Paralympics Australia Media Release

World And Paralympic Champions Feature Among Tokyo-Bound Para-Cyclists

International success before the pandemic and exceptional flexibility throughout it has Australia’s 12-person Para-cycling squad well placed to convert their immense potential when the Tokyo Paralympics begins in little over six weeks.

Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Carol Cooke and dual Paralympic champion David Nicholas spearhead a Team laden with World Championship victories since Rio 2016, including among the seven riders in the squad set to make their debuts at the Paralympic level.

“I think it’s one of the strongest Teams we’ve sent to a Paralympic Games for a long time,” AusCycling Technical Director Warren McDonald said after the Team selections were unveiled by Paralympics Australia on Friday. 

“We’ve got some experienced and talented regulars back, as well as some great up-and-coming talent going to their first Games. It was a very tight selection, which makes it a really great honour for those who made the Team, but also respect to some very good riders who just missed out.” 

Six of the Team members will enter the Games as recent World Champions in their disciplines, including Nicholas, Alistair Donohoe, Paige Greco, Amanda Reid, Darren Hicks and Emily Petricola.  

“Being Australia-based we haven’t been able to travel or race internationally in the past year or so but previous to Covid we had some great results on the track and road. It will be a bit of an unknown but I’m quietly confident that we’ve been able to prepare very well here in Australia and our athletes will do well.

“If we can convert our potential then I think we’ll be very successful.”

Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Lynne Anderson praised the riders and staff for remaining committed to their preparations in spite of the challenges.

“They’ve been unable to compete overseas, they’ve had Team camps postponed or cancelled at the last minute, all sorts of obstacles have been presented,” Anderson said. “Yet, when competition starts at Izu Velodrome and Fuji International Speedway, we’ll be watching one of the finest and best prepared Para-cycling Teams to ever represent Australia at Paralympic level. 

“That reflects incredibly well on the athletes who’ve been selected, as well as on Warren and his colleagues at AusCycling, who have done a magnificent job getting the Team ready. I want to thank each and every person who’s played a role in giving our Para-cyclists their best shot at reaching their goals at the Games.”

Australian Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said: “Australia was the top-ranked nation in Para-cycling at the Games in 1996, 2000 and 2004 and we’ve been a major force ever since, including 13 medals in Rio. 

“This group’s expectations are justifiably high and I’m so excited to see what they can produce.”

The Para-cycling Team will enter a pre-departure camp in Brisbane early in August. 

www.paralympic.org.au

Recently Hicks completed a presentation to AusCycling coaches and staff while also speaking to the Podium Potential Academy group as part of the holistic development sessions about his journey, his experiences on and off the bike and how he is developing himself beyond his sporting performances.

​"It has been unreal to have AusCycling get behind my public speaking aspirations and having a much clearer path to follow post my competitive racing career is really comforting," said Hicks.

"With their support, I was able to complete a really useful and relevant course whilst still fitting in all my training. The course has really helped me fast track my understanding of ways to implement skills such as body language, voice projection and emotion in my talks.

"I like to think I get as much out of my speaking engagements as my audience, and with each talk I remember more about my journey and continue to add depth to my key note speech.

"What I most enjoy about speaking and telling my story is the opportunity to give mention and thanks to all the people who have helped me get to where I am today. It isn't much but I think it's the best way for me to show my appreciation for everything they have done," Hicks added.

AusCycling's coordination of the holistic development of our athletes both on and off the bike comes through key staff in the Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement (AW&E) space who support athletes striving for sustained excellence in high performance and other significant aspects of their lives.

"Evidence shows that engagement in meaningful activities outside of sport can positively impact on wellbeing," said Chris Lynch, AW&E Lead, Australian Cycling Team. "There is also more emerging evidence that engaging in career and transition planning can support performance and enables a longer career in sport.

"The development of people in high-performance sport should not be limited to the skillset to win at major games but also to thrive outside the sporting environment. We are committed to providing an environment that allows our riders to thrive on and off the bike and in future careers."

Similarly, Keren Faulkner, Head of Performance Solutions and AW&E Manager Para‑cycling, Australian Cycling Team, is proud to be part of the supportive team around the athletes.

"Meg and Darren are great examples of athletes aiming to harmonise the commitments of high-performance sport and career progression," said Faulkner. "It is important that athletes have the safe space to explore themselves and their options, to develop and progress, and have access to resources that help them achieve their goals."

