there was a bit of a stand off in the first half of the race, all the favourites didn’t want to move too early knowing it was going to be a tough end to the race,” said Meyer. “We saw an opportunity and went for it. “The actual moment to win the world title was there, we saw it, but unfortunately we didn’t quite have the legs. But Germany was super strong, so was Spain.” With the Madison back on the program for Tokyo 2020, the bronze continues the pair’s strong campaign towards Olympic glory. Their season also including winning the prestigious London Six Day last October and Madison gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland in November. “I think the bigger thing for us in that we are consistently on the podium, we are the most consistent country which is not easy in this event,” said Scotson, who won scratch bronze on day two. “You always feel disappointed straight after a race, but I am sure we are going to take some really good points out of this race and hopefully we can edge closer to the top of the podium as we get closer to Tokyo,” who reflected on his and the team’s performance at the Championships. “To achieve two medals myself, and our team here, everyone worked together well and the results showed how good the culture was over here. “It is quite impressive for us to pull off so many medals for just the four of us. We are all really happy.”  Time trial Less than twenty-four hours after claiming his maiden sprint world title, Matthew Glaetzer was back on track with an eye on the time trial podium. In November, Glaetzer became the first person to ride under one minute in the kilometre time trial at sea level with a sizzling 59.970secs ride at the World Cup in Manchester. The powerful South Australian then eclipsed this time with a scorching 59.759secs at the National Championships in Brisbane. On the final day of the World Championships in Apeldoorn, Glaetzer rocketed to two blistering times to beat his world mark (59.733 in qualifying and 59.745 in the final). However, this was good for silver in the event with Dutch hero Jeffrey Hoogland riding a wave of parochial hometown support to gold with two sizzling times to set a new world-mark (59.517, 59.459). MORE Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam Photo Casey Gibson Photo © Casey Gibson Perth’s Cameron Meyer claimed a ninth career world title with a masterful display in the men’s points race while Adelaide’s Stephanie Morton surged to silver in the women's sprint at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands. Also in action for the Australian Cycling Team was Matthew Glaetzer who progressed to the sprint quarterfinals following a strong opening to his sprint campaign which saw him clock a superb 9.677secs in qualifying. Men’s Points Race Perth’s Cameron Meyer claimed a fifth points race title and ninth career world crown following a masterful display in Apeldoorn on Friday evening. “Points race world title number five, it was a hard one but I am very happy,” said Meyer who added to his 2009, 10, 12 and 17 points race world titles. “It is special, everyone of them is special, especially when you win a gold medal in the world championships.” The pace was on from the start of 160-lap race, with plenty of attacks treating the crowd across the opening thirty laps. The first major move of the day came from the trio of Belgium’s Kenny Ketele, Great Britain’s Mark Stewart and Hong Kong’s King Lok Cheung who took the first lap on the field. A calculated Meyer, who collected maximum points in three of the first eight sprints, made his first move shortly after the trio gained their advantage, with the West Australian catapulting into the lead at the halfway mark (45pts) after taking a solo lap. With a litany of attacks ensuing over the latter half of the race, a further lap was taken by Ketele, Stewart, Cheung which stole the lead off Meyer. But as if writing his own Oscar winning biography, Meyer crafted his way to another solo lap and a commanding lead (70pts) with two sprints remaining. With the laps ticking away as the bunch attempted a late surge, Meyer remained in control with his victory secured before the final sprint to the line which saw hometown favourite Jan Willem van Schip (52pts) finish ahead of Stewart (49pts) to take the silver medal. “There were a lot of laps taken, attacks from lots riders, so it needed multiple laps from me to take the win,” added Meyer. “For tonight I had pretty good legs and was able to pull off the win. “To win is not easy, to be one of the favourites every time, it is a lot of pressure. “But I enjoy it, and to be able to wear the rainbow jersey again for another year is a special moment.” Meyer will now turn his attention to Sunday’s Madison final in which he will partner Callum Scotson who claimed bronze in the scratch race on day two. The pair are aiming to go one better than their silver medal performance at the 2017 World Championships.  Photo © Casey Gibson Women’s Sprint
