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TRACK | Madison gold & bronze; Edmondson claims dual medals in Glasgow

11/11/2019

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Picture
Photo - Argon18
Madison gold to Annette Edmondson and Georgia Baker, Madison bronze to Sam Welsford and Leigh Howard, and omnium bronze to Edmondson highlighted round two of the 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow
Edmondson and Baker dominated the 120-lap Madison from the outset, winning five of the first eight sprints held every ten laps, while figuring in two others, to set up a commanding lead. 

Despite a crash by Baker inside the final 15 laps, the pair kept calm and rode away with the win on 40 points ahead of Great Britain (31pts) and the Netherlands (19pts).

"The Australian women's endurance squad has been focusing on the Madison in particular over the last couple of months.

"So this result means a lot not just to us, but the entire squad back home who have been helping us prepare for this track season," said Edmondson. 


"Going into the race, we were focused on getting the little things right, wanted to make it simple, focus on the process and hope the result came.

"We are so happy to take the gold medal, and it shows all the hard work back home in Adelaide is working," said Baker.

Australia's focus now turns to the World Cup's fourth round in New Zealand from December 6-8, followed by the 
2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup on home soil at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome from December 13-15.
"We head back home tomorrow, and then the New Zealand and Brisbane World Cups become our goals. There are not many more opportunities to race and practice, so to know what we are doing is working is great for the confidence," added Edmondson.  

Edmondson celebrated twice on the podium at the World Cup after claiming bronze in the four-event Omnium final. The 2015 omnium world champion finished on 111 points, just ten behind dual reigning world champion Kirsten Wild (NED). 

"Each race was close together, and it all came down to a hard points race and the final sprint to get ono the podium," said Edmondson, who finished sixth, third and fourth in the scratch, tempo and elimination races before grabbing a medal with third in the points race.

​"I'
m satisfied with that performance, and we came here to try to be consistent with all the races and to make improvements on what we learned at Worlds. There were movements made forward with that regard, but still plenty of room for more improvements."
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Glasgow World Cup done and dusted for another year. Had a blast racing with @australiancyclingteam and enjoying new experiences with a great bunch. Came away with a bronze medal in the Madison with @samwelsford and 5th in the Scratch race to top off a nice first race back into the international scene. Look forward to getting back with my @aussietpboys this week and working towards our next targets in Cambridge and Brisbane now!

A post shared by Leigh Howard (@leighhoward1) on Nov 10, 2019 at 5:06pm PST

Reigning team pursuit world champion Sam Welsford and three-time Madison world champion Leigh Howard won bronze in the men's Madison. 

In a frantic race, the Australian duo were one of three teams with winners France and silver medalists Great Britain to take three laps in the 200-lap race. It was a gallant effort by the pair to find the podium after a crash by Howard with sixty laps to go, put pressure on the pairing as the race lifted in intensity over the final fifty laps. 

"We went into the race with a reasonably tight plan, and we executed it very close to what we envisaged," said Howard. "But the crash put us both under the pump, and in the end, the French pairing was too strong.

"We managed to hold third place, so not too shabby, but without the crash, I think we could have shaken things up a bit more in the last 50 laps, but that's bike racing!".
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Glasgow UCI Track World Cup done and dusted. Another couple TPs under the belt and more experience gained. Thanks @australiancyclingteam crew for the ripper week! □ @iamtrackcycling • #trackcycling #velodrome #glasgow #findyour30

A post shared by Conor Leahy (@_conor_leahy_) on Nov 10, 2019 at 1:00pm PST

Welsford finished seventh in the omnium, while Howard donned his rainbow jersey to lead a young team pursuit quartet comprised of Podium Potential Academy duo Conor Leahy and Godfrey Slattery, and guest rider Joshua Duffy to seventh. Howard also finished fifth in the scratch race. 

Baker finished seventh in the scratch race, while she also teamed with Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart plus Podium Potential Academy member Alexandra Martin-Wallace to finish sixth in the team pursuit. 

The Podium Potential Academy represented Australia in the sprint competition with Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish and Tom Clarke finishing eighth in the team event. Clarke was ninth in the keirin, while Richardson was eleventh in the sprint.

​
Caitlin Ward won her keirin heat, before going on to win the 7-12 final to finish seventh overall.

The Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy (PPA) Endurance riders raced in support of the Sport Australia #findyour30 campaign.
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TRACK | World champions & rising stars ready for Glasgow

6/11/2019

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Picture
Kristina Clonan - Credit @avikaa
A mix of world champions and rising stars make up the Australian Team set to contest round two of the 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow from 8-10 November.

Reigning team pursuit world champion Sam Welsford will leave the pursuit bars back in Australia as he targets the bunch races in Scotland. Welsford will race the omnium and the Madison with three-time Madison world champion Leigh Howard at the Glasgow World Cup, his first trip back to the track since racing as part of the Australian Junior Team in 2013.

“Really keen to go back to Glasgow and give it a big crack, I have a busy schedule, and a bunch race focus,” said Welsford, who is looking forward to racing with Howard in the Madison. “Leigh has won countless World Championship and World Cup Madison events so to be able to draw on experience from him, I am really looking forward to that.

Howard will sport his rainbow jersey when he leads a youthful team pursuit quartet which includes Podium Potential Academy duo Conor Leahy and Godfrey Slattery, plus guest rider Joshua Duffy.

“I’m super excited, the knowledge you gain from these World Cup experiences can’t be compared to anything else,” offered Slattery, who with, Leahy, Duffy and Lucas Plapp teamed to win Oceania Championships team pursuit gold in October. “I’m really excited to be lining up alongside world champion Leah Howard in the team pursuit and I feel like we’ll learn quite a bit from his experience.”

Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart will join Podium Potential Academy members Alexandra Martin-Wallace and Sophie Edwards in the team pursuit.

One year ago, Clonan and Stewart teamed with veterans Ashlee Ankudinoff and Georgia Baker to win team pursuit gold in the 2018-19 World Cup's opening round in France. At what will be Team Australia's opening World Cup for season 2019-20, Clonan is excited to offer her knowledge to two of Australia’s rising stars.

“It is amazing to think last year I was racing with Ash and Georgia at the World Cup in France and I was the young one. Now, Macey (Stewart) and I have Alexandra Martin-Wallace and Sophie Edwards,” said Clonan, now 21, who lauded the depth of the team’s program. “It is super exciting ahead of Glasgow, as we have been training really hard and super excited to see what we can do.

"But, with the inclusion of the Podium Potential Academy, we have huge prospects for 2020, 2024, 2028. We have plenty of cycles ahead, that’s for sure."

Martin-Wallace is eager to contest her second-career World Cup after racing the final round of last season in January.

“I’m really looking forward to it, it’s been a really big year building up to it, we’re coming together so well as a team, so I’m really excited,” said Martin-Wallace.

In the other women’s endurance events, 2015 omnium world champion Annette Edmondson will tackle the four-event omnium in addition to teaming with Georgia Baker in the Madison.

It will be an all Podium Potential Academy line up in the sprint competition with Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish, Tom Clarke and Caitlin Ward set to race.

The Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy (PPA) Endurance riders will race in support of the Sport Australia #findyour30 campaign.

