Lucy Kennedy was Australia’s best place finisher 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 reeled in the leading group and 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 to take the silver medal and Marianne Vos finished 4th (+2’01’’) to complete the Dutch domination. 
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.
​
Kennedy finished in the main bunch, three minutes behind Van Der Breggen, with Chapman in 32nd and Neylan 51st. Roy, who did a mountain of work bringing an early break back, finished 68th.  

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.

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam 

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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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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 

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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
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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.

In response to the current global COVID-19 pandemic, Cycling Australia (CA) wish to make public its current position on its international competition activities. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) currently advises there is a ban on overseas travel from Australia. Australian citizens cannot leave Australia without an exemption from DFAT.

Our primary concern is the health of our athletes and staff. As such, CA will not be conducting any national team campaigns or projects outside of Australia before 1 January 2021 with the following possible exceptions: 

1. CA’s position may be reconsidered for activities in New Zealand in the event there is a government-endorsed Trans-Tasman travel bubble.
2. CA’s position may be reconsidered for the 2020 UCI Road World Championships, the 2020 UCI MTB World Championships, the 2020 MTB Marathon World Championships, 2020 season Mountain Bike World Cups and remaining 2020 season BMX World Cups. 

When considering its position in relation to the above events, CA will consider a range of factors including but not limited to the most up-to-date DFAT position, the current COVID-19 position of the host country, information from the UCI and Event Organisers, and the ability of CA to appropriately provide for the health and safety of the team and the community.

In respect of the 2020 UCI Road World Championships, CA will continue to monitor the situation. CA will only consider selecting and endorsing entries for Elite riders. Riders in these categories wishing to be considered will need to have been based in Europe for a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the date of the start of the competition in question. 

For the avoidance of doubt, CA will not enter any U19 (UCI Junior category) riders in any overseas events over which it has entry jurisdiction between now and 31 December 2020 (regardless of any potential exceptions listed above) and will not be selecting U23 riders for the 2020 UCI Road World Championships. 

Decisions in relation to mountain bike events will be reached in conjunction with MTBA. Decisions in relation to BMX events will be reached in conjunction with BMXA. 

​CA will continue to monitor the global situation and reserves the right to modify its approach to its activities as the situation develops over the next few months.

Below is an update on the nomination processes for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, plus a notice regarding no Australian Team selection for the 2020 UCI Junior Track World Championships in August, in Egypt. 

Olympic & Paralympic Nominations Update

Following the deferral of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games until 2021 and recent Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announcements, Cycling Australia (CA) can make the following updates with regards to nomination processes for the following teams after the suspension of the qualification periods as of 3 March 2020.

For Mountain Bike, BMX Freestyle and BMX Race (Supercross), the Olympic qualification periods for which should have ended on 11 May 2020, 27 May 2020 and 1 June 2020 respectively, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) replied favourably to the following propositions from the UCI:

• Mountain Bike Cross Country (XCO): The points awarded at two weekends of the UCI MTB XCO World Cup during the 2021 season will be added to those taken into account in the ranking of 3 March 2020. The weekends are still to be determined and will be communicated at a later date.
• BMX Freestyle: The points awarded at two weekends of the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup during the 2021 season will be added to those taken into account in the ranking of 3 March 2020. The weekends are still to be determined and will be communicated at a later date.
• BMX Race: The points awarded at two weekends of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup during the 2021 season and at the 2020 UCI BMX World Championships will be added to those taken into account in the ranking of 3 March 2020. The remaining UCI World Cup weekends are still to be determined and will be communicated at a later date.  CA will also await further updates from UCI as to the rescheduled dates for the 2020 UCI World Championships and the 2021 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup schedule.

With regards to Para-cycling and Road:  
​

• Para-cycling: The UCI Management Committee has approved a modified qualification system based on the principles applied for the Olympic qualification process mentioned above. This is awaiting approval from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The points gained in the UCI combined nations ranking up until 3 March 2020 will remain valid and will see the addition of points earned in the first two rounds of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup for the 2021 season. The weekends are still to be confirmed and will be announced at a later date.
• Road: Cycling Australia will add several races from the 2020 calendar to the Olympic nomination document but races in 2021 will be weighted with higher importance. The selection window will be frozen for the majority of the 2020 season and will resume before the 2020 UCI Road World Championships and will include events up until the end of April 2021.

“With specific regard to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) nomination process, we will continue with our approach to nominate athletes with medal-winning potential as a priority,” said Performance Director Simon Jones.