Reigning Commonwealth champion Stephanie Morton surged to the silver medal in the women’s sprint at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Only the might of reigning Olympic champion German Kristina Vogel – whose eleventh world title equalled Australia’s Anna Meares record for most all-time - could stop the South Australian’s charge at her maiden crown, with Morton challenging the great in their thrilling final clash. For the third straight World Championships, South Australia’s Morton topped qualifying with a scorching time of 10.645secs on Friday, which was just two-hundredths outside her personal best (10.632) set in November. A measured and controlled quarterfinal victory over the experienced Simona Krupeckaite (UKR), a five-time sprint world championships medallist, was equalled with another commanding win over 2017 bronze medallist Wai Sze Lee in the semis. In a rematch of the 2016 final, Vogel and Morton treated the crowd to a thrilling contest, with the pace of the German too much for Morton in their first heat. Morton lifted in the second, taking control with a powerful surge on the back straight which sent the clash to a third and deciding heat. There, the experience of Vogel shone, as she soared to a fourth sprint crown while Morton claimed silver for the second straight year. “This year I knew what to expect, explained Morton. “I was cool, calm and collected through the rounds, I was working on the processes, going in with a plan, forgetting who I was up against. Just looking at a game of strength and weaknesses. “It just shows everything we are doing is right, we are on the right path. "To get one up on Vogel in the final, is a step up from last year. I am absolutely stoked. To take the race to three that just shows, it is getting closer, I've just got to keep chipping away and hopefully next year it will be the top step.” The result continues a tremendous 2017/18 season for Morton which has included dual UCI World Cup medals and triple Oceania and National titles. And like the entire Australian Cycling Team, Morton has her sights set on glory at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April. “This isn’t the targeted event for us for the year, so to be able to not be at the peak and get a silver and run a 10.6, it definitely exceeded my expectations,” Morton explained. “But that just shows you can’t come in with that mindset of this isn’t the race we are going for, you have to come in and rip every race and go for it. “You can train and train, but it is not until you come out here and have to race, it helps you get that level up in fitness, having to back it up throughout the rounds. “And that’s what I did here, tried to ride the fastest 200m I could, and take each race one by one." Morton’s campaign will continue on Saturday in the 500m time trial followed by the keirin on Sunday. The Australian Cycling Team is set to commence its campaign at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, which runs February 28 - March 4 2018. Team for 2018 Track Worlds In alignment with Cycling Australia's 2020 High Performance strategy, and with the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games set as the benchmark event of the year, the Australian Cycling Team for the Championships has been carefully selected with individual and team long-term goals in mind. "We have a small team, but we have a quality team, and quality is what matters," said Simon Jones, Performance Director, Australian Cycling Team. "We have several medal chances in Olympic events and the focus will be on how we can convert those opportunities.  Stephanie Morton (SA) Stephanie Morton (SA) announced herself at the 2017 World Championships in Hong Kong with silver in both the sprint and team sprint (with McCulloch). At the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands, she will line up in the sprint, keirin and 500m time trial. Morton’s 2017/18 campaign began with sprint silver and keirin bronze at the UCI World Cup in Poland, and continued with triple gold at both the Oceania Championships in November and at the National Championships in Brisbane earlier in February in the sprint, team sprint and keirin. When is Steph competing?
 Matthew Glaetzer (SA) 2012 team sprint world champion and 2016 sprint silver medallist Matthew Glaetzer (SA) will line up in the sprint, keirin and time trial. Glaetzer’s season opened with a bang in November with sprint gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland, before bagging sprint bronze and becoming the first person to ride under one minute (59.970) in the kilometre time trial at sea level at the second leg of the World Cup in Manchester. Glaetzer then eclipsed this time with a scorching 59.759secs at the recent Nationals in Brisbane earlier in February. The win came during Matt's four gold medal haul in Brisbane which saw him also claim the sprint, team sprint and keirin crowns. When is Matt competing?