Following the Scottish round, members of the Australian Team will contest the World Cup's second round in New Zealand from December 6-8.
​
Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome will host round five the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from 13-15 December. ​

Team Australia for 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow from 8-10 November

Sprint
  • Matthew Richardson
  • Tom Cornish
  • Tom Clarke
  • Caitlin Ward

Endurance
  • Annette Edmondson
  • Georgia Baker
  • Kristina Clonan
  • Macey Stewart
  • Sophie Edwards
  • Alexandra Martin-Wallace
  • Sam Welsford
  • Leigh Howard
  • Conor Leahy
  • Godfrey Slattery
  • Joshua Duffy​​

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  • tissottiming.com/Results
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TRACK | TEAM AUSTRALIA for 2019-20 World Cup in Glasgow

1/11/2019

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Picture
Welsford in action at during the 2018/19 World Cup - Photo Guy Swarbrick.
Cycling Australia is pleased to confirm the riders that will contest the 2019-20 Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow from 8-10 November. 
 
The team for the second round of World Cup is highlighted by reigning team pursuit world champions Sam Welsford, Leigh Howard, Annette Edmondson and Georgia Baker. 

In Glasgow, Welsford will race the omnium and the Madison with three-time Madison world champion Howard. 

Howard will lead a youthful team pursuit outfit which includes Podium Potential Academy duo Conor Leahy and Godfrey Slattery, plus guest rider Joshua Duffy.

Edmondson will line up in the omnium and team with Baker in the Madison, while Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart will join Podium Potential Academy members Alexandra Martin-Wallace and Sophie Edwards in the team pursuit.

It will be an all Podium Potential Academy line up in the sprint competition with Matthew Richardson, Tom Cornish, Tom Clarke and Caitlin Ward set to race. 

The Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy (PPA) Endurance riders will race in support of the Sport Australia #findyour30 campaign.  

Following the Scottish round, members of the Australian Team will contest the World Cup's second round in New Zealand from December 6-8.
​
Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome will host round five the 2019-2020 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup from 13-15 December. ​
Team Australia 

Sprint
  • Matthew Richardson
  • Tom Cornish
  • Tom Clarke 
  • Caitlin Ward  

Endurance 
  • Annette Edmondson
  • Georgia Baker
  • Kristina Clonan
  • Macey Stewart
  • Sophie Edwards
  • Alexandra Martin-Wallace
  • Sam Welsford 
  • Leigh Howard
  • Conor Leahy 
  • Godfrey Slattery 
  • Joshua Duffy​
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TRACK | Australian Team opens 2019-20 season

22/10/2019

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Picture
Photo - Dianne Manson
The Australian Team opened the 2020 track season last weekend at the 2020 Oceania Track Championships in Invercargill in New Zealand. 

The Oceania Championships opened the busy 2019-20 summer of international track cycling which continues in November and December with the six-round Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup. 

Members of the Australian Team will contest the World Cup's second round in Scotland, round four in New Zealand, before a blockbuster round five on home soil at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome from 13-15 December. 

"Overall these performances were good for the riders and coaches to assess how the preparation has been progressing," said Simon Jones, Performance Director, High Performance, Cycling Australia. "It is also pleasing from my perspective to see the progress from both the Podium and the Academy athletes with the World Cup season just about to start." 

Oceania Recap

Reigning scratch and team pursuit world champion Sam Welsford claimed dual gold the omnium and the Madison with Kelland O'Brien. Welsford dominated all four events in the omnium, before sealing Madison gold with victory on the double points final lap.

"The Australia and New Zealand showdown is always really intimate and personal, they throw it all at us, so they were really tough races," said Welsford. "Coming into Oceania, I had a bunch focus, targeting a couple of events like the Omnium and Madison, so to execute and nail some good results, is important for me."

Welsford will now turn his focus to a busy 2019-2020 UCI Track World Cup season in which he will contest three rounds - Scotland (November), New Zealand (December), Brisbane (December).  

"To get back on the track and set up a good season ahead is pretty vital for me," Welsford added. "I have a big World Cup season ahead, there will be a lot of racing, but I am looking forward to getting more and more accustomed to racing the World Cup races in the Madison and the omnium." 

O'Brien took silver in the 15km scratch race. 

In a dominant performance across the bunch races, Amy Cure claimed three gold at the Championships in the omnium, points race and Madison with Alexandra Manly. The three-time world champion Cure was all class on the way to winning all four events in the omnium, while in the Madison, Cure and Manly dominated the 30km final.

"I wasn't sure how I was going to go here as I've been a bit up and down lately, but I set myself up early by getting some wins, and I had a good buffer going into that points race," said Cure. "I don't mind a points race, it's always tough, but I just went in there and treated it like any other points race."

Reigning team sprint world champions Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch broke their Oceania Championship record (32.591secs) en route to gold. 
Morton then powered to gold in the sprint while Kaarle McCulloch, who posted a personal best to top sprint qualifying (10.759secs), won bronze. 

“I exceeded my expectations of where I was going to be at. I am not firing on all cylinders yet, but am ahead of where I thought I was going to be," said Morton after the Championships, her first competition since February's Track Worlds and since undergoing off-season knee surgery.  

“I haven’t raced the team sprint in a while and off the back of the surgery, I knew I didn’t have the strength and fitness traditionally I would have at Oceanias. Kaarle was great in giving me confidence in our ability as a team and it just showed that being able to work together and rely on your teammate, you will get the job done even when you’re not in the best form.”

Morton will now head back to Adelaide for six weeks of training before contesting the New Zealand (December) and Brisbane (December) rounds of the World Cup. 
“I am going to be training pretty hard leading into the World Cups as my offseason was pretty interrupted, but as per this week, I will be confident I will be able to go out there and still be competitive.

“But it is a great time to rehearse everything now, there are so many things behind the scenes that you have to get right to be a champion, whether it is nutrition or recovery, it is not just race day.” 

Nathan Hart, and Podium Potential Academy duo Matthew Richardson and Thomas Clarke, took silver in the team sprint (43.360secs) with New Zealand breaking the Oceania record (42.508) on the way to the gold medal. 
 
The Australian Cycling Team's Podium Potential Academy enjoyed strong results at the Championships with gold in the team pursuit, scratch race and individual pursuit.  
Conor Leahy, Godfrey Slattery, Lucas Plapp teamed with guest rider Joshua Duffy, to produce a dominant display to take gold in the team pursuit, catching a young New Zealand team in the final. 

"It was awesome, we had a pretty hefty goal in the way we were going to do our turns, and we stuck to it 100 percent, we couldn't have asked for a better outcome," Leahy said. "We took it conservatively in qualifying and then let it all out in the final. Once we got a sniff of them (New Zealand), it was a matter of hunting them down and catching them. 

In the women's team pursuit, Maeve Plouffe, Sam De Riter, Sophie Edwards and Alexandra Martin-Wallace (4:22.057) claimed silver. 

Plouffe's comeback following wrist surgery in July saw her grab four medals at the Championships including silver in the individual pursuit, bronze in the points race, plus a superb effort in the scratch race which saw her lap the field twice to win gold. 

"I was not expecting that at all. I had a pretty big ride with my teammates in the team pursuit earlier, and I have a pretty full schedule," said Plouffe. "Once I lapped the field, it was all about protecting myself and making sure the final sprint was perfect, and the end couldn't have gone any more perfectly."

Top qualifier Leahy took out the 4000m individual pursuit, with the Western Australian fending off New Zealand's former world champion Jordan Kerby in the final.
​
"I always tend to back up pretty hard, so I had good confidence that I could put it to Kerbs - he's a renowned IP, so I knew I had a good challenge ahead of me, but I just went out hard and tried to stick to as good a time as possible."