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Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the athletes selected to the Australian Team to contest the 2020 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships to be held in Belgium in June. 

The 2020 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships will be held in Ostend, Belgium, from 4-7 June with the time trial and road race held across four disciplines Handbike (H), Cycle (C), Tri-cycle (T) and Tandem. 

The team features nine-time world champion Carol Cooke (VIC), who claimed both road and time trial world titles in 2019, and reigning time trial world champions Emily Petricola (VIC), Alistair Donohoe (VIC) and Darren Hicks (SA). 

2019 World Championship medalists Meg Lemon (SA) and Stuart Jones (NSW), 2016 Paralympic Games silver medalist Stuart Tripp (VIC) and Grant Allen (SA), round out the eight-member team. 

The Championships will be one of the final stops for Australia’s para-cyclists ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

“In line with our Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games strategy, we have selected a strong team to compete in Belgium,” said Warren McDonald, Para-cycling Technical Director, Cycling Australia. 

“After our recent success at the 2020 Para-cycling Track World Championships in Canada, I am confident we can continue this trajectory through Belgium as we close in on the Paralympic Games.”

The road cycling competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be held 1-4 September. 
​
Australian Team for 2020 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships 

• Carol Cooke (VIC) T2 - 2019 road & time trial world champion 
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5 - 2019 time trial world champion
• Darren Hicks (SA) C2 - 2019 time trial world champion
• Stuart Jones (NSW) T2 - 2019 World Championships time trial silver medallist 
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4 - 2019 World Championships road & time trial bronze medallist  
• Emily Petricola (VIC) C4  - 2019 time trial world champion
• Stuart Tripp (VIC) H5 - 2019 World Championships 5th road; 4th time trial 
• Grant Allen (SA) H4 - 2019 Canada World Cup silver &2019 Italian World Cup bronze

The Australian Cycling Team has finished third on the medal tally at the 2020 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships held in Milton, Canada, January 30 to February 2. 

The Australian Team's eight athletes won a total of eight gold, one silver and one bronze, with powerhouse China the only nation to win more gold with nine. Only China (21), Great Britain (14) and the USA (12) won more total medals.

Triple rainbows for Emily Petricola (VIC), dual crowns for Amanda Reid (NSW), and gold to Paige Greco (SA), David Nicholas (QLD) and Alistair Donohoe (VIC) highlighted the Championships.

"I am very pleased from the solid performances from the targeted group of athletes we selected," said Warren McDonald, Para-cycling Technical Director, Cycling Australia. 

"To finish so high on the medal table, while competing against teams over twice our size, is a testament to the hard work and commitment from all of our athletes and staff. 

"While we recognise there is still work to be done, I am confident the athletes and the high-performance team behind them are on a trajectory for a successful campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games."

Medals (8 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
​

• Emily Petricola (VIC) C4 - Gold individual pursuit, scratch race, omnium
• Amanda Reid (NSW) C2 - Gold time trial, omnium 
• David Nicholas (QLD) C3 - Gold individual pursuit 
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5 - Gold scratch race 
• Paige Greco (SA) C3 - Gold individual pursuit 
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4 - Silver individual pursuit
• Gordon Allan (NSW) C2 - Bronze time trial

Event Summaries

Head to https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/2020paratrackworlds.html 

#Milton2020 🌈 Day 1 | Paige Greco and ‪David Nicholas defended their individual pursuit world titles on the opening day of the 2020 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships to be held from 30 January to 2 February. 

Paige Greco (SA) staged a sensational comeback inside the final few hundred metres of her C3 3000m final to defend her world title. 

The fastest qualifier in the morning session (4:02.474), Greco, 22, found herself down by nearly three seconds at the halfway mark in her final against Clara Brown (USA). The reigning world champion was not fazed by the deficit however as she controlled her to peg back Brown’s lead with five hundred metres remaining. 

Greco then powered over the final two laps to win by more than four seconds, with her stunning time of 4mins 0.243secs just two-tenths of a second outside of her own world record set one year ago at the World Championships in Apeldoorn. 

"I was happy with the overall result of the day," said Greco. "I worried myself a little in the final when I was down a few seconds but thankfully had it in my legs to bring it home in the last two laps. I’m very happy I was able to defend my title in the individual pursuit."