“These changes to the qualification window simply mean we have more time to get those nation quotas that will support our medal targets. With COVID-19 looking like it's under control in Australia, we will need to make the best of this situation and work towards 2021 goals.”

No Cycling Australia National Team Selection for 2020 UCI Junior Track World Championships

Due to the Australian Government’s international travel bans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CA will not be selecting a team to compete at the 2020 UCI Junior Track World Championships which are scheduled for 16 - 21 August 2020, in Egypt. 

“It is unfortunate that we have had to make this decision, but the health and safety of our athletes and staff team is paramount,” said Performance Director Simon Jones.
 
“As a high-performance network, we will continue to create domestic opportunities for developing athletes as we have done recently with the Under 19 Individual Time Trial camp and the High Performance Network (HPN) virtual camps in April.” 

Updates on the next camp will be communicated shortly.

Following a review of the Australian Cycling Team’s Performance Strategy and operations, Cycling Australia is undertaking an operational restructure of the Australian Cycling Team which will support its objectives for Tokyo 2021 while underpinning the athlete pathway and coach development through to 2024 and beyond. 

A review was scheduled to take place after the completion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, however, the review was brought forward to ensure a smooth transition to new operations ahead of the rescheduled Games in 2021 and a shortened performance cycle through to Paris 2024. 

This restructure does not represent a change of strategy, but rather a refinement of the way the current strategy is delivered. The objective of the restructure, which is primarily focused on the track and para programs, is to maximise performance by supporting and developing coaches to deliver and lead their programs with tighter performance support teams, meaning that communication, training, and preparation will be streamlined.

As a result of the changes detailed above, eleven roles will be restructured, resulting in seven staff members leaving the team, with a further four staff members being offered refocused roles. The Team will recruit a number of new roles including a Director of Coaching and Director of Performance Pathways. 

Steve Drake, CEO, Cycling Australia: “I would like to thank the departing staff members for their significant contributions to the Australian Cycling Team during their tenures. While we are very conscious of the timing of these decisions, the deferral of the Olympic and Paralympic Games necessitated these changes being made now and is in the best interests of the athletes and the broader performance team.”

Simon Jones, Performance Director, Australian Cycling Team: “With the delay of Tokyo 2020 and the interruption of normal performance activity due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we believe that it is in the best interests of the entire program to complete a review and to implement this restructure now. 

“The period post-Tokyo 2021 will see a condensed competition phase that includes the 2021 Road and Track Cycling World Championships, Paralympic and Olympic Nation / World Cups, followed shortly by Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 which is a major objective for the team.
 
“We believe these changes increase our chance of success in 2021 with more focussed and strategically aligned teams, and at the same time we will look closely at our pathway strategies over the coming months to ensure we have a surplus of talent creating upward pressure in the pathway to meet Cycling’s 2024 and 2028 medal potential.” ​

The Australian Cycling Team is pleased to announce the Athlete Memberships across all disciplines for 2020/21.

In all, 62 athletes will feature across the Para-cycling Track and Road (15), Track Sprint and Endurance (17), BMX Race and Freestyle (7), Road (13), and Podium Potential Academy (10) programs after being classified in the Podium, Podium Ready and Podium Potential categories. About the Australian Cycling Team Pathway. 

The Para-cycling (Track and Road) memberships include reigning Paralympic and world champions Carol Cooke and David Nicholas, plus Emily Petricola and Darren Hicks in a 15-athlete squad.  

The Track program is highlighted by Matthew Glaetzer, Stephanie Morton, Annette Edmondson and Samuel Welsford and welcomes three new members in Matthew Richardson (Sprint), Maeve Plouffe and Lucas Plapp (Endurance) who have progressed through the Podium Potential Academy^ pathway. 

In BMX, three athletes - Natalya Diehm (BMX Freestyle) and Lauren Reynolds and Izaac Kennedy (BMX Race) will receive Individual Athlete Performance Support (IAPS) memberships. The trio joins reigning world champion Brandon Loupos, 2017 world champion Logan Martin, plus Saya Sakakibara and Anthony Dean. 

Amanda Spratt, Chloe Hosking, Rohan Dennis and Michael Matthews headline the Road IAPS memberships, with five new athlete memberships to be provided to Brodie Chapman, Grace Brown, Sarah Gigante, Jay McCarthy and Lucas Hamilton.   