In the sprint, Matthew Richardson (9.797) clocked a personal best in qualifying, while Thomas Clarke (9.896) finished just off the podium in fourth.
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TRACK | Dual Madison gold & Morton sprint victory cap Oceania Champs

20/10/2019

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Picture
Cure & Manly celebrate | Photo - Dianne Manson
The Australian Team wrapped up the Oceania Champs in Invercargill on the weekend with five gold medals highlighting the team's results:

  • Madison - Amy Cure & Alexandra Manly - Gold
  • Madison - Sam Welsford & Kell O'Brien - Gold
  • Points Race - Amy Cure - Gold
  • Sprint - Steph Morton - Gold
  • Sprint - Kaarle McCulloch - Bronze
  • Individual Pursuit - Conor Leahy - Gold
  • Individual Pursuit - Maeve Plouffe - Silver
  • Points Race - Maeve Plouffe - Bronze

WATCH Session 8 

Stephanie Morton powered to gold in the women's sprint over hometown favourite Olivia Podmore. 

"Off the back of knee surgery backing up is pretty tough so I just wanted to go out there and get the set up right and then whatever happened at the end happened, so to get the win. I'm really happy."

Kaarle McCulloch, who rode a personal best to top qualifying in 10.759secs, won bronze.
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â–¡â–¡ Oceania Sprint Champion â–¡â–¡ @australiancyclingteam @scienceinsport @kask_cycling @santini_cycling @argon18bike @bontcycling â–¡ @diannemanson

A post shared by Stephanie Morton (@stephmorton28) on Oct 19, 2019 at 1:52pm PDT

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Finished up a successful campaign at the @oceaniacycling championships yesterday. Highlight was the â–¡ with my girl @stephmorton28 in the TS which was my 20th Oceania title and a sneaky unexpected PB in the F200! Great battle as always with the New Zealanders and great to see a lot of depth coming through, nice work to all the girls! Pictured having a chat with @shaane.fulton â–¡ : @diannemanson @cyclingaustralia @nswinstituteofsport @argon18bike @santini_australia

A post shared by Kaarle McCulloch (@kaarlemcculloch) on Oct 19, 2019 at 11:27am PDT

In the Madisons, Amy Cure and Alexandra Manly dominated the elite women's 30km final ahead of the New Zealand combination of Michaela Drummond and Jessie Hodges.

Kelland O'Brien and Sam Welsford won gold in the men's 40km event, sealing the win after Welsford took victory in the double points final lap.

Amy Cure made it three gold for the Championships after claiming points race gold to add to her scratch race victory earlier in the week.
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@oceaniacycling IP title last night #thatsarack • □ @tomsee_ • @australiancyclingteam • #trackcycling #fixedgear #sendit

A post shared by Conor Leahy (@_conor_leahy_) on Oct 18, 2019 at 6:37pm PDT

Top qualifier Conor Leahy took out the elite men's 4000m individual pursuit, with the Western Australian fending off New Zealand's former world champion Jordan Kerby in the final.

"I always tend to back up pretty hard, so I had good confidence that I could put it to Kerbs - he's a renowned IP, so I knew I had a good challenge ahead of me, but I just went out hard and tried to stick to as good a time as possible."

Maeve Plouffe's comeback following wrist surgery continued with silver in the elite women's 3000m individual pursuit and bronze in the points race.
View this post on Instagram

In last year’s Oceania IP, I rode a 3:39. This year, after breaking my wrist in late July and racing a TP, omnium and scratch race beforehand, I rode 8 seconds faster in a 3:31. This progress is beyond me and I honestly believe it’s just the beginning! Moral of the story: things don’t always go to plan, but it’s your mindset which determines how you pick yourself back up in adversity. Stay patient and keep grinding! ✨ Thank you to everyone who has been in my corner this week, and since my accident. I owe this one to you! ?? Photos: Eugene Bonthuys

A post shared by MAEVE PLOUFFE (@maeveplouffe) on Oct 19, 2019 at 2:39am PDT

MORE

  • Event: Oceania Track Championships
  • Date: 16 -19 October 2019
  • Location: SIT Zero Fees Velodrome Surrey Road Invercargill
  • Live Stream: Watch all sessions live via Cycling Southland
  • Results: Results by event
  • Program: Complete 2020 event programme​

Photos

Dianne Manson.
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TRACK | Cure & Welsford dominate Oceania Omnium

18/10/2019

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Picture
Sam Welsford - Photo Credit: Dianne Manson
Amy Cure and Sam Welsford’s omnium victories highlighted day two action at the Oceania Track Cycling Championships at Invercargill’s SIT Zero Fees Velodrome.

Three-time world champion Cure was all class on the way to winning the elite women’s omnium won the scratch race, tempo and elimination rides before comfortably accounting for the field in the points race.

“I wasn’t sure how I was going to go here as I’ve been a bit up and down lately, but I set myself up early by getting some wins and I had a good buffer going into that points race,” said Cure, the reigning team pursuit world champion and a former points race world champion. 

“I don’t mind a points race, it’s always tough but I just went in there and just treated it like any other points race.”
Picture
Amy Cure - Photo Credit: Dianne Manson
Like Cure, reigning scratch and team pursuit world champion Welsford dominated the elite men’s omnium, winning the first three events and then taking out the final sprint in the points race ahead of Stewart to secure victory.

Welsford was made to work by the New Zealand trio of Campbell Stewart, Regan Gough and Corbin Strong, with only nine points separating the top three riders heading into the final ten laps of the points race.

“I enjoy racing against the New Zealanders. It is always good and fair racing between us and it is really enjoyable. I was happy with my form so early in the season,” said Welsford.
PictureThomas Clarke - Photo Credit: Dianne Manson

In the men’s sprint, Nathan Hart (9.755) topped qualifying with Matthew Glaetzer (9.782​), Matthew Richardson (9.797) and Thomas Clarke (9.896) ensuring four Australians finished inside the top six. 

The quartet progressed to the quarterfinals where Clarke edged Glaetzer in three heats, Sam Webster (NZL) defeated Richardson and Hart’s run was ended by Jordan Castle (NZL). 

In the semi finals, Eddie Dawkins (NZL) pushed Clarke into the bronze medal ride off against Castle which the kiwi took in straight heats.
MORE

  • Event: Oceania Track Championships
  • Date: 16 -19 October 2019
  • Location: SIT Zero Fees Velodrome Surrey Road Invercargill
  • Live Stream: Watch all sessions live via Cycling Southland
  • Results: Results by event
  • Program: Complete 2020 event programme​
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ROAD | Kelland O'Brien soars to maiden NRS Tour win

2/9/2019

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Picture
Kell O'Brien in action - Photo Jean-Pierre Ronco.
Victoria's Kelland O'Brien (Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) clinched the overall victory at the Cycling Australia National Road Series event, the eight-stage 541-kilometre Visit Victoria-Campolina Tour of the Great South Coast. 

Dominating from the opening stage, the Australian Cycling Team world champion ladened Pro Racing Sunshine Coast outfit showed they were all business as they took a clean sweep of the podium in the opening stage. 

Sam Welsford pushed teammate O’Brien for the overall Tour victory after featuring in six podiums and picking up two stage wins in the first three stages, while Cameron Scott claimed the Stage 4 win.

Welsford held the leader's jersey heading into the 
penultimate Stage 7, unfortunately however, the dual 2019 world champion Welsford lost 32 seconds to O'Brien on the stage  around Bridgewater meant he also conceded the leader's jersey to the Victorian heading into the final stage criterium.
“I didn’t expect to win the tour when I arrived, but I bought some good form home from Europe," said the team pursuit world record holder and world champion after winning his maiden National Road Series Tour. "Now I will have a rest and continue my training towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games”.

Podium Potential Academy member Jarrad Drizners (InForm TM Insight MAKE) won the Tour's Rising Star Award and took over the lead in the Cycling Australia National Road Series individual standings.
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TRACK | Team pursuit world record holders hit the NRS

26/8/2019

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Picture
Sam Weslford at #ToGSC18 - Photo Con Chronis.
Australia’s men’s world record-breaking team’s pursuit track cycling squad will hit the roads this week for the Cycling Australia National Road Series.

