#TokyoTalk Episode 3

​In this episode, we #TokyoTalk with Maeve Plouffe of the women's track endurance team, Matt Richardson of the men's sprint team and Tiffany Jane Cromwell of the women's road team. All three athletes making their @Australian Olympic Team debut in Tokyo 2020.

#AusCyclingTeam #TokyoTogether

The 2021 edition of the Giro d'Italia Donne was one full of ups and downs for the five Australians who started Stage 1 from Fossano.

As the curtain closed on this year's race in Cormons with a Coryn Rivera (Team DSM) stage win and Anna van der Breggen's (Team SD Worx) fourth maglia rosa, only Tiffany Cromwell (CANYON//SRAM Racing) and Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange) remained of the Australian quintet.

The surviving duo

Cromwell played a vital role in catapulting her Swiss teammate Elise Chabbey into the top 10 in the general classification on the final day of racing and finished the Giro Donne 26th in the general classification herself.

The Adelaidean did her Tokyo 2020 preparations no harm in Italy, with consistent finishes across the ten stages.

Cromwell was most active on Stage 7's hilly circuits which finished in Puegnago del Garda.

The looming Tokyo 2020 Olympian tried her luck with a daring late attack which was ultimately neutralised by Trek-Segafredo's Elisa Longo Borghini.

"Decided to try my luck with an attack at just over 1km to go on the uphill finish," Cromwell said of the seventh 2021 Giro Donne stage.

"Had nothing to lose. Didn’t work out, but won’t stop me from trying again another time."

Much like Cromwell, current national champion Sarah Roy enjoyed a consistent Giro Donne.

Riding in service of compatriot Amanda Spratt until her abandonment of the Giro Donne, Roy’s best stage result was a sprint finish in Stage 5 into Carugate, which saw her come across the finish line in 16th place.

Speaking at the end of the Giro overnight, Roy said Team BikeExchange's staff and riders gave everything to their goal of Spratt's general classification ambitions.

"Janneke (Ensing), Ane (Santesteban), Georgia (Williams), Grace (Brown), and I raced hard for it each day to give Spratty the best chance and she also dug deep, despite the hard luck," she said.

"We were completely lucked out in the end though."
​

​The unfortunate abandons 


Amanda Spratt and Grace Brown's abandonments (both Team BikeExchange) were the results of a crash in the final kilometres of Stage 8 of the Giro Donne. 

Team BikeExchange entered this year's Giro Donne with a specific focus on riding for Amanda Spratt, who was placed 12th in the general classification before the crash. 


The Team BikeExchange leader battled on in Stage 9 despite her injuries but decided against starting the final stage to Cormons with her Olympic goals in mind.
  
With less than two weeks to go until the Tokyo 2020 road race, Spratt elected to gain an extra day of recovery as well as a head start on her final preparationsfor the Olympics. 


"Unfortunately, I've made the decision not to start the final stage of the Giro. I pushed so, so hard yesterday and through the pain just a bit too much," Spratt said. 

"With an eye to the Olympics ahead, I think it's the right decision not to race. 

  
"It's really disappointing, but it's how it is. Now we're looking ahead. 


"I had a lot of pain in my back and glute from the crash. I hoped it would get better during the stage but it was a tough battle all the way to the line. 

 
"I'm definitely disappointed after all the hard work from the team I had definitely hoped for more." 


Spratt's Tokyo 2020 teammate Brown suffered multiple wounds and a left shoulder contusion as a result of the crash, withdrawing from the race after Stage 8 following an assessment by the team doctor.
  

Brown, who finished third in Stage 4's 11.2km ITT behind van der Breggen and Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx), was quick to dampen any serious concerns of her upcoming ambitions in Tokyo post-crash.
  

"It was quite unfortunate that three of us came down in a crash today and we're all a bit cut up and bruised," she said after the eighth stage. 
  

"Personally, I'm fine, but I've hurt the muscle in my shoulder, and I have some quite deep cuts that need to heal. 
  

"I'm looking to be in good shape for the Tokyo Olympics and that's my priority now, so I want to rest up so I can be good for that." 
  

FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope's Queenslander Brodie Chapman had an eventful Giro Donne, to say the least. 


Chapman was always on the hunt for the breakaway up until the final stage of the Giro, when she fell victim to a "full-on" asthma attack in the first 10km. 


"At this point, there is literally nothing I could do except try to stay on my bike and move forward until the ambulance stopped me and administered some Ventolin," she said.


"I was so lightheaded I could hardly stand. Yep, sounds super dramatic and I was honestly not expecting anything like this to happen as I really felt motivated and excited ahead of today's final stage. 


"Frustrated to be sitting here wheezing like a walrus when I wish I was helping my teammates." 


The attack-minded Chapman was also caught up in a Stage 3 crash which left her right knee heavily bloodied while chasing moves in the break. 

Chapman's best finish of the 2021 Giro was a 16th on Stage 9's ascent finish of Monte Matajur. 

The Tokyo Olympic Games will offer 22 cycling gold medals over five cycling disciplines, with action to feature every day of the Games between 24 July and 8 August. Tokyo 2020 Schedule

A team of 29 Australian athletes will contest the Games, highlighted by Daniel McConnell, who will become the first Australian to contest four Olympics in Mountain Bike.

Rebecca McConnell, Annette Edmondson, Amanda Spratt, and Lauren Reynolds will become the first Australian women to contest three Games in Mountain Bike, Track Endurance, Road Cycling, and BMX. AOC Team and Athlete Profiles

Catch all the Cycling from the Tokyo Olympic Games on Seven and 7plus: Live, Free and Streaming in HD at the 7plus Olympic Hub at 7Plus Schedule

ROAD CYCLING
There are two events in the road cycling at the Tokyo Olympic Games – road race and individual time trial.

The men's road race will be the first cycling event held at the Games on Saturday 24 July, with the women's road race on Sunday 25 July.

The men's road race will cover a 244km course, including 4,865m of elevation. The women face a 147km course with 2692m of elevation, starting in Tokyo's Musashinonomori Park and incorporating incredible views of Mt Fuji.

On Wednesday 28 July, both the men and women will contest the individual time trials that will see riders take on two laps of the 22.1km course for men and one for women, starting at the Fuji International Speedway.

For more information on what Road Cycling is, click here.

The road cycling team boasts a wealth of international experience headlined by two-time individual time trial world champion Rohan Dennis and dual World Championship medalist Amanda Spratt who return for their third Games.

Richie Porte, who reached the podium at the 2020 Tour de France podium, has been selected for a second Games, while Grace Brown, Tiffany Cromwell, Sarah Gigante, Lucas Hamilton and Jack Haig will make their Olympic debut.

Rider Profiles

Key Dates:

• Road Race 24 July 12:00 - 19:15 AEST
• Road Race 25 14:00 - 18:35 AEST

• Individual Time Trial 28 12:30 - 18:40 AEST

MOUNTAIN BIKE

Mountain Bike Cross-Country will make its seventh appearance as an official Olympic sport at Tokyo 2020. The race will take place at the Izu MTB Course, two hours southwest of Tokyo.

The off-road course measures 4,100 in length with elevations of up to 150m. The men's cross-country race will take place first on Monday 26 July and the women's race will take place the following day on Tuesday 27 July.

For more information on what Mountain Bike is, click here.

Australia will be sending two athletes to Tokyo for Mountain Bike, Daniel McConnell, and Rebecca McConnell. Daniel becomes the first Australian to make four Olympic Teams in Mountain Bike, and Rebecca, the first Australian woman to make three Games in Mountain Bike.

Rider Profiles

Key Dates:

• Men's Mountain Bike - Monday 26 July 16:00 – 18:00 AEST
• Women's Mountain Bike - Tuesday 27 July 16:00 – 18:00 AEST

BMX RACE

Tokyo will host the fourth ever BMX Race Olympic event which will be held at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo. The track is situated close to the Athletes' Village and is in the south of Tokyo, right by the water.

For more information on what BMX Race is, click here.