The Podium Potential Academy has inducted four new members in Leigh Hoffman (Sprint), Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Joshua Duffy (Endurance/Road), in addition to Kristina Clonan who will transition from the Podium Track Endurance to the Academy’s Sprint program. Caitlin Ward (Sprint) will receive transitional support as she exits the program.

The Para-cycling (Track and Road) will see six riders exit the program in Kieran Murphy, Brad Henderson (retirement), Michael Shippley, Darcy Thompson, plus Tandem pilots Lachlan Glasspool and Luke Zaccaria.  The latter four will transition to their respective High-Performance Network (HPN) state-based programs. 

Macey Stewart and Cameron Scott will exit the Podium Track Endurance program, while in Road, Rachel Neylan, Gracie Elvin, Shara Gillow, Nathan Haas, Luke Durbridge, and Richie Porte exited in December 2019.

Caroline Buchanan (BMX Race) has not been offered a new BMX IAPS membership, however, she will receive transitional support until August 2020. Kai Sakakibara (BMX Race) is receiving support as he continues recovery and rehabilitation following a racing accident in February.
  
“As we continue to prepare for the resumption of racing, and ultimately the Olympics and Paralympics in 2021, the confirmation of athlete memberships gives everyone a chance to continue to sharpen their focus on their preparation and individual progress and development,” said Simon Jones, Australian Cycling Team Performance Director. 

“I would like to thank those team members exiting the program for their commitment to their own personal development and to the Australian Cycling Team program as a whole. 

“Re-entry to the program for these athletes is possible. Sometimes, stepping back and taking time away from something can be a way to move forward if their ambition and desire remain.”

^ About the Podium Potential Academy - Launched in November 2018 with an inaugural class of thirteen athletes across both endurance and sprint disciplines, the PPA programme, which is supported and partly funded by Commonwealth Games Australia, focuses on the long term development of athletes orientated around success at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and through to the 2024 Olympic Games and beyond.
​
Australian Cycling Team Athlete Membership 2020/2021 - Full list (PDF)

FULGAZ BENEFITS TO CA MEMBERS

• FulGaz is offering all CA members a 20% discount off their subscription fee. 
• Extension of the 2-week trial to a 4 week trial for all CA Members

​Your promo code can be accessed at: cycling.org.au/nat/exclusive-member-discounts-offers

ABOUT FULGAZ

With hundreds of virtual videos filmed on bikes in up to 4k, FulGaz transports you to iconic rides from around the world. It works with just about any indoor trainer, adjusting video speed and resistance to match your effort.

So go ahead and push yourself on hills that mimic the real road riding experience. When you’re done, upload to Strava, TrainingPeaks or Today’s Plan.

FulGaz will feel exactly the same as riding outdoors if it’s set up correctly. Take a moment to set up your weight and trainer settings. Your legs will thank you!

The #AusCyclingTeam’s ‘30 from 30 Series’ featured current and former Australian Cycling Team athletes, coaches and staff showing us the different, creative and unique ways they are keeping healthy and active both physically and mentally, and staying connected while in isolation or lockdown across Australia and the world.  

Welcome to the Australian Cycling Team's 30 from 30! 

Across the month of April, a host of current Australian Cycling Team members, coaches and staff, plus former Australian Cycling Team athletes, will take you behind the scenes to show you some of the unique and different ways we are keeping healthy and active, keeping a routine and staying connected, and supporting our community by helping to inspire and motivate in your own endeavours at home.

Whether you’re in isolation in Australia or across the world.

Follow the #AusCyclingTeam at Facebook @AustralianCyclingTeam, Instagram @AustralianCyclingTeam and Twitter @AusCyclingTeam

As we reported on 18 March, one of our Adelaide-based staff members tested positive to COVID-19 on Monday 16 March. The team member is receiving the right medical support and is in good spirits in hospital and making progress. 

Government health authorities have undertaken tracking and tracing, as per their policies and processes. 

In addition to these measures, we have chosen to test six additional team members - comprising three athletes and three staff - this decision was a precautionary measure only. Five have since returned negative results. We expect to receive the remaining test result over the next 24-48 hours and will provide an update when this is received.

Following a review of this situation, we are confident that staff and athlete exposure to the infected staff member was extremely low primarily due to a pre-planned staff and athlete break from the Adelaide training environment for the period of 7-15 March.

In responding to this situation, Cycling Australia and the Australian Cycling Team have activated its Critical Incident Management Team. This team convenes daily to facilitate rapid decision making and leadership. 