The team will contest the Visit Victoria-Campolina Tour of the Great South Coast, a six-day, eight-stage Tour that will cover 541.2 kilometres of stunning terrain across Victoria and South Australia.

Team pursuit world champions, world record holders and Commonwealth champions Sam Welsford, Leigh Howard, Kelland O’Brien, Alex Porter and Cameron Scott will race under the Australian Cycling Academy colours.  At the 2018 Tour, Welsford claimed stage three honours, while Scott won the Tour's Rising Star award. 
 
The team, which will also feature Zack Gilmore and Jonathon Noble, will be one of the teams to watch in every stage, in particular the ground-breaking teams time trial at Naracoorte on Thursday.
 
The 16.4km time trial, from Naracoorte Showgrounds to the world heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, will see teams take off at two-minute intervals in a contest billed as “the race of truth.”
 
“The Great South Coast tour is a tremendous race because there’s something in the course for everybody,” said Australian Cycling Team Track Endurance Coach Tim Decker. “It’s an important build-up event for us, with the Tokyo Olympics looming.
 
“You’ve got to be a good bike rider to win this race – there’s nowhere to hide, whether it be in the hills around Casterton, the open windswept flats at Port MacDonnell or the three crits.”
 
Founded in 2012, the eighth Tour of the Great South Coast is backed by the Victorian State Government and four municipalities – the City of Mount Gambier, District Council of Grant and Naracoorte Lucindale Council in South Australia, and Victoria’s Glenelg Shire Council.
 
The NRS Facebook page and Kayo / FOX SPORTS will bring daily highlight shows with race coverage, rider interviews and more.  
Picture
Cameron Scott at #ToGSC18 - Rising Star Award - Photo Con Chronis.
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TRACK | Men's team pursuit claim gold and smash world record in poland

1/3/2019

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Picture
Photo © Casey Gibson
April 2018 - Commonwealth Games - Australia - 3:49.804.

February 2019 - World Championships - Poland - 3:48.012.  

Australia’s Leigh Howard (VIC), Kelland O’Brien (VIC), Samuel Welsford (WA) and Alex Porter (SA) smashed their own world record by nearly two seconds on the way to reclaiming the rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Poland on Thursday.

The Australian quartet, guided by Tim Decker, brought the Polish crowd to its feet as they scorched the Pruszkow Velodrome in a new world record time of 3mins 48.012secs (averaging 63.155km/h), bettering the astonishing ride at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (3:49.804) where they became the first team in history to crack the three-minute fifty barrier.  

“I am lost for words, this team is proving to be more and more special every time we come together,” said O’Brien.  

`“What can I say except thank you, I am so grateful to be a part of this team,” said Howard. “I am fortunate that I have come back into the program with such a fantastic group, not just the riders but the staff has developed so much since I was last in the program and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone.”

“Its a bit surreal to be honest,” said Porter. “I knew the boys were going quick, but I didn’t think we were going that fast.  I can’t put this into words properly, its crazy.

“It has been a rough season, I missed the first half rehabbing. Ten weeks ago when I broke eight bones and punctured a lung, I was just hoping to be here.”

Welsford, Howard, O’Brien, and debutant Cameron Scott (NSW) opened the team’s 2019 World’s campaign in style on Wednesday with the fastest qualifying time (3:52.152).

With Porter coming in for Scott, the quartet set a cracking near world-record pace in their first round matchup against New Zealand. However, they lost momentum when they were forced to navigate a splintered New Zealand after catching them with three laps to go before posting a time of 3mins 51.529.

Traditional rivals Great Britain didn’t stand a chance in the battle for the gold when the Australians pulled the throttle from the gun and never let go. Great Britain post a time of 3mins 50.810secs to win silver.

The team’s coach, Tim Decker was almost lost for words after the win.

“I’m a bit emotional,” revealed Decker. “It’s been a fantastic night and we probably exceeded our expectations in regard to time in the TP.

“We came in here with a real focus to nail our ride and try to execute a good, skilled ride and try to find a way to make it happen and give those guys a chance to chase the rainbow bands and they were hungry to chase.

“Yesterday we had a few challenges thrown at us, but we made our way into the final but they brought it together and came away with a pretty magical time.”

Less than half an hour ride and still dripping with sweat following the team pursuit world record ride, Welsford claimed a dramatic late victory in the scratch race.

“It has been a crazy thirty minutes, I am gobsmacked,” a shocked Welsford said. “To do a forty-eight with my boys Kel, Cam, Leigh, Porter, that’s the best thing I could ever imagine.

“To break our own world record and leading into the Olympics next year is bloody awesome.

“The icing on the cake is the win in the scratch race. It’s a dream come true for us.
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TRACK | Welsford back chasing rainbows

22/2/2019

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Picture
Photo Guy Swarbrick
Sam Welsford (WA) is excited to be back on the World Championships stage and is champing at the bit at the chance of claiming his third team pursuit rainbow jersey for Australia in four years.

2017 world champions Australia did not defend its rainbow jersey at the 2018 World Championships due to team’s target event of the year being the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The strategic decision not to attend both events was rewarded with Welsford, Leigh Howard (VIC), Kelland O’Brien (VIC) and Alexander Porter (SA) setting a new work mark of 3mins 49.804secs en route to winning gold.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been to the worlds, we missed out on last years but I think all the boys were really really eager to get out there and race,” said Welsford. “We had the rainbows in 2017 so I’m pretty confident I can say on behalf the boys that we want to go and get those back so that’s what we’ll be striving for.”
Australia’s team pursuit outfit in Poland will feature the world record holders in Welsford, Howard, O’Brien, Porter, in addition to Cameron Scott (NSW) who will make his elite World Championships debut. 

The quintet combined to win team pursuit gold at the UCI Track World Cup in Germany in December and Welsford is predicting fast times when the team pursuit opens on day one of competition in Poland. 

“Team pursuit times are getting so fast now, a lot of teams are getting down to that low (three minutes) 50 (second) barrier,” he said. “I think we should be able to go out there and ride a really good time, but it really depends on the conditions of the Poland track.

“I think we’re at a good level at the moment and in good form so we can produce a really good time that could go close to that world record.”

Welsford will also contest the omnium, and the national champion will be one to watch in the four-race event after also claiming World Cup gold last December. 

“Pretty keen to test the Omnium again at the World Championships, it’s been a while since I’ve done that,” he added. “I had some early success in the World Cups last year so I’m really keen to give it a big crack. “I really think that the work we’ve been doing on the bike and in the gym will put me in a good spot, so I’m really keen to give the Omnium a crack again.”

A veteran of the team at just 23, the two-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Welsford is also thrilled to be a part of teammate Scott’s debut. 

“Training with Cam and racing the Madison with him, he’s a good mate of mine so for him to come into the program and go to his first worlds is always pretty special,” Welsford said. “I remember my first one in 2016 and you’ll never forget your first worlds, so I think he’ll be loving it over there.”
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The Australian Team is scheduled to arrive in Pruszkow, Poland on Wednesday 20 February ahead of the 2019 UCI Track World Championships which will be held from 27 February to 3 March. 

Welsford will be in action in the team pursuit on the first two days, before taking on the omnium on day four. 