‪David Nicholas (QLD) claimed a fourth straight individual pursuit rainbow jersey and sixth career track world title after winning the C3 event. 

Nicholas (3:29.700) recorded the fastest time of qualifying, just two-tenths of a second ahead of Great Britain’s Jaco Van Gass which set up an exciting clash for gold. 

In the 3000m final, Van Gass rocketed to a lead of one second after the first two of twelve laps, before extending his lead to nearly two seconds at the halfway mark.

In a fitting finale to end the opening day’s schedule, Nicholas grabbed the lead on the final lap and showed his class by racing to the gold by half a second (3:28.764).

"I felt good coming into this World Championships. I had no expectations after a minor set back following a crash at the World Cup in Brisbane in December. I felt really relaxed heading to the start line and was happy I performed well," said Nicholas. "It was a tough final to back up against Jaco Van Gass, but I managed to squeeze everything out of myself and luckily get there in the last two laps."

Defending world champion Darren Hicks (SA) was edged off the podium in a scorching C2 3000m pursuit competition which saw the world record smashed in qualifying by eventual gold medallist Ewoud Vromant of Belgium. 

As he continues his comeback to racing following an injury which forced him out of the Road Nationals earlier this month, Hicks looked strong as he clocked the third-fastest time (3:39.276) in afternoon qualifying. 

In the final against Guihua Liang (CHN), Hicks held the lead at the 2000m mark before Liang took the lead inside the second last lap and the bronze which sent Hicks into fourth overall (3:42.718). 

In the time trials, Emily Petricola (VIC) (38.799) finished just two tenths off a second off the podium in fourth in the Women C4 500m Time Trial, while Meg Lemon (SA) was seventh (40.983). Canada’s Kate O’Brien won gold in world record time (35.223). 

Alistair Donohoe (VIC) was 15th (1:08.118) in the Men C5 Kilo Time Trial final. 

Follow #Milton2020 

• www.2020uciparatrack.com 
• Results https://tracktiming.live/eventpage.php?EventId=2003 
• Live Streaming via uci.org or https://www.flobikes.com/ 

#AusCyclingTeam 

• https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/2020paratrackworlds.html 
• Facebook - @AustralianCyclingTeam
• Instagram - @australiancyclingteam
• Twitter - @AusCyclingTeam

Australian Team for 2020 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships 

Athlete (State) Classification

• Gordon Allan (NSW) C2 - 2019 World Championship medalist
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5 - 2019 individual pursuit & scratch race world champion
• Paige Greco (SA) C3 - 2019 individual pursuit & time trial world champion (dual world record holder)
• Darren Hicks (SA) C2 - 2019 individual pursuit world champion
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4 - dual 2019 World Championship medalist
• David Nicholas (QLD) C3 - 2019 individual pursuit & scratch race world champion
• Emily Petricola (VIC) C4 - 2019 individual pursuit world champion (world record holder)
• Amanda Reid (NSW) C2 - 2019 time trial world champion (world record holder)

QUOTES

Darren Hicks
Just this last weekend, we saw seven world records broken,so  you don’t just win one race and that’s a good year, you need to keep winning. I won three of the four World Cups on the road, two world championships and three national championships, and that’s barely enough. We have such a strong para squad and it’s a pleasure to be a part of it. It’s amazing to get this award.  
 
Paige Greco 
I’ve had a really awesome year, and it means a lot. Every time I look at it reminds me of an awesome year and it’s my first year on the team. I’ve been working really hard, and it’s been really good to see the results. It’s been an amazing year and I still can’t believe where I have been with my teammates!

Alistair Donohoe
This award highlights the fact I had to win three world championships just to get the award. David Nicholas was in there and he didn’t get an award. We’ve got some serious depth so it’s kind of exciting. I am stoked [with where I’m at], it just feels amazing to be back where I think I should be, after some ill health in 2017, I am really building back up in 2019. 

I personally think this award personally means a lot to me tonight. 

Carol Cooke
We have such a strong group of para-cyclists and that many world champions on this team. That being singled out for this [award] is very special, especially at this age and you know I hope that by showing people that it doesn’t matter what number it is that’s attached to your age and that if you love doing something that you can just keep doing it and reap the benefits of it. I think that this year has probably been the best year I’ve ever had because I didn’t put the pressure on myself that I had to be on the top step it was about enjoying it, it was about having fun and I probably had the most fun that I’ve ever had in a year of racing. 