Competing for Australia in the women's race will be Saya Sakakibara and Lauren Reynolds. Saya will be heading to her first Olympic Games at the age of 21 and will be optimistic after taking out the Tokyo Test event in 2019 at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. Lauren will become the first Australian BMX rider to compete at three Olympics, finishing 15th in London 2012 and 11th in Rio 2016.

In the men's race, Anthony Dean will line up for his second Olympic Games after making the final in Rio 2016. Anthony has been a consistent competitor on the world stage, placing sixth in the last UCI BMX World Championships in 2019 and finishing second and fourth in the UCI BMX World Cup rounds in Australia last year.

Rider Profiles

Key Dates:

• BMX Race Quarter Finals - Thursday 29 July 11:00 – 13:00 AEST
• BMX Race Semi Finals & Finals – Friday 30 July 11:00 – 13:20 AEST

BMX FREESTYLE

BMX Freestyle will make its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. The event will take place at the same location as the BMX Racing and Skateboarding, right on the water in Ariake.

For more information on what BMX Freestyle is, click here.

Logan Martin and Natalya Diehm will make history as Australia's first Olympic BMX Freestylers when the discipline makes its Games debut in Tokyo. Logan will be heading to his first Olympic games as a world champion after taking out the UCI BMX Freestyle World Championships in France in June. Natayla took out the AusCycling BMX Freestyle National Championships earlier this year and sits in the top ten in the world ahead of Tokyo.

Rider Profiles

Key Dates:

• BMX Freestyle Seeding Events - Saturday 31 July 11:10 – 13:20 AEST
• BMX Freestyle Finals – Sunday 1 August 11:10 – 13:50 AEST

TRACK CYCLING

At the Tokyo Olympic Games, six different track cycling events – the Sprint, Keirin, Madison, Team Sprint, Team Pursuit, and Omnium – will be contested for both men and women.

The Track Cycling competition will be held at the Izu Velodrome located in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 120km southwest of Tokyo.

For more information on what Track Cycling is, click here.

Australia will be represented by 14 track cyclists at the Games, including six Olympic debuts, seven who will contest their second Games, while Annette Edmondson and Matthew Glaetzer return for their third time.

Triple Olympian Matthew Glaetzer, Nathan Hart and Matthew Richardson will form the men's team sprint outfit and make up Australia's entries into the individual sprint and keirin. In addition, 2012 Olympic team sprint bronze medalist Kaarle McCulloch will compete in the individual sprint and keirin.

Fellow 2012 Olympic medalist Edmondson will be joined by Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Maeve Plouffe, and Alexandra Manly in the women's track endurance squad.

2016 Olympian Sam Welsford leads four Games newcomers in Leigh Howard, Kelland O'Brien, Lucas Plapp, Alex Porter in the men's endurance squad.

The final entrants for the Team Pursuit, Madison and Omnium will be announced closer to competition.

Rider Profiles

Key Dates

Monday 2 August 16:30 - 19:30

• Women's Team Sprint Qualifying & Finals
• Women's Team Pursuit Qualifying
• Men's Team Pursuit Qualifying

Tuesday 3 August 16:30 - 19:10

• Women's Team Pursuit First Round & Finals

• Men's Team Pursuit First Round
• Men's Team Sprint Qualifying & Finals

Wednesday 4 August 16:30 – 20.00

• Men's Sprint Qualifying & Rounds
• Women's Keirin First Round

• Men's Team Pursuit Finals

Thursday 5 August 16:30 - 19:50

• Men's Omnium Final: Scratch Race, Tempo Race, Elimination Race, & Points Race
• Men's Sprint 1/8 Finals, Quarterfinals, & Finals
• Women's Keirin Quarterfinals, Semifinals, & Finals

Friday 6 August 16:30 - 20:15

• Women's Sprint Qualifying & Rounds
• Men's Sprint Semifinals & Finals
• Women's Madison Finals

Saturday 7 August 16:30 - 19:25

• Women's Sprint 1/8 Finals & Quarterfinals
• Men's Keirin First Round
• Men's Madison Final

Sunday 8 August 11.00 - 14.15

• Women's Omnium Final: Scratch Race, Tempo Race, Elimination Race, & Points Race

• Women's Sprint Semifinals & Finals
• Men's Keirin Quarterfinals, Semifinals, & Finals

WATCH LIVE ON CHANNEL 7

Catch all the Cycling from the Tokyo Olympic Games on Seven and 7plus: Live, Free and Streaming in HD at the 7plus Olympic Hub at https://7plus.com.au/olympics

AusCycling is proud to release its latest insight to our #TokyoTogether Olympic Team, the #TokyoTalk podcast.

Hosted by Matt Poyner, this podcast will feature Tokyo Olympians discussing their preparation for the Games and their previous experiences.

The first episode features three-time Olympians Rohan Dennis (Road) and Matthew Glaetzer (Track Sprint) and Natalya Diehm (BMX Freestyle) who will make her debut in Tokyo!
​
Check out the first episode below and tune in to AusCycling's Facebook over the coming weeks for more episodes

In July, Team BikeExchange duo Amanda Spratt and Grace Brown and Canyon-SRAM Racing Tiffany Cromwell will line up together for Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games. This weekend, they will contest the eighth edition of La Course in France.  

Fellow Australians in Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) and reigning national champion Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange) will also line up in a field of the world's best. 

The women's peloton will tackle a 107.4km course set to take place on the same roads as the men's opening Tour de France stage. Beginning in Brestit will culminate with three laps of a 14-kilometre circuit, with the Côte de la Fosse aux Loups climb in Landerneau to provide a picturesque location for the finish line. 

First held in 2014, La Course has provided many iconic Women's WorldTour moments, including Chloe Hosking's 2016 win on the Champs Elysees on the final day of the Tour de France. 

The 2021 edition may be the final time it is held, with the official launch of the Tour de France Femmes set for 2022.

Grace Brown (Team BikeExchange) has enjoyed a superb first half of 2020, with six podium appearances highlighted by victories at Brugge-De Panne and the opening stage of Vuelta a Burgos.

"I think it will be a really good course. The climb in the circuit isn't very long or steep, but the repetition over four laps will cause attrition. I expect it will be raced quite aggressively with only a select group making it to the finish," said Brown.

"We are lining up with a small but strong team, and I think we will race smart and be really competitive at La Course this year."

In mid-July, Spratt, Brown and Cromwell will be joined by Sarah Gigante (Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank) in the four-rider Australian Cycling Team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  

The Tokyo Olympic women's road race will feature a 147km course with 2692m of elevation, which starts in Tokyo's Musashinonomori Park and will incorporate incredible views of Mt Fuji. The Time Trial will see riders take on one lap of the 22.1km course beginning at the Fuji International Speedway.

"It (the Olympic Games) has been a childhood dream," said Brown. "But I think it's only really become a reality in the last year or so when I really stepped up in the sport and started getting results and proving that I could compete against some of the best girls in the world.

"It's been a crazy time all over the world because of COVID and there's been a lot of uncertainty in everyone's lives and sport has been particularly affected by that. So it's really exciting that it's finally coming together and it looks like that will get to the start line."

Catch all the La Course action live from 4.30 pm AEST Saturday 26 June on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand, just ahead of the beginning of Stage 1 of the Tour de France.

• Official website https://www.lacoursebyletourdefrance.com/en/  
• Watch vis SBS.  https://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/

Nine cyclists have been selected to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo, with eight road cyclists and a track endurance rider announced by the Australian Olympic Committee today.
 
The road cycling team boasts a wealth of international experience headlined by two-time individual time trial world champion Rohan Dennis and dual World Championship medallist Amanda Spratt who return for their third Games.
 
Richie Porte, who reached the podium at the 2020 Tour de France podium, and Tour de France team time trial stage winner Cameron Meyer, have been selected for a second Games.
 
Grace Brown, Sarah Gigante, Tiffany Cromwell and Jack Haig will make their Olympic debut.
 