SCHEDULE

  • Wednesday 27th February: W - Team Pursuit Qualifying; M - Team Pursuit Qualifying; W - Scratch 10 km; W - Team Sprint; M - Team Sprint
  • Thursday 28th February: W - Sprint Flying 200m & rounds; M - Team Pursuit; M -  Scratch 15 km; M - Keirin; W - Team Pursuit
  • Friday 1st March: M - Points race 40 km; M -  Kilometre t.t.; M - Individual Pursuit; W - Omnium; W - Sprint
  • Saturday 2nd March: M - Sprint Flying 200m & rounds; W - 500m t.t.; W -  Madison 30 km; W - Individual pursuit; M - Omnium
  • Sunday 3rd March: W - Points race 25 km; M -  Madison 50 km; W - Keirin; M - Sprint

ABOUT 

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam
  • Australiancyclingteam.com
  • Facebook AustralianCyclingTeam
  • Instagram @australiancyclingteam
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2019 UCI Track World Championships - Poland
  • www.pruszkow2019.pl
  • facebook.com/PZKol
  • twitter.com/pzkolarski​
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Track | ​Australian Team for 2019 UCI Track World Championships

30/1/2019

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Cycling Australia is pleased to announce a 17-rider team for the 2019 UCI Track World Championships to be held in Poland from 27 February to 3 March.

Team pursuit world record holders Leigh Howard (VIC), Kelland O’Brien (VIC), Alexander Porter (SA) and Samuel Welsford (WA) feature in the men’s endurance selections with Cameron Scott (NSW) who will make his World Championship debut. Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer (WA) is also confirmed.

Commonwealth Games champions Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Amy Cure (TAS), Annette Edmondson (SA) and Alexandra Manly (SA), plus Georgia Baker (TAS), comprise the women’s endurance selections.  

Reigning world champion Matthew Glaetzer (SA) headlines the men’s sprint quartet with Patrick Constable (SA) and Nathan Hart (ACT), with nineteen-year-old Podium Potential Academy member Matthew Richardson (WA) named to his maiden elite World Championship team.

Sprint silver medallist at the past two World Championships Stephanie Morton (SA), and Kaarle McCulloch (NSW) complete the women’s sprint selections.  

“These World Championships provide a great opportunity to benchmark where we are at against the world’s best,” said Simon Jones, Performance Director, Cycling Australia.

“However the focus will be about learning rather than winning. As we build towards Tokyo the focus will increasingly be on performance, but performing with a clear strategy and winning processes.”

The team will finalise preparations in Adelaide before departing Australia on February 20.

Australian Team

Endurance
  • Ashlee Ankudinoff   
  • Georgia Baker
  • Amy Cure   
  • Annette Edmondson   
  • Alexandra Manly   
  • Leigh Howard   
  • Kelland O’Brien   
  • Cameron Meyer  
  • Alexander Porter  
  • Cameron Scott   
  • Samuel Welsford  

Sprint
  • Kaarle McCulloch
  • Stephanie Morton    
  • Patrick Constable
  • Matthew Glaetzer       
  • Nathan Hart    
  • Matthew Richardson    

Follow

Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam 
  • Australiancyclingteam.com
  • Facebook AustralianCyclingTeam
  • Instagram @australiancyclingteam
  • Twitter @AusCyclingTeam

2019 UCI Track World Championships
  • www.pruszkow2019.pl
  • facebook.com/PZKol
  • twitter.com/pzkolarski
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Track | Australia crowned overall 2018/19 UCI Team World Cup winners

27/1/2019

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Photo - Guy Swarbrick
The Australian Cycling Team has been crowned overall 2018/19 UCI World Cup winners following an emphatic final World Cup round held at the Hong Kong Velodrome.

Australia claimed three gold, three silver and two bronze across the three days, highlighted by dual gold to Thomas Clarke, 23, in the sprint and team sprint with teenagers James Brister, 19, and Matthew Richardson, 19, plus omnium gold to Cameron Meyer.

Overall across the six-round World Cup series, Australia won 34 medals including 13 gold, 12 silver and nine bronze.
 

“It is a great team effort, a mixture of committed athletes, committed staff, everyone working together, I think it is a great thing to celebrate,” said Jon Norfolk, Head of Performance Pathways and People, Cycling Australia.

“Across this season we witnessed great results and performances from athletes within the Podium program and the Podium Potential Academy.  It is so great to have two separate tiers of our program able to perform on this kind of stage, to be able to refine and improve.

“It is also great to see both programs supporting each other as well, we have podium athletes supporting our younger athletes, and in turn, they are being inspired by racing and training with their heroes.  

“It is a really infectious environment.”
RECAPS: 

Sunday 

Forty-eight hours after teaming winning gold in the team sprint, Podium Potential Academy members Thomas Clarke, 23, and James Brister, 19, battled each other for gold in the individual sprint with Clarke taking the top step of the podium.

In a heartbreaking end to the men’s 30km Madison, Sam Welsford, 23, and Kelland O’Brien, 20, were edged into the silver medal position by New Zealand in the final sprint of the 120-lap race.

Alexandra Manly staged an epic comeback inside the final twenty laps of the points race to win bronze in women’s omnium.  

Teenage debutant Alexandra Martin-Wallace shone in the scratch race, coming over the top of a fast finishing bunch to win silver.

Read full Sunday report

Saturday

A calculated performance from Cameron Meyer, saw the 31-year-old claim an emphatic gold in his first international omnium competition.

In her first race at the World Cup level since 2016 after suffering a broken foot and chronic back injuries, Caitlin Ward, 24, netted her best World Cup performance finishing eighth with a competition personal best 11.022seconds in the flying 200m.

Read full Omnium & Women's Sprint report
​
Friday

The Australian Cycling Team’s Podium Potential Academy riders stole the show on the opening day of competition with teenagers James Brister, 19, and Matthew Richardson, 19, bolting from the gates on their World Cup debut, with Thomas Clarke, 23, to win gold in the men’s team sprint.

In the team pursuit, the teenage quartet of Jarrad Drizners, 19, Godfrey Slattery, 18 Conor Leahy, 19, and Luke Plapp, 18, won bronze in just their second World Cup event.

The women’s endurance quartet of Maeve Plouffe, 19, Alexandra Manly, 22, and World Cup debutantsAlexandra Martin-Wallace and Sophie Edwards, both 18, finished fifth overall.

Read full Team Pursuit & Team Sprint reports
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Track | Clarke claims sprint gold; Australian Cycling Team finishes with 8 medals

27/1/2019

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Picture
Photos - Guy Swarbrick
The Australian Cycling Team claimed three gold, three silver and two bronze at the final 2018/19 UCI World Cup round held at the Hong Kong Velodrome highlighted by dual gold to Thomas Clarke, 23, in the sprint and team sprint with teenagers James Brister, 19, and Matthew Richardson, 19, plus omnium gold to Cameron Meyer. 

Forty-eight hours after teaming winning gold in the team sprint, Podium Potential Academy members Thomas Clarke, 23, and James Brister, 19, faced off for gold in the individual sprint. 

Fifth fastest qualifier Brister (9.925) and seventh fastest Clarke (9.979) made their way unscathed through the rounds, with teenage Brister accounting for three-time sprint world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Theo Bos (NED) in the quarterfinals in straight heats.  Clarke took care of Nicholas Paul (TTO) also in two rides. 

Brister and Clarke then set up the all Aussie final with two strong straight-heat semifinal victories over Chao Xu (CHN) and Quentin Caleyron (FRA) respectively.  

In the final, Clarke proved too good on the day for his younger opponent in straight heats. The win made it five gold from six events in the men’s sprint across the World Cup season after Matthew Glaetzer won the first three rounds and Nathan Hart collected gold in round five. 

“Honestly I don’t think it has sunk in, I still can’t believe it.  I woke up this morning with no expectations apart form coming here qualifying the best I can and having a race,” said Clarke, who also won team sprint silver last week in New Zealand in round five of the World Cup.