 Cameron Meyer (WA) & Callum Scotson (SA) In the endurance events, eight-time world champion Cameron Meyer (WA) will team with Callum Scotson (SA) in the Madison. The pair will be looking to go one better than their 2017 silver medal following early 2017/18 season success which included winning the prestigious London Six Day in October followed by Madison gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland in November. Meyer will line up in defence of his points race crown, while Scotson will contest the scratch race. When are Cam and Callum competing? All times AEDT
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 Image via Kevin Anderson Commonwealth Games Australia is pleased to announce a strong 36-member team to contest the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Reigning Commonwealth Games champions Stephanie Morton, Matthew Glaetzer and Annette Edmondson headline the track selections, in addition to the return of 2010 Gold medallists Cameron Meyer and Kaarle McCulloch. Reigning road national champions Alexander Edmondson and Shannon Malseed, triple world championship medallist Katrin Garfoot and 2006 Commonwealth Games road race gold medallist Mathew Hayman feature in the road selections. The team will vie for 26 gold medals - track (16), para-cycling track (4), road (4), and mountain bike (2) competitions in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast from 4-15 April. Australian Team Chef de Mission Steve Moneghetti welcomed the athletes on to the Australian Team. “We enjoyed strong success at Glasgow 2014 from the Cycling team, so with the depth and experience we have in this team we look forward to more success at Gold Coast 2018,” he said. “The cycling program is an incredibly exciting one for fans, with competition at the new Anna Meares Velodrome, road cycling events that are free and open to all spectators and mountain biking at the Nerang trails. “With many of these athletes spending a lot of time abroad, Gold Coast 2018 provides a unique chance for these athletes to compete in front of a home crowd,” Moneghetti said. With the announcement of the 36 cyclists today, the Australian Team currently numbers 222, or just under half the anticipated total of 470 athletes. TEAM OVERVIEW The men’s track endurance squad is replete with rainbow jerseys, with reigning team pursuit world champions Samuel Welsford, Kelland O’Brien, Leigh Howard, Alexander Porter and Nicholas Yallouris, plus individual pursuit world champion Jordan Kerby; named in their first Games’ team. Three-time world champion Leigh Howard will also debut, with eight-time world champion and triple 2010 Games Gold medallist Cameron Meyer rounding out the strong line up. Defending scratch race Gold medallist and dual world champion Annette Edmondson, dual 2014 Games medallist and world champion Amy Cure and 2010 representative Ashlee Ankudinoff will lead the women’s endurance squad. Dual world champion Rebecca Wiasak, Rio Olympian Georgia Baker and rising star Alexandra Manly all receive their first Commonwealth Games’ selections. “It’s really not that often someone gets to represent their country in a home Commonwealth Games in their career, so for me, it’s something very special that I’ll never forget,” said Cure, a dual medallist from 2014. “(I am) super excited to have the team pursuit on the calendar at the Games. I’m really excited to see what the team can achieve; as one of our three Olympic events, it’s great to get another opportunity to race this race in front of big crowds.” Australia’s sprint crew is awash with Commonwealth Gold with defending sprint champion Stephanie Morton to form a formidable women’s sprint duo with 2010 team sprint champion Kaarle McCulloch. 2014 keirin Gold medallist Matthew Glaetzer will spearhead an impressive men’s sprint quartet with Rio Olympians Nathan Hart and Patrick Constable, and Jacob Schmid. A host of Australia’s WorldTour elite highlight the road selections, with reigning national champion Alexander Edmondson, 2006 Commonwealth Games road race Gold medallist Mathew Hayman, Steele Von Hoff, Mitchell Docker, Callum Scotson and Meyer, forming a versatile six-member men’s road squad. “I have very fond memories of the 2014 Commonwealth Games from Glasgow, so I am really excited about lining up in the road race in 2018,” said Edmondson, who won Gold and Silver in the pursuit events on the track four years ago. “Of course being a home games there’s a bit of added pressure, but we are going to have a home crowd cheering us on which is going to be huge. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of racing in the green and gold on home soil!” Triple world championship medallist and 2014 Commonwealth Bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot will head the six-member women’s team with reigning road national champion Shannon Malseed, dual national road champion Gracie Elvin and 2010 Games Bronze medallist Chloe Hosking, who gains a third team selection. 