Brandon Loupos
I don’t think it could have been better. It was cool. I can’t wait for 2020. I did so much learning in 2019 and it’s all about keeping that consistency in 2020 and to go or the gold in Tokyo. Logan won it (this award) two years in a row and I am stoked to come away with the win this year, it’s definitely an honour and to be the elite BMX cyclist of the year is pretty special. There’s a lot of world champions who don’t get to win this award and I’m blessed to not only win a world championship but to also win this award. 
 
Saya Sakakibara
It was a challenging but fulfilling season. Compared to last year I didn’t produce the results; I had a lot of mental challenges and having six crashes in four months it was definitely really tough to line up on the gate with other riders. But with the worlds I thought my performance was really good, I didn’t get the results I wanted but it adds fuel to the fire and makes me a lot hungrier. I finished off the season with a win at the Olympic test event and is such a great confidence booster. 
 
Amanda Spratt
It’s been a really great year and I am really proud to get this award tonight it caps it off, I think it’s been my best year to date. Maybe I didn’t get the same results on paper as what I got last year but I am really, really proud to finish off with a bronze medal after a great team performance also. It’s amazing, I love coming to this event every year, you get so much motivation out of it. You see the videos of what people have done and hear some stories you maybe didn’t know about some people and it’s just a feeling of motivation and excitement. I always walk out of here, ready to bust into training the next day!
 
Ashlee Ankudinoff
It’s pretty humbling, to be honest. I’ve been in this sport for ten years now and it’s been a long time coming. I’ve had a successful career and now I am getting towards the end so it’s really nice to come here and celebrate the success, not just the success of myself but of others. I definitely think I am in the form of my life. I have a great support network back in Adelaide and the environment there is unbelievable. I have trust in the process in what we’re doing. I go to training every day knowing that I have the support from everyone from the Cycling Australia staff.  Olympic gold is why I am still riding. I definitely would not be riding if I had ticked all my goals off and the Olympic gold is definitely one, and hopefully next August I can do that.

Sam Welsford
It’s been a ripper year. I never thought I’d be able to go dual world champion in one year, so I’m just really over the moon. I love coming to the Awards, it’s such a special night, to see Australia’s best come through to all celebrate the year we’ve had. I get really gee’d up when I see the year’s recap video, it makes you really forget about the Awards itself and makes you realise how special it is to ride for Australia.  
 
(On Tim Decker receiving Coach of the Year Award) Tim holds a special place in my heart he’s been my coach for a long time, starting in 2015 when I first moved to Adelaide, Tim backed me a said “look mate, if you want to be apart of this you’ve got to put the work in” so, I trusted him from then on. Really happy for him to get that award and I know that he holds the award itself very close to him. He strives and works really hard for that I think this is just a testament to what he puts in. ​

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 

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#Apeldoorn2019 Day 1 Recap

It was a triple treat for the Australian Cycling Team on the opening day of the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands with Paige Greco, Darren Hicks and David Nicholas claiming individual pursuit world titles. Read More.

“Right now I think I’m feeling every emotion possible,” said Darren Hicks after claiming his maiden world title. “I am excited & relieved, and in disbelief, I can't quite comprehend that I've finally got my first world championship and rainbow jersey, it's crazy!”

Second fastest in C2 Individual Pursuit qualifying (3:42.709) behind Tristan Chernove (CAN) by less than half a second, before Hicks turned the tables on his Canadian opponent by three seconds in the final (3:45.390).  

“My plan for qualifying was the same thing we have been working on for months, that is until I came through on my second lap six-tenths up on my schedule,” said Hicks revealing it not all went according to his pre-race plan. “After that, it was 'hold on for dear life' and get through those last ten laps without blowing my left leg apart!! In the end, I think I was fortunate to scrape in as the second qualifier, but hey, I'll take some luck going my way for a change!

“The final was a chance to make right what I did wrong in the qualifier, but unfortunately the tank was pretty empty from leaving it all out there on my first ride. So, in the end, I just settled to my schedule as best I could and tried to be as smooth as possible, the time is a little disappointing but in the end, the time doesn't matter in a medal ride off, just as long as you cross the line first.”