Track endurance rider Alexandra Manly will also make her Olympic debut after being selected to the team.
 
The men’s road race will cover a 244km course including 4,865m of elevation, with the women facing a 147km course with 2692m of elevation, in a course starting in Tokyo’s Musashinonomori Park incorporating incredible views of Mt Fuji. The Time Trial will see riders take on two laps of the 22.1km course for men and one for women, starting at the Fuji International Speedway.
 
Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Ian Chesterman welcomed today’s selections.
 
“Congratulations to all the cyclists selected today for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo,” Mr Chesterman said.
 
“The Team includes a vast array of experience and success at the highest levels, which will prove invaluable as they take on the best in the world in Tokyo.
 
“The road cyclists are all currently training and racing in challenging conditions around the world, and today’s selection is testament to the incredible effort and determination they have shown throughout their riding careers.
 
“While it’s a great day for the athletes, it’s also a day of celebration for the families, friends, supporters, teammates and coaches who have helped them achieve their Tokyo Olympic milestone. Thank you to Aus Cycling and all of the sport institutes who have helped train and develop these athletes to help bring the athletes to the level they are at today.
 
Today’s selection brings the number of selected athletes in the Australian Olympic Team to 111 of an expected 450-480.
 
Tasmanian Porte said it was an honour to represent Australia in Tokyo.
 
“The Olympics is a massive career highlight for me,” Porte said. “You don't take for granted to be selected for the team in a country like Australia as it has so many worthy guys to choose from, so to just make the team, it's a big honour.
 
“I think it's going to be a fantastic Games; I look forward to just getting there and racing. I think it's a fantastic course, it's going to be hard, but we can aim to be up there for the podium.
 
33-year-old Spratt is looking forward to the challenge of the hard Tokyo course in her third Olympics.
 
“We've got a really great team for Tokyo,” Spratt said. “We've got a great road Captain in Tiffany Cromwell, we've seen what Grace has been doing over in Europe and that youth of Sarah Gigante we've got a strong and well-rounded team that will really suit this course.”
 
“It’s such an honour to be selected for my third Olympic Games. That's been over a 10-year period, as well, it's something I've never complacent about. I'm really looking forward to being able to use what I've learned from those and really go there and performing Tokyo with a great team.”
 
20-year-old Victorian Sarah Gigante is still buzzing after receiving her maiden Olympic selection.
 
“It just feels so surreal to be named a member in my first Australian Olympic Team,” said Gigante, who has claimed three national road titles in three years (2019 road, 2020 and 2021 time trial). “Going to the Olympics is one of those things I always dreamed of...but it always seemed like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - something I hoped really existed but certainly something very far away and a bit of a fantasy!”
 
Simon Jones, Performance Director at AusCycling welcomed today’s selections.
 
“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge every rider who put their hand up for the Olympics.
 
“The selection process never gets easier and that’s because we have a strong and competitive team. For those who didn’t make the team this time; keep pushing - Paris is not far away.
 
“I’m immensely proud of the riders who will be representing Australia in Tokyo, and we are very excited to see how everyone in the team meets the challenge of what’s likely to be a unique Games experience.”
 
Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo – Road Cycling

​Track cyclists selected for the Australian Olympic Team – Alexandra Manly selected today, joining other track riders who were selected March 2020

AusCycling is pleased to confirm the selection of the nine athletes who will take part in a 2021 Junior Road World Championships National Team Road Camp later in 2021.  

Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, AusCycling will not send Junior (Under 19) National Teams to any 2021 UCI World Championships.  

In replacement of the Championships, athletes will participate in an Australian-based National Team Road Camp later in the year. The camp will also incorporate two competitions, including one of the 2021 AusCycling National Road Series.    

The athletes include 2021 road national champion Alyssa Polites (VIC), Lachlan Miller (QLD), Lucinda Stewart (VIC) and Dylan George (NSW), with Haylee Fuller (NSW), Isabelle Carnes (QLD), Aiden Sinclair (NSW), Zac Marriage (SA) and Tyler Tomkinson, (QLD) completing the selections.  

The athletes were selected by the AusCycling National Junior Selection Panel, which convened in April.  

Director of Performance Pathway for the Australian Cycling Team, Jesse Korf: 

“Part of the value of participating as an under 19 at the UCI Road World Championships is the opportunity to compete at an elevated level of competition.  

“While we are not able to contest the World Championships in 2021, we will provide a simulation of a higher level of competition for the athletes by having these under 19 riders contest events in the Under 23 AusCycling National Road Series in August. 

“Also, while it is exciting to announce the U19 selections and the camp, this forms part of a more extensive series of projects aimed towards the Wollongong 2022 Road World Championships on home soil.  

“While also forming part of a new approach where we will actively structure to combine track and road to enhance development and opportunity in both sports.” 

Athletes for 2021 Junior Road World Championships - AusCycling National Team Road Camp  

U19 WOMEN 

• Alyssa POLITES (VIC) 
• Haylee FULLER (NSW) 
• Isabelle CARNES (QLD) 
• Lucinda STEWART (VIC) 

​U19 MEN 

• Lachlan MILLER (QLD) 
• Dylan GEORGE (NSW) 
• Aiden SINCLAIR (NSW) 
• Zac MARRIAGE (SA) 
• Tyler TOMKINSON (QLD) 

AusCycling is pleased to confirm the 66 athletes who have been categorised as Emerging and Developing athletes in the disciplines of track endurance and track sprint for 2021-22.  

The categorisation is comprised of 32 Emerging (23 Endurance and 9 Sprint) and 34 Developing (25 Endurance and 9 Sprint) athletes from all state and territory institutes and academies of sport which form the cycling national High-Performance Network (HPN).   

The key objective of the HPN is to develop and prepare the athletes for a successful progression into the Australian Cycling Team's Podium Potential and Podium categories. About the Australian Cycling Team Pathway.      

Athlete Categorisation is used to identify, track, and prioritise athletes at each stage of the Performance Pathway and support the Australian Cycling Teams consistently winning medals at major international events.  

During the categorisation process, AusCycling compared performance progressions of athletes against the progressions of medal-winning athletes at World Championships and Olympic Games in the past ten years. 

This process is based on a national Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) framework called Athlete Categorisation, which provides sports with a method of assessing an athlete's performance trajectory to the elite podium.  

Athletes categorised as Emerging and Developing receive recognition by the AIS and receive support in their ongoing development in several formats, including access to state high-performance facilities, dedicated camps, and race support. 

Categorisation for Emerging and Developing athletes in BMX, MTB, Paralympic and Road will be announced later in 2021.  

Director of Performance Pathway for the Australian Cycling Team, Jesse Korf: 

"After undergoing the categorisation approach, it is very exciting to see that we have 66 athletes in our talent pool that are tracking towards highly aspirational outcomes of elite podiums at World Championships and Olympic Games.

"We wish to congratulate all that received categorisation. Having a thriving talent pool to underpin the elite National Team programs is a temperature gauge for the 
health of our sports and significant for the sustainability of our international performances in years to come." 