Cycling Australia and the Australian Cycling Team have been proactive in implementing a range of measures aimed at reducing the potential impact of the infection over and above government public health recommendations and considerations.  

Further to this, we have been proactive in implementing evidence-based hygiene practices and education as far back as 2018, and more recently we stepped up and reinforced hygiene practice for travel and training prior to the 2020 season. We are confident that we have taken and continue to take prudent measures to maximise athlete and staff health.

Recent measures that have been taken to reduce infection risk and protect staff and athletes:

• Super-drome closures this week; 17-20 March
• Additional cleaning of the training environment and office spaces
• Social distancing measures such as reduced staff and athletes at the Super-drome, reduced working in closed spaces and reducing contact and face to face meetings, the closing of meeting spaces such as athlete lounge and kitchen areas will be implemented from 23 March
• Podium Potential Academy athletes have returned to their families and home states
• SASI Development athletes will train outdoors for the next four weeks, providing more space between people, and sessions in the venue 
• Continued vigilance on best practice hand hygiene and no handshaking

On the performance side, we have been proactive in short and medium-term planning with scenario and contingency planning for all high-performance competition and domestic racing and camps with a continuing priority focus on protecting the health of athletes and staff. 
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We are seeking to provide both a training purpose and appropriate objective setting but also being considerate of the broader global impact of this infection pandemic.  

Simon Jones, Performance Director, Cycling Australia

More: The most up to date information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can be found at the Australian Government Department of Health website with advice and information relating to high-performance environments found at the AIS webpage.

Over the next few months, the athletes and teams that will represent Australia in the five cycling disciplines - Road, Track, Mountain Bike, BMX Racing and BMX Freestyle - at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be announced. 

Below is a summary of the Olympic Qualification and Selection Timing situation as it currently stands.
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We understand this is ever-evolving and rapidly changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will await further updates from the AOC over the coming days and weeks. 

Table: Announcement Date, Events & Quota Places per cycling discipline

After lots of food and Netflix on the rest day, it was time for the Cadel Evans / Deakin University Great Ocean Road Race, the first Women’s World Tour race in the Southern Hemisphere. Geelong put on a good demonstration of typical Victorian weather going from scorching hot to freezing cold and windy.

The aim of the race was to protect Ruby as much as possible and the most crucial moments of the race was in the crosswinds and before the first climb. We were really happy with how well we rode as a team, staying together and positioning well, which was something we had been working on all summer.  

Unfortunately with about twenty kilometres to go there was a huge crash at the bottom of a descent (before the drag towards the final QOM) and Anya, Nicole and myself came down. Anya and I were lucky enough to get back up unscathed and finish the race. Nicole, unfortunately, crashed hard and was taken to hospital. Once again, just like Torquay, Ruby showed she’s one of the best, pulling off an incredible twelfth in her first race against the World Tour Professionals. 

Looking back on my week, it lived up to a lot of my expectations and I was pleasantly surprised with how I handled the hype of world tour racing. I was lucky enough to have some experienced girls around me and the incredible staff whose support I am very grateful to have. 

I’m keen to take what I’ve learnt to the Herald Sun Tour with ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast!

For each Summer of Cycling, Cycling Australia prepares endurance development racing teams for the Santos Tour Down Under, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR) including Race Torquay, and the Herald Sun Tour.  

The development opportunity for athletes within Australia's High Performance Network and National Road Series teams to contest UCI events within Australia.

One of the youngest to line up at the 2020 Santos Tour Down Under was Adelaide teenager Sophie Edwards who switched the green and gold of the Australian Cycling Team’s Podium Potential Academy^ to take her place on the Team UniSA-Australia outfit.

A Junior Track World Championship medallist in 2018, Edwards joined the Academy in the same year, with a blend of track and road in 2019 resulting in two elite World Cup appearances in Hong Kong and Glasgow, while also taking part in a winter road racing program in Belgium. 
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Sophie penned her thoughts on her week at the Santos Tour Down Under for us below.

Last week I was grateful to be given the opportunity to swap out the track bike and take part in the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under. It has been a dream of mine to race the TDU, as I’ve not only watched it eagerly every year as a child in my hometown, but I also rode the family ride when I was seven, assisted at presentations and cleaned bikes in a valet service. 

