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

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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)

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.”

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

#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. 

Queensland’s David Nicholas celebrated a third straight world crown in C3 individual pursuit category. 

“It feels so awesome, I can't explain the feeling,” Nicholas said. “It is hard to believe, but yes it is my third pursuit world title in a row. It takes a lot of effort to stay on top, but it is all worth it to get the rainbow jersey!”

Fastest qualifier in the afternoon session (3:30.775), Nicholas, 27, powered to a personal best 3mins 29.879secs on his ways to an eight-second victory in the final over Spain’s Eduardo Santas.

“My strategy in the qualifying was to ride a time that would earn me a place the gold medal ride, but I was rolling fast, and I qualified first. In the final, I set myself a goal as my PB and achieved that.”

The reigning Paralympic champion Nicholas was quick to praise his support team. 

“Thanks so much to Cycling Australia for all the help and support this year. Thanks to my coach Nick Formosa for everything he has done for me.”

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

Petricola will be looking to defend her C4 national pursuit crown, an event in which she shocked the para-cycling world in 2018 after breaking the world record in qualifying at the World Championships in March.

“When I look back at 2018 I'm pretty shocked at what a huge year it has been, in particular thinking back to the world champs and the results there, it all seems a bit surreal,” said Petricola, who claimed World Championship silver in both the pursuit and time trial.  

While only having begun cycling a couple of years ago, Petricola was quickly selected to the Australian Cycling Team and has committed to the program by moving back to Melbourne after three years working in the United Arab Emirates.

“I have gone from training on my own all the time in the middle of the desert on a trainer most of the time, to be a part of the bigger machine of Cycling Australia and more locally, the VIS,” added Petricola, who will race both the time trial and pursuit this week on her home track at DISC before tackling FedUni RoadNats in January. “

"With so much change, I've certainly had to be a bit more resilient and persevere as I reestablish my life in Australia. But now that things are settling down a bit, I'm starting to find my rhythm and looking forward to getting some positive results over the coming months.”

Former world champions Alistair Donohoe (VIC), Kyle Bridgwood (QLD), Amanda Reid (NSW), Simone Kennedy (NSW), plus Jessica Gallagher (VIC) who will be piloted by Madison Janssen (VIC) in the Tandem events, will be in action.

The Para-cycling National Championships will be held in conjunction with the 2019 Omnium Championships.

#ParaTrackNats Quick Guide

• What Tandem Championships in the time trial, sprint and pursuit; ‘C’ Championships in the time trial and pursuit.
• Who Australia’s best para-cyclists
• When
  • Thursday 13 December – Time Trials.  From 12pm.
  • Friday 14 December: Pursuits & Tandem Sprint. Qualifying from 10am, Finals from 4pm.
• Where DISC Velodrome
• Tickets Online at the door
• Results  liveresults.cycling.org.au 
• Follow  tracknationals.org.au  |  #tracknats 

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
​
David Nicholas’ (QLD) successful world title defence and bronze to debutant Emily Petricola (VIC) highlighted the Australian Cycling Team’s results on the opening day of the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio. 
 
The team also figured just off the podium with four fourth places finishes to Darren Hicks (SA-C2), Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) and Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) in the individual pursuit, and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) in the time trial.
 
Reigning Paralympic and world champion Nicholas clocked the fastest time in the afternoon’s qualifying in the men’s C3 individual pursuit (3:36.792). 
 
Nicholas found two extra seconds in the tank in the final (3:34.804) to comfortably defeat Diederick Schelfhout (BEL) in the final by over four seconds.
 
On her team debut, Petricola clocked 41.409secs to win bronze in the C4 women’s 500m time trial.
 
The Championships run March 22-25 and 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.
 
Day 1 Results
 
Individual Pursuit

• Darren Hicks (SA-C2) (Qual 3:51.754 / Final 3:51.306) Fourth
• Simone Kennedy (NSW-C3) (Qual 4:19.592 / Final 4:17.662) Fourth
• David Nicholas (QLD-C3) (Qual 3:36.792 / Final 3:34.804) Gold
• Amanda Reid (NSW-C2) (Final Caught) Fourth
• Darcy Thompson (SA-C1) (Qual 4:04.710) Sixth

 
Time Trial

• Meg Lemon (SA-C4) 43.336 Ninth
• Emily Petricola (VIC-C4) 41.409 Bronze
• Kyle Bridgwood (QLD-C4) 1:09.079 Fourth
• Alistair Donohoe (VIC-C5) 1:09.429 Eighth 

Cycling Australia is pleased to announce a 16-rider team for the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships to be held in Rio De Janeiro from 22-55 March 2018.

Reigning world champions Amanda Reid (NSW), David Nicholas (QLD) and Simone Kennedy (NSW) headline the team, which also features Paralympic champions and medallists.

2016 Paralympic Games silver medallists Alistair Donohoe (VIC) and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD) add experience to the team and will both be looking to reclaim world titles on the track.

Darcy Thompson (SA) receives his third national team selection, while Darren Hicks (SA) who claimed two medals at the Road World Championships earns his maiden selection on the track.

National champions Meg Lemon (SA), Emily Petricola (VIC) and Gordon Allan (NSW) will also feature.

2016 world champion and Paralympic bronze medallist Jessica Gallagher (VIC) will be looking to reclaim her sprint title with new Pilot Lara Tucker (QLD) as they eye the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In the men's Tandem events Brad Henderson (SA) and Thomas Clarke (SA-Pilot) will contest the sprint events and Kieran Murphy (SA) and Lachlan Glasspool (SA-Pilot) the endurance races.

Australian Cycling Team for 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships
​

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