Emerging and Developing Athletes - Track Endurance, Track Sprint, Road Endurance   

Emerging
 

• Alexander Jones Endurance VIC 
• Alli Anderson Endurance NT 
• Aston Freeth Endurance SA 
• Ben Anderson Endurance NSW 
• Blake Agnoletto Endurance VIC 
• Claudia Marcks Endurance ACT 
• Dalton Stretton Endurance TAS 
• Deneaka Blinco Sprint QLD 
• Des’ree Barnes Sprint QLD 
• Dylan Eather Endurance NSW 
• Dylan Stanton Sprint SA 
• Ella Sibley Sprint SA 
• Emma Stevens Sprint QLD 
• Hamish McKenzie Endurance TAS 
• Haylee Fuller Endurance NSW 
• Isabelle Carnes Endurance QLD 
• Jack Menzies Endurance TAS 
• Jarrah Anderson Sprint ACT 
• John Carter Endurance WA 
• Keira Will Endurance NSW 
• Lauren Bates Endurance ACT 
• Leo Zimmermann Endurance SA 
• Lily Stratford Sprint ACT 
• Meg Marker Endurance SA 
• Noah Blannin Endurance QLD 
• Oscar Chamberlain Endurance ACT 
• Ryan Elliott Sprint QLD 
• Sarah Cliff Endurance NSW 
• Sophie Marr Endurance VIC 
• Tyler Puzicha Sprint NSW 
• Will Holmes Endurance SA 
• William Eaves Endurance TAS 

  
Developing 

• Alessia McCaig Sprint VIC 
• Alyssa Polites Endurance VIC 
• Amber Pate Endurance SA 
• Angus Miller Endurance SA 
• Ashlee Jones Endurance VIC 
• Bill Simpson Endurance VIC 
• Blake Quick Endurance QLD 
• Byron Davies Sprint QLD 
• Cameron Rogers Endurance ACT 
• Carlos Carisimo Sprint SA 
• Daniel Gandy Endurance NSW 
• Danny Barber Sprint NSW 
• Declan Trezise Endurance QLD 
• Devraj Grewal Endurance NSW 
• Emily Watts Endurance NSW 
• Francesca Sewell Endurance QLD 
• Georgia Whitehouse Endurance NSW 
• Henry Dietze Endurance VIC 
• John Trovas Sprint NSW 
• Jordan Villani Endurance VIC 
• Josie Talbot Endurance NSW 
• Kalinda Robinson Sprint NSW 
• Katarina Chung-Orr Endurance SA 
• Kurt Eather Endurance NSW 
• Liam Walsh Endurance QLD 
• Liliana McLennan Endurance QLD 
• Lucinda Stewart Endurance VIC 
• Maxwell Liebeknecht Sprint SA 
• Ned Pollard Sprint VIC 
• Oliver Bleddyn Endurance WA 
• Patrick Eddy Endurance VIC 
• Rohan Haydon-Smith Endurance NSW 
• Sam Gallagher Sprint VIC 
• Zac Marriage Endurance SA 

International Women’s Day is on March 8 and is a time to celebrate the extraordinary roles played, acts of courage and determination, and achievements by women across the world.

Across Australia, there are thousands of superwomen in the sport of cycling, from world-beating athletes, coaches, administrators, commissaires and local club legends who are the heartbeat of the cycling community.

For the first time, AusCycling has been united under one organisation for all the cycling disciplines and clubs, an organisation that will provide more opportunity for our women than ever, for equality, and for positive change.

Join Olympian and world champion Kate Bates as we celebrate International Women’s Day by chatting to seven of our amazing women in AusCycling.

Guests:

Marne Fechner: CEO of AusCycling - the first-ever female to run the sport of Cycling in Australia
Maeve Plouffe: Australian Cycling Team endurance cyclist - targeting Tokyo while studying a dual degree
Jessica McClelland: Vice President of the Hawthorn Cycling Club - is nurturing grassroots women’s participation
Lynne Munro: Australian Cycling Team Olympic Fast Track Program Coach championing for more female coaches
Natalya Diehm: BMX Freestyle trailblazer shining a light in a male-dominated discipline
Kimberly Conte: UCI Commissaire & World Tour Event Director, one of only a handful of female race directors worldwide
Rebecca McConnell: Aiming for a third Olympics, and has spent a decade on the world pro mountain biking tour
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#LetsRideTogether #IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge

Team Bike Exchange’s Sarah Roy, 34, stole the show on Sunday with a phenomenal victory in the women’s elite road race at the 2021 Federation University Road National Championships in Buninyong. 

Roy’s teammate Grace Brown secured a one-two for Australia’s Women’s WorldTour outfit Team Bike Exchange, with Trek Segafredo’s Lauretta Hanson completing the podium with bronze. 
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“I am feeling a sense of disbelief because I didn’t expect this today,” said Roy, who claimed the national criterium crown in Ballarat in 2014. “But I think that’s what makes it more exciting and makes you more emotional, I can’t believe it.” 

Beginning in near-freezing conditions, a field of 94 women set out on the 104.4km race, with the action warming up from the first of nine laps when Hanson attacked as the peloton hit the Mt Buninyong climb.  

Joining her was Roy, 2015 champion Peta Mullens (Roxsolt Liv SRAM), Matilda Raynolds (Specialized Women’s Racing), Kathryn McInerney, and Georgia Baker (Australian Cycling Team).  

The group opened a gap of nearly five minutes on the peloton before Roy attacked over the top of the climb at the midway point of the race.  

As the lead group splintered, Roy and Hanson moved to a lead of two minutes to the main chasing group, before Roy then shook clear of Hanson with three laps remaining and rode solo to a maiden road crown. 

“I still can’t believe it, I honestly didn’t expect this coming here today especially with the summer I’ve had, it just wasn’t a consideration for me at all to take the jersey,” said Roy, who will now wear the green and gold champion’s jersey in 2021.  

Despite the Team Bike Exchange car letting their rider know the title was hers inside the final kilometre, Roy never let up. 
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“You can never have confidence on this course, anything can happen. You can just get pipped on the line so it’s not one to ride around feeling like you’ve got it.  

“So, I never felt that way even when with one kilometre to go when my car came up and said ‘you’ve got it’. But with 200 metres to go, I’m still checking my shoulder just in case. I never thought I had it in the bag until I crossed that line,” Roy added. 

After winning the Australian criterium championships in 2014, Roy was signed by Orica-Greededge, now Team Bike Exchange. Despite collecting several wins on the women’s tour over the past few seasons, Roy had spent previous women’s road national championships in support roles to former winners such as Amanda Spratt.  

“People have just presumed this course doesn’t suit me, but I’ve always thought it can suit me,” Roy said. “But I’ve always had this quiet little self-belief with thiscourse that one day I want to crack it. 

“I didn’t think it was going to be today, but I took advantage of my team role and that was to be in the break. I pushed the breakaway out a bit further and it paid off.” 

Team Bike Exchange made it a gold and silver double after a brilliant supporting ride from Grace Brown who stayed in the peloton with Lucy Kennedy and marked the dangerous riders such as 2019 champion Sarah Gigante (Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank) and ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast young gun Ruby Roseman-Gannon.  

After a successful team effort to protect Roy’s lead, Brown dashed the podium as she outsprinted Lauretta Hanson, Emily Watts (KOM Financial Knights of Suburbia) and SASI’s Amber Pate in the battle for the podium.  

“It’s always awesome to be up on the podium with your teammate,” said Brown, the 2018 and 2020 bronze medalist. “I’ve come third here twice, so it’s nice to increase that too. Hopefully, one year I can actually be on the top step, but I’m pretty stoked for my teammates to have won this today.” 

Third-placed Lauretta Hanson (Trek-Segafredo) was surprised but ecstatic with her podium appearance.  

“This a really tough course. Buninyong is a challenging climb and I’m not necessarily known for my climbing,” Hanson said. “My tactic was to get ahead of the race, and my teammate Chloe Hosking and I both wanted to be aggressive and see what opportunities unfolded. 

“I’m really excited to get a medal today. It’s not something I expected from a race like this.” 

A superb effort from rising star Emily Watts saw her cross the line in fifth place to claim the under 23 national title.  
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“I feel pretty stoked because I’ve never felt like this before,” Watts explained. “As I crossed the line, I had no idea I had won the under 23s category, so when I notified of it, I was pretty shocked.” ​

An Olympic medallist, three-time world and seventeen-time national champion on the track, Annette Edmondson added a maiden road title to her resume after winning the elite women’s criterium at the 2021 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat.

As they have multiple times on the track in the team pursuit, Edmondson worked in unison with her Australian Cycling Team women’s track endurance teammates in Alex Manly, Georgia Baker and Ashlee Ankudinoff to seal the win.

“I really wanted to make this one work; I didn’t know if it might be my last opportunity,” Edmondson said. “So, I put my hand up to be the lead-out and luckily I had a really strong team in Ash Ankudinoff, Alex Manly and Georgia Baker who allowed me to just focus on myself at the back, relax as much as possible and trust they would control the bunch and luckily my legs were good enough at the finish.”