The Santos Women’s Tour consisted of three hilly stages, all well over 100km with upwards of 1500m climbing. These challenging stages were followed by a technical street-circuit criterium in the heart of Adelaide, which preceded the men’s Schwalbe Classic. ​

It all started in Hahndorf, a 115km stage with close to 1500m of climbing. The streets were decorated and there was a much larger crowd than I expected! It was a tough race, with the strong World Tour teams setting the tempo high up the climbs. 

It was awesome to see a daring attack by Australian Brodie Chapman almost pay off before she was caught in a super technical finishing circuit with the sprint won by another Australian, Chloe Hosking. It was a massive learning experience for me as I couldn’t just try and finish, I had to constantly be aware of where my team was and assist our GC rider as much as I could. 

Nine-time track world champion Cameron Meyer (Mitchelton-SCOTT) became the first Australian man to claim the Road National Championships trifecta after securing an emotional maiden road race crown in a stunning final lap attack at the 2020 Federation University Road National Championships in Buninyong on Sunday. 

Twelve years after finishing fourth as a 21-year-old in his first elite race, and just twelve months after leading the race inside the final few kilometres before being edged to the bronze medal, Meyer added the gruelling elite men’s road race to his dual time trial (2010, 2011) and criterium (2013) crowns.

“I have no words to describe this. It means so much to me, there is a lot of emotion on this day, there is a lot of history in it for me. Twelve years ago at 21, I fell in love with this race,” said Meyer.

​>>> Full Recap

Team Pursuit world record holder and dual reigning track world champion Sam Welsford claimed his first elite road medal along with his maiden national road title when he took out the criterium held in wet and windy conditions in Ballarat. 
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“I am over the moon. This has been in the back of my mind to try to win this race. Last year I missed the mark a little bit so it's great to come back this year and take the win,” said Welsford.

>>> Full Recap

Rally Cycling's Chloe Hosking took the victory in a thrilling sprint to the finish to claim her maiden elite national title. 

2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Hosking edged Brunswick’s young star Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Mitchelton Scott’s Gracie Elvin who rounded out the podium.

“This is my first elite national jersey, despite being around forever, so it is nice,” said Hosking. “It was important for me this year as I am going to America to race with an American team and we do a lot of criteriums. I really wanted to take the green and gold crit jersey with me and I have done that so I am really excited. 

​>>>> Full Recap

Podium Potential Academy's Luke Plapp (Inform TM Insight MAKE) took out a convincing win over team pursuit world record holder Kelland O’Brien by fourteen seconds in the time trial.

“It’s pretty amazing, it’s been a year since I’ve been in the {world championship] jersey, it was such a quality field here today, I was riding with one of my idols Kell [O’Brien].”

>>> Full Recap

Photos by Cycling Australia - Con Chronis/Zac Williams

QUOTES

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

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

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

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

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

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

n atrocious conditions that felled the greatest cyclists in the world, Australia's Michael Matthews finished a gallant 24th in the 2019 UCI Road World Championships men's road race in Yorkshire.

‪"It was horrendous, not too many words can describe the day," said Matthews, the 2015 silver and 2017 World Championship bronze medallist who was just one of 45 finishers from 196 starters.

"It was one of those ones that winds you down. I tried to accelerate at the end, but I had nothing.

"In terms of conditions, that was the hardest race I've ever done."

The north of England saved the worst for last with the men's elite race set to live on in history as the definitive example of a “race of attrition".

Heavy rain during the night across the region forced Yorkshire 2019 organisers and the UCI to divert the 280km race away from the flooded northern section of the course.

With the diversion eliminating two key climbs in Buttertubs and Grinton Moor, while seeing an increase in the laps of the technical 14 kilometre Harrogate finishing circuit from seven to nine, pre-race team plans were changed in an instant.

An early breakaway of eleven riders was established inside the first twenty kilometres of the revised 261km battle, with the Australians controlling the pace of the peloton through dual reigning time trial world champion Rohan Dennis.

With team captain Rory Sutherland (UAE-Team Emirates) calling the shots while the entire team surrounded Matthews in an attempt to protect him from the atrocious weather, Dennis drove the pace of the peloton through horizontal rain for the next 120 kilometres.

Dennis' superb efforts reduced the breakaway's margin from two and half minutes down to ninety seconds as the race approached the Harrogate circuit. As they hit the first lap of the circuit, Dennis and Sutherland hung up their bikes for the day after a perfectly delivered team performance.

The race was quickly brought back together on the first lap and the urgent pace setting during the early Harrogate circuit laps saw riders shed from the peloton seemingly at every kilometre.. Riders who ended their race in this phase included Australians Mitchell Docker (EF Education First), Nathan Haas (Team Katusha Alpecin) and Luke Durbridge (Mitchelton-Scott).