The win comes after a tumultuous year for the 34-year-old Adelaide cyclist who in January had charges against him dropped for a freeway truck crash that killed two people in 2014, the same accident in which Hicks lost his right leg.

“It has been a full on year, it was a long, agonising, very expensive road but it's behind me now, and I can finally focus fully on my racing,” Hicks said. “I just would like to say thanks to everyone that's helped me get to where I am today. I'm very grateful for all the opportunities I have been given and am glad I could bring home the chocolates for the first time on the big stage!

“A thank you to my awesome wife who supports me galavanting around the world riding my bike, your unreal babe, and I can't wait to show you the new bling!!”

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and offers valuable qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, with the Australian team to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
• Official Website 

Photos 

© Casey B. Gibson

The Australian team has settled into a chilly Apeldoorn in the Netherlands ahead of the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships which run 14-17 March.

The Championships offers valuable qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, with the Australian team to vie against 200 of the world's best from 30 countries. 

While it snows outside, many members of the team including former world champions Alistair Donohoe (VIC) has opted for time in the sauna! 

Former world champion Tandem pairing Jessica Gallagher (VIC) and Pilot Madison Janssen (VIC) fine-tuned their preparations for the Championships at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Switzerland after the pair received an invitation to attend the International Training Camp. Read more.  

In the men's Tandem events Brad Henderson (SA) will be piloted by Luke Zaccaria.

The team will also feature reigning world champion David Nicholas (QLD), plus former world champions Amanda Reid (NSW) and Simone Kennedy (NSW).
 
​Emily Petricola (VIC) returns to the team following her outstanding debut at the 2018 World Championships which saw her bring home dual medals and the individual pursuit world record.

2018 World Championship scratch race silver medalist Darren Hicks (SA) will look to continue his strong form with a focus towards the timed events, while Paige Greco (SA), Michael Shippley (QLD) and Daniel Van der Laan (NSW) will make their national team debut. 

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The Australian Cycling Team is locked and loaded ahead of the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships which begin Thursday 2 August in Maniago, Italy.

The team is littered with some of the biggest names in para-cycling, including seven-time and dual reigning world champion Carol Cooke, Paralympic gold medallist David Nicholas, former world champion Kyle Bridgwood and Alistair Donohoe.

And while it is easy to focus on these names, there have been two riders quietly making names for themselves in households across the country.

South Australian duo Darren Hicks and Meg Lemon announced themselves at the 2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships when on their debut, they clinched dual silver and dual bronze respectively.

In 2018, they the pair head into the World Championships in form and full of confidence after winning gold at May’s opening round of the UCI Para Road World Cup in Belgium.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work since Belgium working on both skills and fitness in preparation for these World Champs,” said Lemon, who will contest the women’s C4 road race and time trial from Friday.

“Our coach believes he’s worked as harder than ever, so I’m hoping the hard work will pay off here.”

“I would love to podium again this year at Worlds and the World Cup hoping my form and skills I have worked in will help to improve and move up the step to perhaps silver or gold in the race,” added Lemon. “You never know what will happen race day and how everyone else performs, but it’s all about experience and working towards the next few years and qualifying and hopefully peaking at Tokyo.”

However, while she is clearly focussed on her own race and path to Tokyo, Lemon was quick to point out to others what she believes her teammates are capable of achieving this weekend.

“I’m also so excited to see what my teammates can do. I have a feeling Darren might beat us to the rainbow stripes this year,” Lemon remarked.

For Darren Hicks who will race the men’s C2 road race and time trial, his 2018 season has been almost flawless with dual national titles in January, followed by World Cup gold in May. 
 
“It's been a dream start to the road season, most of my training is in preparation for road competition, so it was great to see all of that pay off in Belgium,” said Hicks, who despite the early season successes, has continued to strive for the marginal gains.

​“As far as performance goes my numbers were good in Ostend, but we have worked on a few things since coming home and made some nice gains in a couple of areas. 

“After a surprising set of results last year, going backwards and staying stagnant aren't options so that only leaves climbing one step higher on the podium! 

“So quite simply, winning is my one and only goal.” 

More on the Championships 

The Championships will be live streamed via the official Facebook page, with more event information via the official website. 