Edmondson was ahead of a crash which brought down several riders in the sprint to the finish, and after holding the wheel of Manly, an impeccably timed sprint to the line saw Edmondson take the win ahead of ARA’s Ruby Roseman-Gannon, with reigning champion Chloe Hosking (Trek Segafredo) rounding out a stunning podium.

“I didn’t see the crash as I was on second-wheel behind Alex but I looked back and there was quite a big gap so that meant there wasn’t going to be a big swarm at the finish line,” Edmondson explained. “We were able to stall it and wait as long as we could then Ruby kicked, and I had to go.”

The win even more special for Edmondson following a tough year which saw the cancellation of racing and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“It’s been a really tough twelve months so we’ve just tried to keep the head on as much as we can and keep pushing each week to week and train as if everything is going ahead,” said Edmondson. “I’m at the end now, I didn’t realise I was at the end until the Olympics got postponed and since then it’s just been really tough to try and motivate ourselves without any racing when that’s all we used to do.”

Maeve Plouffe was awarded gold in the under 23 classification after finishing fourth across the line behind the three elite podium placegetters, amazingly recovering from a crash early in the race. 

“It’s a really hectic race when we combine the elite women and the under-23 It adds a whole new dynamic to it because you’re potentially sprinting for fourth like it’s first which is what I was doing today,” said Plouffe.
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“I was a little bit shaken after that crash I’m not going to lie, especially around that bottom corner, but I’m super happy I didn’t give up in the last straight”

Women's Recap

Gigante claimed an incredible and fully deserved overall Santos Festival of Cycling Tour victory with the 20-year-old's GC lead never in any doubt during the final-stage criterium raced in 41-degree temperatures in Adelaide.

“What a perfect week it really was,’’ Gigante said after back-to-back-stage wins set her up to propel her atop of the podium during Santos Festival of Cycling. “I’m not the best crit (criterium) rider but I wanted to repay them (my teammates) back for all the work they have done all week.

Gigante was fifth in the opening stage before launching to a GC lead of more than two minutes following a dominant solo victory on Stage 2. 

Gigante again stole the show in Stage 3 with a second solo stage victory, more than one minute ahead of Lucy Kennedy. 

On the final stage of the, Gigante took on the role of domestique for the day, making way for Garmin Team Australia teammate Georgia Baker to take the win.

Lucy Kennedy was second overall on GC and Podium Potential Academy member Ruby Roseman-Gannon was third. 

WOMEN'S GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Sarah Gigante (AUS) 7h02:01
2. Lucy Kennedy (GEC) +3:12
3. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (ARA) +3:13

Team Garmin-Australia has joined with AusCycling in announcing a new partnership as they join the 120 strong peloton racing in the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling. 

Led by World Tour star and INEOS Grenadiers rider, Richie Porte, Team Garmin-Australia will be joined by EF Education-NIPPO's James Whelan and four time track world title holder, Sam Welsford, among others. 

“The quality of both the men’s and women’s teams is testament to the passion each of these riders have for racing and starting the 2021 season at the Santos Festival of Cycling,” said Stuart O’Grady, Men’s Race Director.   

“We’re really excited that Team Garmin-Australia have committed to racing at this year’s Santos Festival of Cycling and are looking forward to them bringing their experience and energy to the race.”

The six-member women’s outfit is highlighted by leader and triple world champion Annette Edmondson, with rising stars Maeve Plouffe, Georgia Baker and Trek Segafredo’s Lauretta Hanson.

“We are eager to showcase the quality of racing in Australia with both the men’s and women’s teams, but I’m particularly excited by the strength, skill and experience of the Women’s team,” said Kimberley Conte, Women’s Race Director.  

“To bring in this quality of athlete and some of our future cycling stars is legacy to the Santos Tour Down Under.”

Team Garmin-Australia will join the teams lining up for the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling with a field comprised of National Road Series, Continental and World Tour riders.

“The quality of teams and of the cyclists racing in this year’s event will really put Australian cycling on the map for passionate fans and cycling and sporting enthusiasts,” adds Event Manager, Ryan Healy.

“We are bringing some of the best WorldTour riders and of course the up-and-coming champions to race.  Fans will have the opportunity to watch great racing, but to also watch our future champions in the making.”

Team Garmin-Australia’s participation will offer the race a dynamic element that incorporates riders from the World Tour stage, Commonwealth and Olympic Games and World Champion excellence. The combination of athletic prowess within Team Garmin-Australia is certainly a nod to the multi-faceted nature of the 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling.


Team Garmin-Australia: 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling

MEN’S

• Richie Porte - AUS
• Sam Welsford - AUS
• Kelland O’Brien - AUS
• Leigh Howard - AUS
• Luke Plapp - AUS
• Alex Porter - AUS
• James Whelan - AUS

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WOMEN’S

• Maeve Plouffe - AUS
• Annette Edmonson - AUS
• Georgia Baker - AUS
• Ashlee Ankudinoff - AUS
• Sarah Gigante - AUS
• Lauretta Hanson – AUS
• Neve Bradbury - AUS

More at https://tourdownunder.com.au/2021-event 

AusCycling is pleased to confirm the athletes who will receive memberships to the Australian Cycling Team for 2021

Significantly, the 2021 memberships are the first to be announced under the banner of AusCycling. Formed in November 2020, AusCycling represents all cycling disciplines and riders throughout Australia from club, recreational and commuter riders through to the Australian Cycling Team.

Memberships to the Team are limited and are only provided to athletes who have achieved, or have the potential to achieve, success at the highest level with 65 athletes confirmed across the disciplines of BMX Freestyle (3), BMX Racing (4), Mountain Bike Cross Country (1), Para-cycling (15), Road (13), Track Sprint and Endurance (15), and Podium Potential Academy (14).

Athletes are categorised as Podium, Podium Ready and Podium Potential based on their current level of performance, and their future potential to achieve Podium Performances in Olympic events at major championships. Support for the athletes varies according to the discipline. About the Australian Cycling Team Pathway.
Memberships are reviewed annually following the pinnacle event for the year, which for 2020 was to be the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. With the COVID-19 Pandemic causing significant disruptions and cancellations to the 2020 sporting calendar, the pinnacle event for 2021 will be the rescheduled Tokyo Games.

The Podium Potential Academy, now into its third year of operation, will focus on the long-term development of Track Sprint and Endurance athletes and success at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2024 Olympic Games and beyond.

Also underpinning the Team is the national High-Performance Network of state institutes and academies which play a vital role in the athlete pathway by identifying and supporting a further crop of nearly 100 categorised Emerging and Developing athletes across Australia.

Simon Jones - Performance Director, Australian Cycling Team

"I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the selected athletes, as places in the Australian Cycling Team are limited and this often means making hard decisions. To the athletes not selected, we encourage you to keep pushing and be ready for opportunities as we do review the memberships annually."

"2020 showed us that we must take our opportunities when we can, to be agile, to be resilient, and that change is a certainty. While 2021 is likely to be very similar, we remain optimistic about the future."

"Looking ahead, 2022 will be very exciting as we will have a home Road World Championships in Wollongong and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Then in 2023, the first World Championships of cycling that integrates all disciplines of Para-cycling, BMX, Road, MTB and Track into a festival of cycling over two weeks."

About the Australian Cycling Team

The Australian Cycling Team (ACT) comprises athletes, coaches and performance support staff in Olympic and Paralympic cycling disciplines, underpinned by Australia's State and Territory High-Performance Network. Principal partners include the Australian Institute of Sport and Santini.

The ACT is part of AusCycling, the peak body for cycling in Australia. AusCycling is affiliated with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and partners with the Australian Olympic Committee; Commonwealth Games Australia and Paralympics Australia.

A full list of partners and supporters can be found here.

