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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
​Official results: visit the UCI website.

2018 Australian Cycling Team - UCI Para Road World Championships Summary

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

In a repeat of May's opening round of the UCI Para Road World Cup, Carol Cooke claimed gold and silver at round two in the Netherlands. 
 
Cooke prevailed in the time trial by more than thirty seconds over of Jill Walsh (USA), before her US rival turned the tables to win the road race.  The pair are now tied on the UCI Rankings. 

"I'm very happy with how I rode both races at this second World Cup," said Cooke, who revealed she is starting to reap the benefits of long hours in the saddle in a new time trial racing position.  "For the first time I felt really comfortable in that position and it is obviously helping as I won by a fairly good margin. 

"I still have some work to do on my road race, however, the dynamics of the race were different because we were racing alongside the men.  So that will change at the World Championships when we are riding our own race." 

Cooke will now head to the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre (ETC) in Italy for targeted individual sessions, before the dual reigning and seven-time world champion ​joins the entire Australian team ahead of the Para Road World Championships which begin August 2.

"I'm looking forward to training at the ETC, it will help me acclimatise to the heat in Italy and help me focus solely on what I am here to do," Cooke added. "But I think one of the most important things is that I will be doing some specific sprint training in the next four weeks.  My last two World Cup Road Races have come down to the final sprint and as history has shown Jill has got me on both of those."

"I'm looking forward to Worlds and looking forward to being back with the team.  Obviously, my goal is to hold on to both my World Championship jerseys and I am feeling very fit and confident that I can do it."

Read more about Carol here. 

Dual reigning world champion Carol Cooke will warm up for her title defence at the second round of the UCI Para World Cup in the Netherlands this weekend.
 
Cooke, who claimed gold and silver at the first round of the World Cup in Belgium in May, will race the TT on Friday and the Road Race on Saturday (6pm/530pm AEST).
 
“I’m looking forward to racing here, I had great races here last year, winning both the Road Race and TT, so I am hoping to do the same thing again this year,” said Cooke, who will line up in a small, but strong field, which includes Jill Walsh (USA) and Marie-Eve Croteau (CAN). 
 
“At this point, I am probably at the fittest level I have ever been (especially in the gym) and I’m feeling good leading into these races next week.”
 
It has been a successful start to the 2018 season, and the qualification process towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, for the for the Australian Para-cycling Team with twelve medals, including six gold at May’s World Cup. 
 
Following the Championships, Cooke will head to the Australian Institute of Sport base in Italy before later joining the entire Australian team ahead of the Para Road World Championships which begin August 2.

Follow Carol at the UCI Para World Cup in the Netherlands via the official website or via the UCI. 

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.