“I took it one race at a time, had a few close calls to make it through and then couldn’t believe it when James and I both made the gold medal ride off. 

“At that point, either way, however it finished I was just proud of our team and what we have achieved this week.”
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Photos - Guy Swarbrick
In a heartbreaking end the men’s 30km Madison, Sam Welsford and Kelland O’Brien were edged into the silver medal position by New Zealand in the final sprint of the 120-lap race. 

The Aussie pair set the pace early, claiming the race lead after the second sprint.  However, France and New Zealand surged to take the lead over the Australians at the halfway mark.

With dual Madison world champion Cameron Meyer calling the shots from the sidelines, the Australians pounced inside the final forty laps to take a lap on the field, and with the twenty bonus points, they regained the race lead. 

A litany of attacks ensued in an animated final thirty laps, with New Zealand stealing the win on the final sprint, leapfrogging the Australians onto the top step of the podium. 

“It was pretty hard out there, we knew we had to be on our game,” said Welsford. “We knew we had to score early and take a late lap if we needed and we did that. But we just got caught behind a few riders and missed out on that final sprint.” 

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Photos - Guy Swarbrick
Alexandra Manly staged an epic comeback inside the final twenty laps of the points race to win bronze in women’s omnium.  

It wasn’t an ideal start to the four-event omnium for Manly after finishing fifteenth in the scratch race. However second in the tempo and fifth in the elimination placed her in sight of the podium heading into her favourite event, the 80-lap points race. 

Trailing third place by nineteen points, Manly took a solo lap inside the final twenty laps which launched her into third and onto the podium. 

“I had a bad scratch race, so I knew I had to have a good points race and use my strengths,” said Manly. “With twenty laps to go I knew it was my last opportunity, so I went as deep as I could because I knew if I did I was guaranteed to win a medal.  It was a major fight, but I got there.”

The result continues Manly’s return to competition after breaking her shoulder late in 2018. 

“For me, it was important for my confidence as it has been two months of solid training, so it was nice to get used to the bunch again and it was pretty nice to come away with the medal.”

Teenage debutant Alexandra Martin-Wallace shone in the scratch race, coming over the top of a fast finishing bunch to win silver. 

“I am really happy, certainly wasn’t expecting a medal going into the event,” said Martin-Wallace after her third event of her maiden World Cup. Martin-Wallace finished fifth in the team pursuit on day one and with Maeve Plouffe, was stoic in an intense Madison contest on day two. “I was so nervous, my goal was to just get as much experience as I could, got some wise words before the race from my coach Rohan Wight, and I am just over the moon with the result.” 

Podium Potential Academy member Caitlin Ward continued her strong weekend form with seventh overall in the women’s keirin.  In her first World Cup event in three years, Ward also collected a competition personal best 11.022seconds in the flying 200m and eighth in the women’s sprint. 

The UCI Track World Cup in Hong Kong was the sixth and final for the 2018/19 season.

​The 2019 UCI Track World Championships will be held in Poland from February 27. 
​​
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German glory: Four gold for Australia at third round of UCI Track World Cup

3/12/2018

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Picture
Photo © Guy Swarbrick
The Australian Cycling Team grabbed four gold and two silver medals at the third round of the UCI Track World Cup in Berlin, Germany at the weekend.

World record holders Samuel Welsford, Alexander Porter, Leigh Howard and Kelland O'Brien, plus Cameron Scott claimed team pursuit gold, reigning world champion Matthew Glaetzer continued his unbeaten run in the sprint, Stephanie Morton claimed her first individual gold of the season, while Sam Welsford took omnium gold.

It continues the team’s strong start to the six-event World Cup series which began in October.  The team topped the medal tally in Paris with eight medals including three gold, three silver and two bronze before adding four medals, including two gold at round two in Canada.

"This World Cup was another good benchmark for the Australian Cycling Team and shows we are progressing well and currently on track," said Simon Jones, Performance Director, Cycling Australia. "There is still a lot of work to do, but it’s good to score UCI points and be competing well."

Recap

World record holders Samuel Welsford, Alexander Porter, Leigh Howard and Kelland O'Brien, lined up in the team pursuit for the first time since April’s Commonwealth Games where they stunned the world with the first sub three minute-fifty second ride in the event’s history.

In Berlin, the quartet topped qualifying (3:53.426), and with Cameron Scott coming into the team for the first round and progressed to the final with a strong win (3:53.033) over rivals and Olympic champions Great Britain.

With Howard returning for Scott for the final, the world’s fastest team held off a challenge from a strong Danish outfit (3:54.703) to take the gold in a superb time of 3 minutes 51.210 seconds.

“It was great to line up again with the boys,” said Welsford. “We gel so well and to come back together and post a good time is a good sign we are on the right path.”

It was a successful weekend for Welsford who claimed dual gold in Germany with a come-from-behind victory in the final race of the four-race omnium.

“The omnium was a bit of a surprise; I haven't raced one at the world level since the World Championships in 2017, so to come away with the win was surreal. It came down to the last points race and luckily enough, I had good legs to take it out.”

In the women’s team pursuit, Amy Cure and Annette Edmondson rejoined the squad for the first time since April’s Commonwealth Games, and with Ashlee Ankudinoff and Georgia Baker, won silver.

Fastest qualifiers (4:19.073), the quartet moved to the final (4:18.083) by defeating Canada in the first round. In a heartbreaking final, the Australian quartet led for the first fifteen of sixteen laps, before the Great Britain outfit (4:16.153) caught their traditional rivals (4:16.413) inside the last half lap to take the gold.

Stephanie Morton topped sprint qualifying with her first career sub 10.5 second ride in the flying 200m (10.484seconds) before riding away to her first individual gold at World Cup level.

After knocking out Katy Marchant (GBR) and Daria Shmeleva (RUS), Morton took gold in two straight rides over Anastasiia Voinova (RUS) in the final to complete an undefeated campaign.

“After a few silvers, to finally turn it around and get my first sprint win at a World Cup, it is unreal,” said Morton, who collected five medals from six events across the first two rounds of the 2018/19 season in October. 

“With Matt and me in a heavy training block at the moment, I went into the day relaxed with no pressure on myself and was prepared for a big "shut up legs" kind of day.
“So when I looked up and saw the time of 10.4, I was speechless, and anyone who knows me knows that is very rare!

“I knew backing up was going to be tough with training in the legs so I took it one race at a time, focusing on the skill or tactic that Ross (Edgar) and I wanted to work on, knowing that crossing the line first would be the bonus.”

Reigning world champion Matthew Glaetzer’s unbeaten run in the sprint this World Cup season remains intact with his third gold medal.   

Third fastest in qualifying (9.659secs), Glaetzer moved through to the quarterfinals with ease where he defeated Denis Dmitriev (RUS), before knocking Rayan Helal (FRA) out in the semi-finals. Glaetzer’s World Cup sprint reign continued as he took gold in two straight rides over Matthijs Buchli (NED) who had edged the Australian for keirin gold the previous night.

“Today was one of the hardest sprint competitions I have done,” said Glaetzer, who revealed he is in the middle of a training block. “The semi-final went to the best of three after I didn't execute my race plan properly, but I fixed it for the decider which took a lot out of me. It was at this point that I was wrecked and joked to Ross Edgar that I would try and keep up with Buchli in the final and not get dropped!

“We had our first race for gold, and when I was able to roll him up the front straight, it showed I still had just enough legs left to get the job done, so I made sure I didn't go to the best of three again!”

In other results, young guns Kelland O’Brien and Cameron Scott claimed fifth in the Madison, while Annette Edmondson was fourth in the omnium, and Ashlee Ankudinoff and Amy Cure finished sixth in the women’s Madison.  