Athlete Memberships 2020/2021

BMX Racing - Agreement Period: 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2021                               
Lauren Reynolds            WA           Podium Ready 
Anthony Dean                 SA            Podium Ready 
Saya Sakakibara            NSW        Podium Ready 
Isaac Kennedy                QLD         Podium Potential 
                                   
BMX Freestyle - Agreement Period: 1 December 2020 - 30 November 2021                         
Logan Martin                 QLD         Podium 
Brandon Loupos             NSW        Podium 
Natalya Diehm               QLD         Podium Potential 
                                   
MTB Cross-country - Agreement Period: 1 January 2021 - 31 July 2021                          
Rebecca McConnell               ACT          Podium 
                                   
Para-cycling - Agreement Period:  1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021                         
Carol Cooke (Road)                      VIC           Podium 
Alistair Donohoe (Road/Track)     VIC           Podium 
David Nicholas (Track/Road)       QLD          Podium 
Stuart Tripp (Road)                       VIC           Podium Ready 
Amanda Reid (Track)                    NSW         Podium 
Hannah Macdougall (Road)           VIC           Podium 
Grant Allen (Road)                         SA            Podium Ready 
Paige Greco (Track/Road)             SA            Podium 
Darren Hicks (Road/Track)           SA            Podium 
Meg Lemon (Road/Track)             SA             Podium 
Emily Petricola (Track/Road)       VIC           Podium 
Emilie Miller (Road)                      NSW        Podium 
Gordon Allan (Track)                    NSW        Podium  
Stuart Jones (Road)                      NSW        Podium 
Kaitlyn Schurmann (Road)           VIC           Podium 
                                   
Women's Road - Agreement Period: 1 January - 31 December 2021                        
Amanda Spratt        NSW         Podium 
Brodie Chapman     VIC           Podium Ready 
Grace Brown           VIC           Podium Ready 
Sarah Roy               NSW         Podium Ready 
Chloe Hosking        ACT          Podium Ready 
Lucy Kennedy         QLD          Podium Ready 
Sarah Gigante        VIC           Podium Potential 
                                   
Men's Road - Agreement Period: 1 January - 31 December 2021                        
Rohan Dennis                  SA            Podium 
Michael Matthews          ACT          Podium 
Caleb Ewan                     NSW         Podium Ready 
Jack Haig                        VIC           Podium Ready 
Simon Clarke                  VIC           Podium Ready 
Richie Porte                    TAS          Podium Ready 
                                   
Women's Track Endurance - Agreement Period: 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2021                               
Ashlee Ankudinoff             NSW        Podium 
Georgia Baker                   TAS          Podium 
Annette Edmondson          SA            Podium 
Alexandra Manly               SA            Podium 
Maeve Plouffe                  SA            Podium 
                                   
Men's Track Endurance - Agreement Period: 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2021                               
Cameron Meyer              WA           Podium 
Kelland O'Brien               VIC           Podium 
Alexander Porter             SA            Podium 
Leigh Howard                  VIC           Podium 
Samuel Welsford             WA           Podium 
Lucas Plapp                    VIC           Podium 
                                   
Women's Track Sprint  - Agreement Period: 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2021                               
Kaarle McCulloch              NSW        Podium 
                                   
Men's Track Sprint - Agreement Period: 1 May 2020 - 30 April 2021                               
Matthew Glaetzer             SA            Podium 
Nathan Hart                      ACT          Podium 
Matthew Richardson        WA           Podium 
                                   
Podium Potential Academy  - Agreement Period: 1 December 2020 - 30 November 2021                         
Alexandra Martin-Wallace   QLD        Podium Potential  
Sophie Edwards                   SA           Podium Potential  
Ruby Roseman-Gannon      VIC          Podium Potential  
Lauren Perry                       TAS          Podium Potential  
Chloe Moran                       SA             Podium Potential  
Conor Leahy                       WA           Podium Potential  
Joshua Duffy                      TAS          Podium Potential  
Graeme Frislie                  VIC           Podium Potential  
James Moriarty                 QLD         Podium Potential  
Jensen Plowright              VIC          Podium Potential  
James Brister                   SA            Podium Potential  
Tom Cornish                    NSW         Podium Potential  
Leigh Hoffman                 SA            Podium Potential  
Kristina Clonan                QLD         Podium Potential  

The Australian Cycling Team is pleased to announce the appointment of Rory Sutherland to the new position of Elite Road Coordinator, a part-time role based in Europe.  

Sutherland announced his retirement from racing last month, bringing an end to a professional career which spanned nearly twenty years on the UCI World Tour.  

Riding for professional teams including Rabobank, UnitedHealthcare, Saxo-Bank, Movistar, UAE Team Emirates, and most recently Israel Start-Up Nation, Sutherland was one of the most valued domestiques in the peloton.  

Based in Europe, Sutherland will work closely with Australia’s professional riders, prioritising Australian Cycling Team Individual Athlete Performance Support (IAPS) members.  

Sutherland will co-ordinate and provide technical direction to IAPS members, and assist identified National Team Road athletes as they prepare for elite international competition; with a focus on winning at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games. 

The Elite Road Coordinator will provide a conduit between Australian professional riders, their key support, professional teams and management and performance support staff.  

The role will require a combination of leadership and implementation of support to deliver world-leading outcomes through effective performance planning, athlete development, and evidence-based technical Australian Cycling Team programs for both women’s and men’s road events. 

QUOTES 

Rory Sutherland, Elite Road Coordinator

I am immensely proud to be joining Australian Cycling Team as Elite Road Coordinator. My new role will allow me to give back to the sport and program that showed me so much support the past twenty years and I look forward to working with everyone as Australia continues to reach new heights in cycling.  

Simon Jones, Performance Director, Australian Cycling Team  
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With two decades of international experience, we believe Rory has a tremendous amount of knowledge and practical experience to bring to the team, and we are excited to be working with him. Rory’s focus in the short term will be to focus on maximising our medal chances for Tokyo and secondly contributing to our longer-term plans to sustain road success at major championships in the future. 

The Australian Cycling Team is seeking one or two contractor(s) to take on the role of Elite Road Co-Ordinator (Men’s and Women’s roles).

The successful applicant(s) will need to be based in Europe with the role to be on an interim basis for the period leading into the Tokyo Olympics.

These roles will provide a conduit between professional riders, their key support, professional teams and the Australian Cycling Team management and performance support staff in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics.

It is anticipated that these roles will require a maximum commitment of 1-2 day per week.

We are seeking people who are highly connected and respected within the men’s and women’s elite road racing environment, who will ensure regular communication channels are in place, and support implementation of actions to support our objectives.

Australia's Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) took seventh in the punishing men's road race at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Italy. 

Julian Alaphilippe (France) won gold and the rainbow jersey after launching a solo attach on the penultimate lap, with Wout Van Aert (Belgium) and Marc Hirschi (Switzerland) rounding out the podium.

​Matthews won the bunch sprint to take seventh, while Porte finished 25th. 

​"Really impressive ride by all of the boys, It was a super hard course and as a result, pretty much, there wasn't a whole lot of tactics and it was just a race of survival and attrition," said Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) ​ after contesting his tenth World Championship road race. "In terms of execution, I think the team rode great. We had quite a young group with maybe less experienced than normal, but everyone stepped up and did a super great job."

One hundred seventy-seven​ riders set out in the 258km race which took in nine 28-kilometre passes of a circuit located around the motorsport track in Imola. The race was set to be decided on the tough climbs of Mazzolano and the Cima Gallisterna which punctuated the 5000m of elevation.

Dual career road race medalist Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) and Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), fresh off his Tour de France podium celebration, would spearhead the Australian team.

Veterans Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) and Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott), plus Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb), Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott), Nicholas Schultz (Mitchelton-Scott) and debutant Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) would support the pair.

A group of seven broke away at the start, and after establishing a lead of five minutes over the next five laps, they were caught by a surging peloton.

Superb team roles from Nick Schultz, Damian Howson and veteran Simon Clarke - in his tenth World Championship men’s road race - delivered Matthews and Porte to the front group to contest the decisive final few laps. 