2010 team member Tiffany Cromwell returns while Sarah Roy makes her debut. “It's a bit of a pinch yourself moment,” said Hosking who becomes just the third Australian female cycling behind Anna Meares and Kathy Watt to be named to contest three Commonwealth Games. “To think I represented Australia at 20 in Delhi and I'm still racing and still getting stronger and still pulling on the green and gold. I would never have dreamt this growing up.” The Tandem Para-cycling selections are led by 2016 world champions Jessica Gallagher and Pilot Madison Janssen, while Bradley Henderson will make his debut with Pilot Thomas Clarke who won Bronze at the 2014 Games. 2014 Bronze medallists and dual Olympians Daniel McConnell and Rebecca McConnell (nee Henderson) will contest the mountain bike cross-country competition. “I'm very excited about the upcoming Games, to have a home Commonwealth Games is going to be a great experience,” said McConnell who grabbed a top ten finish at last year’s World Championships in Cairns. “I have pretty high expectations going into the Games. “I really like the course, I think it suits my strength pretty well. I just want to get to the start line 100% fit and ready to go, if I can do that anything is possible.” Similarly, Rebecca McConnell is hoping the home course advantage plays into her hands when she lines up against a world-class field. “I have been fortunate enough to race on the course at the Nationals Series in January, it's a great course, with technical climbing and descending and the strongest rider will win,” said Henderson. “With world champions and World Cup winners in both the men's and the women's field the racing is going to be fast and exciting so we hope to see lots of spectators in April!” Australia has enjoyed strong success at recent Games with a 24-medal haul including seven gold in Glasgow in 2014, and 21 medals (14 gold) in Delhi in 2010. Tickets still available to 12 sports across the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games competition schedule. Commonwealth Games Australian Cycling Team ROAD
MTB
TRACK ENDURANCE
TRACK SPRINT
PARA TRACK (TANDEMS)
* Commonwealth Games debutant  Cycling Australia is pleased to announce an experienced four-rider team for the 2018 UCI Track World Championships to be held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands from February 28 - March 4 2018.
In line with the CA High Performance Strategy, the Commonwealth Games has been set as the benchmark event of the year, rather than Track Worlds, and this is reflected in the smaller than usual team for the event. This is a one-off strategy for 2018, as the 2019/2020 Track Worlds will be part of Olympic qualification. Dual 2017 silver medallist Stephanie Morton (SA) will line up in the sprint, keirin and 500m time trial looking to pull on the rainbow jersey following success at the opening round of the Tissot UCI Track World Cup and Oceania Track Championships. 2012 team sprint world champion and 2016 sprint silver medallist Matthew Glaetzer (SA) will tackle the sprint and keirin. As well as lining up in the 1km time trial, an event he became the first person to ride under one minute at sea level at the Manchester Track World Cup in November. In endurance events eight-time world champion Cameron Meyer (WA) will defend his points race title while also partnering Callum Scotson (SA) in the Madison, as they look to improve on silver from a year ago. Scotson will also compete in the scratch race. The four selected athletes competed in the first two UCI World Cups in Poland and Manchester targeting Olympic events, with Glaetzer winning men's sprint in Poland, Meyer and Scotson winning the men's Madison and Morton winning silver in the sprint and bronze in the keirin, and will head into the World Championships with confidence. With the focus on the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games the team has been carefullly selected with individual and team long term goals in mind, and in alignment with Cycling Australia's 2020 strategy. Australian Cycling Team for 2018 Track World Championships – Apeldoorn, Netherlands, Feb 28 - March 4 2018. Stephanie Morton Matthew Glaetzer Cameron Meyer Callum Scotson  Michael Matthews (ACT) is celebrating an Oppy ‘triple crown’ after claiming three of the major honours at the 2017 Cycling Australia Awards in Melbourne on Friday. Matthews, 27, was awarded the Sir Hubert 'Oppy' Opperman Medal & Trophy after being named the 2017 Australian Cyclist of the Year in front of 300 of Australian cycling’s elite. In addition to the Road Cyclist of the Year award, the popular Canberran was also voted the 2017 JLT People’s Choice Award winner by thousands of Australian cycling fans. “It is a huge honour in Australia to win the Oppy, it is something I have been dreaming about since I became a cyclist,” Matthews told Cycling Australia from his home in Monaco. “It is an unreal feeling (to win all three), I didn’t think it would happen so soon, but it is a reminder for me that it was