Morton and Glaetzer will now move on to the UCI Track World Cup's fourth round to be held in London from December 14. 

All other members of the Australian Cycling Team will be back in action on home soil at the 2019 Cycling Australia Track National Championships which begin in Melbourne on Thursday 13 December at DISC Velodrome with the Para-cycling Nationals.

The Omnium Nationals cap the week on Friday 14 December, with Melbourne Arena to host a massive night of racing on Saturday 15 December headlined by the Madison, Team Sprint and Team Pursuit Nationals.  >>> tracknationals.org.au
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2018 JLT Australian Cycling Moment of the Year.

9/11/2018

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What was your favourite cycling moment in 2018?

There were so many incredible moments for Australian cycling in 2018 it was difficult to narrow it down, but we have twelve amazing moments which make up our 2018 JLT Australian Cycling Moment of the Year.  

The Australian Cycling team figures prominently in the list via Rohan Dennis, Alistair Donohoe, Matthew Glaetzer and Luke Plapp's world titles, Steph Morton's triple gold at the Commonwealth Games, our team pursuit's stunning 3:49.804 ride at the Commonwealth Games, Logan Martin’s BMX-factor at the FISE World Series, and Amanda Spratt's stellar silver at the UCI Road Worlds!

Choose your favourite moment via the survey and you could be celebrating another fantastic year at the 2018 Cycling Australia Awards in Melbourne on Friday 23 November.  

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VOTE NOW!
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TRACK | World record duo head to national road series

13/8/2018

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O'Brien celebrates winning gold at the Gold Coast Games. Photo © Tim Bardsley-Smith.
​Two of Australia’s world record team pursuit quartet will switch the fixed gear for the road bike this week, with Kelland O’Brien and Sam Welsford to suit up for the Australian Cycling Academy in the National Road Series.
 
The Australian Cycling Team members will reunite again for the Tours second event for men, the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast, a five-day, six-stage Tour beginning in Mt Gambier on 15 August.
 
In April, O’Brien scorched the Anna Meares Velodrome with Alex Porter, Sam Welsford and Leigh Howard, with a time of 3mins 49.804secs in the gold medal ride at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the first sub 3:50 time in history.
 
“I can't believe how fast time has gone since April! That day is probably the most memorable day of my career to date for sure,” said O’Brien, who revealed the quartet celebrated with a tattoo of the new mark. “The atmosphere in the velodrome day one of the Commonwealth Games was electric. During racing, I can never hear the crowd, but in that final, the crowd was so loud that it was all I could hear!”

3:49.804 Dreams do come true! But not without countless heroes that are behind the scenes❤️This is so much more than just 4 men. #teamaus #worldrecord #gold @wisemansports

A post shared by Kelland Michael O’Brien (@kellobrien) on Apr 6, 2018 at 9:56pm PDT

 
The youngest cycling team member and one of the youngest gold medallists at the Commonwealth Games, O’Brien only turned 20 in May and has revelled growing in Tim Decker’s endurance program.

 
“My parents always treated me as an equal person and not a child, and from the moment I came into this program I was treated with the same respect and what comes with that is I an expected to operate at the professional level the older guys do,” he remarked.
 
“Being a part of Tim's program has been a dream come true for me.  Not to say it hasn't been without its challenges, but I love the challenge, working in our group is unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I couldn't be more proud to say I belong there!”

​Since a break after the Games, O’Brien has mixed track and road, with two trips to Japan including a win and podium in two Madisons with Welsford at the Japan Track Cup in July.

 
“I had some time off relaxing after the Commonwealth Games, but I was very keen to get stuck into it again! It felt awesome to get back on the track bike and get a win with Sam in Japan, we had won that event in 2017, so it was a good feeling to go back and win it again.”

Nice win to @samwelsford & @kellobrien in the Madison at Japan Track Cup II. #aussiecycling #auscyclingteam #tokyo2020 Photo @morecadencejp

A post shared by Australian Cycling Team (@australiancyclingteam) on Jul 9, 2018 at 5:27pm PDT

 
​For the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast, O’Brien will team with Welsford, fellow Australian Cycling Team member Cameron Scott – who took a stage win at the Tour of Qinghai Lake last month.

 
Following the NRS season, O’Brien has his sights set on the summer track season starting with the Oceania Championships in Adelaide in October, followed by the UCI World Cup Series and December Nationals in Melbourne.
 
“Summer track season is my favourite time of the year, and with even more racing on than usual I can't wait to get back to Adelaide with the team in preparation for that busy time of the year,” added O’Brien, who is now eyeing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
 
“Although sub 3:50 was a fantastic achievement, we as a team see that as a great result on the way to our ultimate goal.
 
“Next for the team is to regroup for the next two years leading up to Tokyo.”
 
The seventh edition of the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast will start with a traditional morning criterium in Mount Gambier on Wednesday 15 August, with the Tour to end with a grand finale street race on Portland’s waterfront on Sunday 19 August. 

Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast: Teams / Results
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TRACK | Back on track in Japan

13/7/2018

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​Following last month’s racing in France and the Czech Republic, members of the Australian Track team headed to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Velodrome in Izu for Japan Track Cup.
 
The Cup featured two carnivals over three days, and for many of the team, it was their first hit out on the boards since the Commonwealth Games which netted 19 medals including ten gold
 
Three months on from their stunning and the stunning sub 3:50 team pursuit world record ride, Sam Welsford and Kelland O’Brien partnered across the two days in the Madison. 
 
With their bikes delayed in transit, they were unable to find their feet early in the first race finishing with bronze. However, on the third day of competition, the pair treated the crowd to a classy display of Madison riding, controlling the race from start to the finish and doubling their nearest rivals on the points tally.
 
In other events, Welsford won the omnium, while fresh from their European schedule, Macey Stewart and Kristina Clonan grabbed silver and bronze in their two Madison appearances. 
 
“Great to see them in action again even though they are just beginning to start their training again over the last few weeks,” said Senior Men's Track Endurance Coach Tim Decker.
 
“We will start to build slowly from here with the team towards the beginning of the World Cup season.”

So far it’s been a valuable trip for me to Japan. Day one which was Sprint and Keirin I got 2nd in the sprint and in the keirin I took the win in unfortunate circumstances with 4 of the girls crashing hard. Wishing you all a speedy recovery! I’m not really sure how I managed to stay upright and my 5 spoke wasn’t so lucky. Day 2 I got 7th in the keirin and day 3 will see the sprint again. @cyclingaustralia @st.georgecyclingclub @nswinstituteofsport @skingrowsback @ppphandboards

A post shared by Kaarle McCulloch (@kaarlemcculloch) on Jul 7, 2018 at 4:25pm PDT

The sprint team enjoyed the podium across the three days, with Kaarle McCulloch winning the keirin and sprint bronze on day one.
 
Pat Constable bagged keirin bronze in a strong field on day two, while Jacob Schmid collected two top-five results in the sprint. 
 
“It was a great trip to start the season after a good break following the Comm Games,” said National Senior Track Sprint Coach Nick Flyger.
 
“It was good for the sprinters to check out the 2020 velodrome, and we were able to focus on the processes and applying the skills and tactics we had been working on since the Games.
 
“For the squad, it was nice to also catch up and train with Matt Glaetzer while he is competing in the Japan Keirins.”
 
The squads will be back in action on home soil at the 2019 Oceania Track Championships in Adelaide from 10-13 October.