On the penultimate lap, recently crowned Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar launched a solo attack which splintered the peloton across the circuit.

As the peloton chased the Slovenian on the final lap, numbers favoured the French, Belgian and Italian teams and they reeled in Pogacar with 20 kilometres remaining.

The pace continued to lift, and with peloton exploding up the final climb, Porte lost touch with the front group.

The rainbow jersey move came inside the final ten kilometres when Alaphilippe went clear, with Mathews unable to join the chasing group of five riders in the hunt for the medals. 

​Matthews won the bunch sprint to take seventh, while Porte finished 25th. 

"We looked after our leaders knowing that that the key to the race today was delivering them to the final lap and as fresh as possible," said Clarke. "Bling (Mathews) and Richie (Porte) really committed in that going into that last lap and came pretty close to getting over that last climb and really delivering, going close to winning at least a medal. 

"Bling was kind of hoping for a little bit better considering he was so close to getting over the top for that last climb with the front guys. 

"But in hindsight, it was a super ride what he was able to achieve nonetheless, and all the other guys from Durbo and Chris Hamilton in Schultzy and Damo and Jai were all super key in helping to deliver those two guys into the last lap as fresh as possible.

"That was the reason they (Mathews and Porte) were able to go so well," added Clarke.

Lucy Kennedy was Australia’s best place finisher in 28th overall in a tough women’s road race at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy which was won by Dutch rider Anna Van Der Breggen. 

On the eve of the Championships, two-time road race medallist Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) was forced out after injuries sustained in a crash in the Giro Rosa earlier in the month.

Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon–SRAM) came in to replace Spratt and joined Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott), Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott), Shara Marche (nee Gillow) (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), Rachel Neylan (Cronos Casa Dorada Women Cycling) and Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-Scott). 

145 riders set out on the 143km race featured five laps of an undulating 28.km circuit with two punishing climbs and 2,800m of elevation. The climbs up Mazzolano (2.8km at an average of 5.9%, with 13% slopes at the bottom) and Cima Gallisterna (2.7km at 6.4% and a maximum of 14%) quickly splintered the peloton.

The race tempo lifted in the third lap, with a move from Grace Brown followed by a group of nine riders which established a gap of over two minutes. 

The challenging climbs splintered the peloton over the next few laps and on the penultimate lap, Van Der Breggen launched her winning attack. She rode the final 40km solo to win the rainbow jersey and become just the second woman to win both the time trial and road race in the same year. 

Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) outsprinted Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) to take the silver medal and Marianne Vos finished 4th (+2’01’’) to complete the Dutch domination. 

It was a superb effort from Roy and Cromwell who set the pace at the front of the main bunch during the race as they attempted to protect key riders Kennedy and Chapman up the climbs. 
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Kennedy finished in the main bunch, three minutes behind Van Der Breggen, with Chapman in 32nd and Neylan 51st. Roy finished 68th and Brown 91st. 

Full Results.

Lucy Kennedy

I'm content with my ride, being there still at the pointy end, but of course, left wanting more. This was my first time being a protected rider in a big one day race and I come away with mainly positive feelings about it.  I was really calm throughout the race thanks to all my teammates, Roy and Tiff in particular, who are exceptional in navigating the bunch. 

We were really cohesive as a team, often riding together and communicating well on a course that wasn't easy to do so. Brodie and I did our best to stay in the mix, but couldn't quite go with the pace up the second climb on each of the last two laps.

It was a very different approach to recent years and what we were expecting, with the late withdrawal of Spratty. Of course, we really missed her, but can be proud of how we conducted ourselves.

Sarah Roy

It’s so great that Imola managed to pull this event off! The race was tough. We knew it would be but it was a particularly challenging course with the fairly narrow fast roads with all the twists and turns and two very steep climbs - it was difficult to do all the things: eat, drink, position well, communicate and ride with your team mates but on the whole, we managed to tick off most of our process goals as a team. 

We definitely felt the absence of Spratty and I’m sad for her as this is a course well suited to her. I think for sure she would have been right in the mix again. 

Tiffany and I rode hard on the front to reduce the gap by about one minute and then we were out the back of the race with Brodie and Lucy in good position for those last two laps. They did really well to work together and stay with the first group but just lost touch near the end. Super tough day out but we did our best. 

Personally, I am satisfied with my ride for where I am at physically right now. I think I supported Lucy well as my person today, and It’s always really nice when you can do your job plus a little bit more. I’m really happy my dig on the front during lap four had an impact on the race and helped the team.

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Men’s Road Race 

The Men’s Road Race will be contested on Sunday and will feature 5,000m of total climbing across 258.2km.

• Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) 10th elite road race 
• Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) 7th elite road race 
• Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott) 5th elite road race 
• Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) 3rd elite road race
• Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb) 2nd elite road race
• Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott) 2nd elite road race 
• Nicholas Schultz (Mitchelton-Scott) 2nd elite road race
• Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb) Debut 

Watch Live

Sunday 27 September 
Men's Elite Road Race - 1750 AEST 
​SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30

Two-time defending champion Rohan Dennis (Ineos Grenadiers) finished fifth and Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott) fifteenth in the men’s time trial at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Italy on Friday. 

The world’s best set a fast pace over the 31.7-kilometre loop around the Imola Autodrome with four-time national champion Durbridge posting the second-fastest time of the day with his ride, despite the heavy wind and rain which battered the riders and the course early in the day. ​

Dennis, who claimed the crown in 2018 and 2019, was chasing a historic third consecutive crown and a place on the honour rolls next to Germany's Tony Martin (2011-12-13) and fellow Australian Michael Rogers (2003-04-05). 

The final rider to take to the course, Dennis was second fastest after 14.9km, twenty seconds behind his Ineos Grenadiers teammate Filippo Ganna who blitzed his home track with the fastest time of 35 minutes 54.10 seconds.

Dennis fought to the line, but would eventually finish 39-seconds behind Ganna who became the first Italian to claim a time trial Road World Championships. Dennis was quick to congratulate Ganna on his achievement.

The podium was completed by Belgium's Wout van Aert and Switzerland’s Stefan Küng.

The Championships continue with the road races on the weekend. 

2020 Australian Team 

Saturday 26 September - Women’s Road Race - Live on SBS from 2035 AEST 

• Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon–SRAM)
• Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope)
• Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Shara Marche (nee Gillow) (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope)
• Rachel Neylan (Cronos Casa Dorada Women Cycling) 
• Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-Scott)

Sunday 27 September - Men’s Road Race - Live on SBS from 1750 AEST

• Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling)
• Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb) 
• Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb)
• Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb)
• Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo)
• Nicholas Schultz (Mitchelton-Scott)

Watch Live

Saturday 26 September
Women's Elite Road Race - 2035 AEST 
SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30 

Sunday 27 September 
Men's Elite Road Race - 1750 AEST 
​SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam 

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• Facebook - @AustralianCyclingTeam
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Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott) produced a stunning ride to claim a top five finish in the time trial at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy. 

"There's always that little hope hidden away that you can like win even if though it's your first World Champs, I was realistically aiming for top 10, so I'm really happy with the results," said Brown, 28, in her debut World Championship time trial. "This is pretty epic. It's sort of the first time that I've really been able to step up on my own accord and ride for myself and show where I stand against the best girls in the world. 

"I always believed that I could be up there with them. But now I can show that with a result."

Brown launched from the start gate to cover the 31.7km course in a time of 41mins 21.3seconds, the fastest time of the day to put her in the hot seat. 

However, Anna van der Breggen (NED) would eclipse the Australian's time and claim the rainbow jersey in a winning time of 40mins 20secs, 15 seconds ahead of Marlen Reusser (Switzerland), with Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) a further 16 seconds behind. 

"I was just wanting to go out and ride my fastest race and not worry too much about everyone else," said Brown. "I only got the info that I was up once when Ellen van Dyk when I went through the final checkpoint. It was just a bit of a confidence boost going into the last five kilometres. 