Simon Clarke's (EF Education First) efforts came to an end on the third last lap, with Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) the team's only remaining support rider for Matthews until he lost contact on the penultimate lap.

One of the many race favourites Mathieu van der Poel (NED) attacked with two laps to go alongside Matteo Trentin (ITA), Gianni Moscon (Italy), Mads Pedersen (NED), and Stefan Kung (SUI) and while this group appeared cohesive and capable, the main bunch began to fade.

Teams that needed to chase were fast running out of bullets, while mechanicals, exhaustion, hunger flats, hypothermia and old fashioned "getting dropped" had relentlessly whittled the riders from nearly 200 to well below 50.

Despite the lead group being just a tantalising 50 seconds up the road, the bunch struggled to get themselves coordinated, and with Trentin unable to muster a winning sprint, it was the 23-year-old Danish rider Pedersen who held his nerve and watts to take the win from Trentin and Kung.

‪"I knew it was always going to be difficult, a bit of a gamble of a race," Matthews added. "With four laps to go, when a group of five went, we didn't have any guys to go with it.

"I was trying to wait for the last two laps until I moved, but they didn't come back.

"I was wound down too much, the guys were gone, I think there was a sprint for fourth of fifth, but the race was over.

Team Director Brad McGee was proud of the team's overall campaign for the World Championships and in particular their performance on what was the most testing of days.

"One of the toughest! You saw some of the mightiest bike riders on the planet today just stopping suddenly; going from a potential performer to zero," McGee said. "Michael, gallant to the end, but just legless in the last half lap. It happened to Clarkey too; all the boys finished as if it was the hardest race they have ever done.

"I don't know how you prepare for a day like today, physically you can't do anything, mentally you have your strategy, and you are confident with that. At the end of the day, there is an element of being born and made for the mud.

"We didn't have that today. But we gave it everything we could, we stuck to the strategy, stuck together, fought until the end.

"They made the perfect adjustments according to how the race unfolded. In the end, we just didn't have the firepower to make an impact," McGee added.

PHOTOS 

By Casey Gibson

The Australian women's team is preparing for a sufferfest in Yorkshire when they tackle the 150km women's road race at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships on Saturday 28 September.  

Beginning in Bradford, riders will take in the Yorkshire Dales for 108km of testing terrain before hitting the tricky, technical Harrogate finishing circuit for three laps. Race & Course details.

The third longest race on the women's calendar for the season with almost 2,500m of climbing including an uphill run to the finish line, the women's peloton believes there will be nowhere to hide in Saturday's race. 

“I think it still just as hard as I remember, we died a thousand deaths up the the Lofthouse Climb on Wednesday in training," Spratt joked. "But that climb will be really critical  I comes early so it will be interesting to see how that affects the race as a whole.

“I think it will be on, just be a sufferfest, it’s going to be how much can you suffer on Saturday."

Spratt, the 2018 silver medallist, enters the race in stellar form and will be supported by a strong green and gold outfit of Brodie Chapman (Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank), Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon–SRAM), Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott), Lauren Kitchen (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Chloe Hosking (Ale-Cipollini) and Jessica Allen (Mitchelton-Scott). 

“The preparation has gone really well, I am fit, I am strong, targeting this again," Spratt said. "I am excited, I think we have a great Australian team, a lot of depth and experience.

"I think everyone on the team will contribute to a great result and I am really looking forward to it."

Kennedy who was a standout while on her debut at the 2018 World Championships, is nervously excited for the unknown.

“I am preparing for the hardest race I have ever done basically, there are no easy sections on this course whatsoever," said Kennedy who has enjoyed multiple wins in 2019 including Kennedy at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and the San Sabastian Classic. “Watching the junior boys on Thursday, they were all on their knees.

“I am less nervous because I have done it once before, but more nervous because the 2018 course suited me better.

"It is a tricky and technical course, and I like that aspect, but there is the unknown of this course."

"It is going to be brutal, super aggressive and hopefully great to watch," said Hosking, who heads into the Championships in hot form after claiming stage wins in Italy and Spain this month. 

Team captain Tiffany Cromwell is predicting the mental challenge will prove the decisive factor on Saturday.

"It is definitely tough, we all knew that, we all expected that," Cromwell said. "It is going to be a race of attrition, a real mental race.  The person who wins on Saturday will be the strongest mentally."