For official start lists and results, visit the UCI website.

2018 Australian Cycling Team - UCI Para Road World Championships 

• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD) C4
• Meg Lemon (SA) C4
• Hannah Macdougall (VIC) C4
• David Nicholas (QLD) C3
• Darren Hicks (SA) C2
• Kaitlyn Schurmann (VIC) C1
• Stuart Jones (NSW) T2
• Carol Cooke (VIC) T2
• Grant Allan (SA) H4
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5
• Kieran Murphy & Lachlan Glasspool - Pilot (SA) Tandem
• Grant Nickel (NSW) H1
• Emilie Miller (NSW) H1
• Stuart Tripp (VIC) H5

The Australian Cycling Team has celebrated ten medals at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio, fourth most by any nation behind Great Britain, Netherlands and China.  
 
Highlighting the four days of competition for the green and gold was a world title defence by David Nicholas (QLD), and a world record and two medals to debutant Emily Petricola (VIC), plus dual silver to the Tandem pairing of Jessica Gallagher and Maddie Janssen. 
 
The Championships also offered the first vital opportunity for nations to grab valuable qualification points towards Tokyo 2020, with the 16-rider Australian team featuring among 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.  Complete results.

Summary of medallists
 
GOLD

• David NICHOLAS (QLD) Men C3 / 3 km Pursuit

 
SILVER         

• Kyle BRIDGWOOD (QLD) Men C4 / 4 km Pursuit
• Alistair DONOHOE (VIC) Men C4-5 / Scratch
• Jessica GALLAGHER/Madison JANSSEN (VIC) Tandem 1000 m TT
• Jessica GALLAGHER/Madison JANSSEN (VIC) Tandem Sprint
• Darren HICKS (SA) Men C1-2-3 / Scratch
• Emily PETRICOLA (VIC) Women C4/ 3 km Pursuit
• Amanda REID (NSW) Women C2/ 500 m TT

 
BRONZE       

• Meg LEMON (SA) Women C4/ 3 km Pursuit
• Emily PETRICOLA (VIC) Women C4/ 500 m TT

 
Recap

Reigning Paralympic and world champion David Nicholas (QLD) surged to defend his C3 individual pursuit world title on the opening day, clocking the fastest time during Thursday afternoon’s qualifying (3:36.792). 
 
Nicholas found two extra seconds in the tank in the evening’s final (3:34.804) to comfortably defeat Diederick Schelfhout (BEL) by over four seconds.

"It definitely feels amazing to defend my pursuit title, as it was the objective of the Championships. I am pretty happy with my results but there is always room for improvements so I will reflect when we get home and hopefully be stronger and faster next time," said Nicholas. 
 
On her team debut on Thursday, Emily Petricola (VIC) powered to a time of 41.409secs to win bronze in the C4 women’s 500m time trial. 
 
On Saturday, Petricola eclipsed the existing C4 individual pursuit world record in qualifying by two tenths of a second (3:54.501), before riding to take the silver medal.  Teammate Meg Lemon (SA) won the bronze. 
 
“I have been pleasantly surprised by my performance here, in particular grabbing bronze in the time trial,” said Petricola, who only began cycling a few months ago.
 
“I need to acknowledge the work of Cam Jennings who has moulded me into some resemblance of a track cyclist.
 
“Taking the world record in the individual pursuit was not in the plans, but a great bonus.  My only possible improvement would have been gold in the event.”

Victorians Jessica Gallagher and Maddie Janssen claimed dual silver on the week in the Tandem time trial and sprint, with the pair recording a personal best in the flying 200m.  Both Tandem events were won by multiple Paralympic and world champion Sophie Thornhill (GBR) and Pilot Helen Scott, including world records in both events.
 
Gallagher and Janssen will now head home to represent Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
 
“We are really happy with our results and our two silver medals,” said Gallagher. “A personal best in our flying 200m and just outside our one kilometre time trial personal gives us great momentum as we head straight into GC2018.
 
“We have a few areas we can improve on & we are incredibly excited to head home and race on home soil.”
 
In all, Australia finished just off the top step in seven events with silver to Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) in the time trial, Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) in the pursuit, and Alistair Donohoe (VIC-C5) and Darren Hicks (SA-C2) in their respective scratch races.
 