"I had a time in mind that I came in under and I really wanted to push super hard in the first half because it was into a headwind. And I believe that that's where the race was won or lost, really. I think I managed to pace the race, to my strength and to the course."

Brown, a former runner, began her cycling journey in 2015 when, after multiple Cycling Australia National Road Series victories and fifth overall at the 2018 Tour Down Under, Brown was awarded 2018 Amy Gillett Foundation Scholarship. 

In 2018, Brown went on to make her Australian Team debut at the UCI Road World Championships and would contest a host of WorldTour events for Women's WorldTour pro team Mitchelton-Scott. In 2019, Brown claimed the Australian time trial title and a stage of the Santos Tour Down Under but was forced out of the 2019 World Championships due to injury.
 
"We're not here just to participate we're here to be the best and that's what we're trying to do," said Brown, who claimed dual medals at the 2020 Cycling Australia Road National Championships with time trial silver and road race bronze. 

"I think it's a common thing amongst elite athletes to have that belief that you can do something special otherwise we wouldn't be here at all. I think you've got to have that belief to push yourself." 

Brown will now take her place in Saturday's women's road race in an Australian team with Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon–SRAM), Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott), Shara Marche (nee Gillow) (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), Rachel Neylan (Cronos Casa Dorada Women Cycling) and Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-Scott). 

Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) was forced out after injuries sustained in a crash in the Giro Rosa.

"We've built up behind Spratty, and it always been the plan to read for her as our sole leader. So it's a bit of a shake-up to take her out of the equation. But, I think we can use all the strengths that we have amongst us to ride a really smart race. 

"Personally, I haven't had the chance to like, go out around the road course get with the other girls. But I'll be looking at that tomorrow. I'm sure Gene's got to get a good plan in store for us."​

SBS will broadcast the elite women's and men's time trial and elite women's and men's road races in the 2020 world road race championships from Imola race circuit in Italy.

Thursday 24 September
Women's Elite Time Trial - 2240 AEST 
SBS On Demand

Friday 25 September
Men's Elite Time Trial - 2225 AEST 
SBS On Demand

Saturday 26 September
Women's Elite Road Race - 2035 AEST 
SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30 

Sunday 27 September 
Men's Elite Road Race - 1750 AEST 
​SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30

The 2020 UCI Road World Championships will begin with the time trials in Imola with two-time defending champion Rohan Dennis (INEOS Grenadiers), Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott) and Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott) set to tackle the race against the clock.

Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott) is back on the team after missing the 2019 World Championships due to injury. 

"It's super exciting. Being back on the Australian team and being able to put on the green and gold uniform again. Last year, I didn't get to line up due to a crash that happened close to the event. So this year, it's really special to be back and I'm excited to race for Australia. 

"I've just come off nine days of racing at the Giro with Mitchelton-Scott. It was a bit of a roller coaster of a tour for us. We went in with high ambitions with our leaders, but unfortunately, they both had to abandon the race after a crash on stage seven. It was a super tough race. But I think it really put me in a good position in terms of my form. And I felt good throughout the whole race. I think for the World Championships, I should be in good shape. 

"It's a pretty awesome time to course and it suits me a lot. We've got quite a flat, flat start a few corners, but nothing too technical. And then in the last couple of cases, there's three nice little pinches towards the end and a little bit more technical, but I think it's going to be a fast race, and I've got high hopes for how I'm going to perform in this race."

Reigning national champion Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott) is a fan of the Imola course. 

"I really like it, it is really fast. Quite short, but it has a lot of different aspects. I think it will be a nice spectacle, with a few nice rides that roll along the back straight with the vineyards along the side. 
 
"I think it is a good course for myself, I'm liking it and looking forward to it."

Rohan Dennis (INEOS Grenadiers) is seeking a historic third straight crown. 

"The Worlds has been on my mind throughout the lockdown. Regardless of the category it is always a great honour to race with the rainbow jersey. Every time I wear it I race to win.

"I am in good shape. It is always very special to participate in the most important race of the year, but to get a chance to fight for a win for the third time in a row and join an exclusive group of champions who have achieved this feat will be fantastic” 

Start Times / Lists 

Time Trial - Women - Thursday 24 September - Start List 

• Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott) 15:28:00 Local / 23:28 AEST 

Time Trial - Men - Friday 25 September - Start List

• Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott) 14:55:30 Local / 22:55:30 AEST 
• Rohan Dennis (Ineos Grenadiers) 15:54:00 Local / 23:54:00 AEST 

 
Watch Live

SBS will broadcast the elite women's and men's time trial and elite women's and men's road races. 

• Thursday 24 September Women's Elite Time Trial - 2240 AEST  SBS On Demand
• Friday 25 September Men's Elite Time Trial - 2225 AEST  SBS On Demand
• Saturday 26 September Women's Elite Road Race - 2035 AEST  SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30 
• Sunday 27 September Men's Elite Road Race - 1750 AEST  SBS On Demand - switch to SBS VICELAND at 22:30

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam 

• australiancyclingteam.com
• Facebook - @AustralianCyclingTeam
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Cycling Australia can confirm two changes have been made to the Australian National Team for the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy from 24-27 September 2020. 

Lucas Hamilton (Mitchelton-Scott) and Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) have withdrawn from the team and will be replaced by Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb) and Nicholas Schultz (Mitchelton-Scott).
​
The 2020 World Championships format will include the elite categories only. The Championships’ challenging road race routes will see the men take on 5,000 metres of climbing on a 259.2km course, while the women will tackle 2,750 metres of climbing over their 144km course. The time trial course will feature a flat 32km circuit.

2020 Australian Team 

Women’s Road Race

• Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope)
• Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Shara Marche (nee Gillow) (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope)
• Rachel Neylan (Cronos Casa Dorada Women Cycling) 
• Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott)

Men’s Road Race

• Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling)
• Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Chris Hamilton (Team Sunweb) 
• Jai Hindley (Team Sunweb)
• Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb)
• Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo)
• Nick Schultz (Mitchelton-Scott)

Women’s Time Trial

• Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott)

Men’s Time Trial

• Rohan Dennis (Ineos Grenadiers)
• Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott)

More #AusCyclingTeam 

• Web australiancyclingteam.com
• Facebook @AustralianCyclingTeam
• Instagram @australiancyclingteam 
• Twitter @AusCyclingTeam

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and circumstances have made it even more important for us all to stay connected and be willing to support those around us.

Cycling Australia encourages all coaches, athletes and our cycling community to take time on Thursday 10 September to reflect on R U OK? Day and how we each make time in our relationships for asking R U OK? and remember, there is more to say after R U OK?

Australian Cycling Team staff and athletes will gather together on Thursday 10 September for a morning tea and walk two laps of the Adelaide Superdrome to highlight R U OK? Day and the importance of creating space for conversations.

#RUOKDay is on Thursday 10 September and is a reminder that a conversation could change a life. This year we are learning what to say after R U OK? so we can keep the conversation going when someone says “No, I’m not OK”. Resources are available at www.ruok.org.au

#RUOK is an important question but there’s more to say after R U OK? If someone says they’re not OK, make time to listen, encourage action and check-in. That conversation could change, or even save, their life.

You don’t have to be an expert to keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not OK. By knowing what to say you can help someone feel supported and access appropriate help long before they’re in crisis, which can make a really positive difference to their life

More on R U OK? 

People are also encouraged to learn what to say after R U OK? and download R U OK? resources from ruok.org.au for tips and ideas to help them share the message in their community.

Useful contacts for someone who is not OK - Encourage them to talk to a trusted health professional or call on these Australian crisis lines and professionals:
​

• Lifeline (24/7) 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au
• Suicide Call Back Service (24/7) 1300 659 467 suicidecallbackservice.org.au
• Beyond Blue (24/7) 1300 224 636 beyondblue.org.au
• Kids Helpline (24/7) 1800 55 1800 kidshelpline.com.au 

​The Australian Cycling team is participating in R U OK? Day with support from AIS; and the Podium Potential Academy is proudly supported by Commonwealth Games Australia.