a big year for me and Australian cycling. “It means a lot that I can be among other excellent Australian cyclists who have won this award.” In 2017, Matthews became just the third Australian to win the Tour de France green jersey, scorching to the sprinting honour with two stages wins. At the Road World Championships, Matthews claimed the team time trial world title for Team Sunweb before winning road race bronze a few days later in the green and gold for the Australian Cycling Team. “I started the season with mixed feelings as I went into a new team and you never know how fast will you adapt,” said Matthews of his debut in the black and white of the German professional team which saw him finish ninth on the UCI end of year rankings. “But I feel so comfortable in my team which reflects on my results too. “Unfortunately, the rainbow jersey didn't work out for me but I will keep fighting for it.” It is the first Oppy Medal for Matthews who began cycling as a teenager with the Tuggeranong Vikings Cycling Club after his cycling talents were recognised at school. “Thank you to Cycling Australia and the whole cycling community in Australia to making sure our sport is well promoted and supporting young talents as I was, as without their support I would never be professional cyclist,” said Matthews, who was quick to thank the support of his family and friends. “To my coach Brian Stephens, my team and my wife. They put great amounts of efforts into fulfilling my dreams and I am so thankful for that. “And to all my fans which stay with me no matter if they are good or bad results, they are always there to support me. “It’s not the easiest sport, and it sometimes has more downs than ups, but its something I love doing and seeing appreciation from Australia makes it so worth it.” Katrin Garfoot (Gold Coast CC/QLD) won her third straight female Road Cyclist of the Year award after becoming just the second Australian female cyclist to win World Championships medals in the time trial and road race in the same year. The Gold Coast Cycling Club member, riding for Orica-Scott, also claimed both the road and time trial national crowns. The Track Cyclists of the Year awards went to Cameron Meyer (Midland CC/WA) and Stephanie Morton (South Coast CC/SA). Meyer took his career world title tally to eight after winning the team pursuit and points race crowns at the World Championships, in addition to the Madison silver. Meyer also added three national titles and World Cup gold and silver to secure a fourth career award. It was a breakthrough international season for Morton who claimed her maiden World Championship medals in 2017 with silver in both the sprint and team sprint. Morton also won two national titles (sprint and team sprint) and set the fastest flying 200m time ever seen in Australia. It was a glittering year from para-cyclist David Nicholas C3 (Mackay CC/QLD) who won the individual pursuit world title and a swag of medals including World Championship silver and bronze, Road World Cup gold and four national titles. Nicholas was named the male Para-cyclist of the Year for a second time, while Carol Cooke T2 (St Kilda CC) rode to a third women’s award after claiming the time trial and road race world titles, three World Cup gold and two national titles on the road. Caroline Buchanan (ACT) is celebrating a sixth straight BMX award after collecting World Championship silver, the national title and a win at the USA BMX Gator Nationals in 2017. In the men’s BMX category, Australia welcomed a new BMX cyclist of the Year in Logan Martin (QLD) who was crowned the inaugural world champion in BMX Freestyle with a blazing run at the inaugural World Championships in China. Queensland’s first siblings of mountain biking celebrated their first win in the category, with Michael Hannah grabbing World Championships silver, while sister Tracey Hannah claimed her first World Cup victory in five years and found the podium with bronze at the World Championships. Carol Cooke T2 (St Kilda CC) and David Nicholas C3 (Mackay CC/QLD) have been crowned 2017 Australian Para-cyclists of the Year. It was a glittering year from para-cyclist Nicholas C3 who won the individual pursuit world title and a swag of medals including World Championship silver and bronze, Road World Cup gold and four national titles on the track and road. Cooke riding to a third women’s award after claiming the time trial and road race World Championships, three World Cup gold and two national titles on the road. The Gary West Coach of the Year went to Nicholas Flyger (SA) who, during an emotional season which saw him take over the reigns from the late West, was instrumental in guiding Morton to her first World Championship sprint medal (silver) and the women's team sprint duo (Morton & McCulloch) to silver. The Norm Gailey Trophy for Champion State went to New South Wales, while the Gold Coast Cycling Club won its maiden Australian Club Premiership. |
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