The team was also just off the podium in fourth on seven occasions through Darren Hicks (SA-C2), Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) and Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) in the individual pursuit, and Kennedy and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) in the time trial.

In the men’s Tandem, Brad Henderson and Pilot Thomas Clarke finished fourth in both the time trial and sprint in their first Championships as a pairing. It took the might of multiple Paralympic and world champion Neil Fachie (GBR) and Pilot Matthew Rothertham to stop the pair’s run in the sprint semi final.
 
In other events, Alistair Donohoe (VIC) finished fifth in the C5 individual pursuit and eighth in the time trial, Lemon sixth in the time trial, and Reid fifth in the scratch race. Darcy Thompson (SA-C1) was eighth in the time trial and sixth in the individual pursuit, with Gordon Allan (NSW-C2) fifth in the time trial.
 
The Tandem pairing of Kieran Murphy and Pilot Lachlan Glasspool (SA) was seventh in the pursuit and in the time trial.

2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships  | Rio De Janeiro  | 22-25 March 2018
​
The Australian Cycling Team’s journey towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begins this Thursday in Rio at the 2018 UCI Para-cyclingTrack World Championships.
 
From March 22-25, the Championships offers the first vital opportunity for nations to grab valuable qualification points towards Tokyo 2020, with the 16-rider Australian team to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.
 
It will also be a return to the velodrome for many of our 2016 Paralympic heroes, in particular reigning world champions David Nicholas (QLD) and Amanda Reid (NSW).
 
“I think everyone has travelled quite well over to Rio from Australia, still getting over a bit of jetlag as expected, but everything is looking good so far for some good performances,” said Nicholas, who claimed 2016 Paralympic gold in in the individual pursuit and will be aiming for a strong performance in his world title defence.
 
“Being back here in Rio at the Velodrome where I won gold two years ago feels amazing, first hit out on track was great.
 
“Certainly will try to defend my title, but if I do a great performance that I know I can do, I will be happy and the result will be what it will be.”
 
Dual reigning world champion Reid is eager to get the competition underway after completing a week of training on the track.
 
“Felt great to be back here on these boards again after 2016, spending time getting used to the slightly different shape of the track again before ramping up the training as the week progressed,” added Reid, who announced herself in 2017 with rainbow jerseys in both the time trial and individual pursuit.
 
“I'm feeling really more and more excited about the competition as we get closer to it.
 
“I'm confident about my chances of retaining my world crown in the 500 time trial which is my main goal, and I'm also looking for a personal best in the individual pursuit.”
 
The Championships begin what will be a busy two weeks for 2016 world champions and Paralympic bronze medallists Jessica Gallagher (VIC) and Pilot Madison Janssen (VIC), with the pair also set to represent Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
 
“Personally, Maddie and I are really excited to race, we have a busy few weeks ahead with the back up straight into the Commonwealth Games, so managing our training loads and taper has been incredibly important,” said Gallagher.  The pair will contest the Tandem time trial and sprint at both the World Championships and the Games.
 
“We are riding fast and with good race conditions anticipated we have high expectations particularly in the sprint. It's safe to say the entire team are all ready to get out there and race!'”

Similarly in the men's Tandem, Brad Henderson (SA) and Thomas Clarke (SA-Pilot) will fine-tune their Games preparation at the Worlds.
 
“This is a really good chance for Tom and I to have some international race experience in a strong field before the Commonwealth Games,” said Henderson. “We are aiming to execute everything we’ve been doing in training, come out with some personal bests and see how we compare amongst the worlds best.”
 
The team also features reigning world champion Simone Kennedy (NSW), plus 2016 Paralympic Games silver medallists Alistair Donohoe (VIC) and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD).
 
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Australian Cycling Team 

• Gordon Allan (NSW-C2)
• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4)
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC-C5)
• Jessica Gallagher (VIC) / Madison Janssen (VIC-Pilot)
• Brad Henderson (SA) / Thomas Clarke (SA-Pilot)
• Darren Hicks (SA-C2)
• Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3)
• Meg Lemon (SA-C4)
• Kieran Murphy (SA) / Lachlan Glasspool (SA-Pilot)
• David Nicholas (QLD-C3)
• Emily Petricola (VIC-C4)
• Amanda Reid (NSW-C2)
• Darcy Thompson (SA-C1)