Great week away racing in Japan with this bunch! @AusCyclingTeam □□ pic.twitter.com/eqMviqqJju

— Holly Takos (@hollytakos) July 8, 2018
Visit morecadence.jp for more on the Japan Track Cup. 
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#GC2018 Welsford wows with stellar scratch gold

8/4/2018

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In one of the most amazing rides ever seen on a track, let alone the Commonwealth Games, Sam Welsford lifted the roof at the Anna Meares Velodrome with gold in the men's scratch race. 

Teammates Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard covered constant attacks and reeled in England’s Ethan Hayter on the final lap, leaving Welsford to time his final lap sprint to perfection.

The win was Welsford's second of the Games after teaming to clock the first sub 3:50 ride in history in the team pursuit with Leigh Howard, Kelland O'Brien and Alex Porter.  

In a superb week for Welsford, he also clocked a stunning 4min 13.595sec individual pursuit ride on Friday which was fifth fastest in what was one of the fastest IP events in history. 

ICYMI: Is that a bike or a motorbike!?

□□ Sam Welsford rocketed home to win gold in the Men's 15km Scratch Race. One of the best tactical performances you'll see. #GC2018 #7CommGames pic.twitter.com/nBaWRB2s36

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 7, 2018
“That was such a hard race, it was on from the start and I had to be patient and my teammates are amazing,” Welsford said.

“Cam Meyer and Leigh Howard, hats off to them, they were in every move and looked after me all race. I think Australia, the whole team is so tight nit and it’s showing in the results this week.

“Coming into the last lap my visor was falling off and I was mid-sprint so didn’t want to adjust it, and it fell off in the last couple of minutes anyway.
​
“I’m over the moon, my second goal and this race is such a lottery, 60 laps and lucky enough I caught him last lap.”

.@SamJaneLane speaks with the man of the moment, □□ Sam Welsford! We're still buzzing after that finish.#GC2018 #7CommGames pic.twitter.com/whYqSuvU7p

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 7, 2018
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#GC2018 - TRACK ENDURANCE - GUIDE

28/3/2018

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The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Track competition will take place at the Anna Meares Velodrome (Brisbane) from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 April.

It will feature 20 events - eight endurance, eight sprint and four para-cycling - with the eight track endurance events to include the points race and scratch race, and the team and individual pursuits.  The team pursuit is set to make its Commonwealth Games debut for women.
 
The 2018 Games is likely to provide a milestone for team, with Australia having won 96 Commonwealth Games cycling gold medals.

WOMEN'S TEAM

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Photo - Cycling Australia
 A six-member women’s endurance squad with a rich blend of World Championship, Olympic and Commonwealth Games experience will line up for Australia at the Games.
 
Reigning Games scratch race champion Annette Edmondson, 26 (SA) is back on the track for her second Games, with the dual world champion eyeing a spot in Australia’s team pursuit quartet for the event’s debut.
 
Edmondson’s 2015 team pursuit world champion teammates Amy Cure, 25 (TAS) and Ashlee Ankudinoff, 27 (NSW) will provide tremendous experience and multiple options for all four events.
 
Cure, a dual 2014 Games medallist and 2014 points race world champion, is fresh from two national championship crowns in the scratch and points races. Ankudinoff, Australia’s only dual world champion in the team pursuit, boasts two World Championship medals in the individual format.
 
Dual individual pursuit world champion Rebecca Wiasak, 33 (ACT), who narrowly missed selection to the 2014 Commonwealth and 2016 Olympic teams, will make her major Games debut.
        
2016 Olympian Georgia Baker, 23 (TAS) overcame heart surgery in November to make her first Games team, while Alexandra Manly, 22 (SA) will also make her debut.  Manly, with Cure, Ankudinoff and Wiasak claimed silver at the 2017 World Championships, less than half a second behind world champions USA.

MEN's TEAM

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Photo - Kevin Anderson
The seven-member men’s endurance squad might feature six Games debutants, but the team enjoys a wealth of experience, collectively boasting 19 rainbow jerseys and countless options for the pursuit and bunch races.
 
Triple 2010 Games gold medallist Cameron Meyer, 30 (WA) returns to the Australian team and enters fresh from claiming the points race world crown last month, his ninth career rainbow jersey.
 
Like his fellow Perth native, Olympic team pursuit silver medallist and reigning individual pursuit national champion Samuel Welsford, 22 (WA) will be a threat in any race, as will three-time world champion Leigh Howard, 28 (VIC) who receives his first Games nod.  
 
Hometown fans will be eager to see Jordan Kerby, 25 (QLD) in action, with the 2017 individual pursuit world champion rocketing to cult hero status after riding to the third fastest time in history just months after returning to track cycling.    
 
Rounding out the side is 2017 world champions Alexander Porter, 21 (SA), Nicholas Yallouris, 24 (NSW), plus Kelland O’Brien, 19 (VIC) - the youngest member of Australia’s 36-member cycling team.
 
While the men’s, and women’s, track endurance teams bypassed March’s World Championships a part of the Australia Cycling Team strategy to focus on the Games, the quartet of O'Brien, Yallouris, Kerby and Howard soared to Oceania gold last November in 3min 52.421secs - one of the top ten fastest pursuit times in history. 
 
The focus for both squads lies firmly with the team pursuit on day one, with the exact line up for each of the four events, to be confirmed closer to the competition start date.
WHEN ARE THEY RACING? 

  • Day 1 - April 5: Women's 4000m Team Pursuit; Men's 4000m Team Pursuit  
  • Day 2 - April 6: Women's 3000m Individual Pursuit; Men's 4000m Individual Pursuit  
  • Day 3 - Sat April 7: Women's 25km Points Race; Men's 15km Scratch Race  
  • Day 4 - April 8: Women's 10km Scratch Race; Men's 40km Points Race  

HOW CAN I WATCH?
​
  • ​TV - Channel 7 will broadcast GC2018 on three free-to-air channels – 7, 7TWO & 7Mate
  • Mobile - download the 7CommGames app from both Google Play & Apple store
  • Web - 7commgames.com.au 

HOW DO I FOLLOW?

Follow all the action at commonwealthgames.com.au, or via the official CommGamesAUS social media channels / #TeamAus ​

PHOTOS

Photos © Kevin Anderson, and Cycling Australia. 
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36-member Australian Team for 2018 Commonwealth Games

20/2/2018

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Image via Kevin Anderson
Commonwealth Games Australia is pleased to announce a strong 36-member team to contest the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Reigning Commonwealth Games champions Stephanie Morton, Matthew Glaetzer and Annette Edmondson headline the track selections, in addition to the return of 2010 Gold medallists Cameron Meyer and Kaarle McCulloch.  

Reigning road national champions Alexander Edmondson and Shannon Malseed, triple world championship medallist Katrin Garfoot and 2006 Commonwealth Games road race gold medallist Mathew Hayman feature in the road selections. 
The team will vie for 26 gold medals - track (16), para-cycling track (4), road (4), and mountain bike (2) competitions in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast from 4-15 April. 

Australian Team Chef de Mission Steve Moneghetti welcomed the athletes on to the Australian Team.

“We enjoyed strong success at Glasgow 2014 from the Cycling team, so with the depth and experience we have in this team we look forward to more success at Gold Coast 2018,” he said.

“The cycling program is an incredibly exciting one for fans, with competition at the new Anna Meares Velodrome, road cycling events that are free and open to all spectators and mountain biking at the Nerang trails.

“With many of these athletes spending a lot of time abroad, Gold Coast 2018 provides a unique chance for these athletes to compete in front of a home crowd,” Moneghetti said. 

With the announcement of the 36 cyclists today, the Australian Team currently numbers 222, or just under half the anticipated total of 470 athletes.

TEAM OVERVIEW

The men’s track endurance squad is replete with rainbow jerseys, with reigning team pursuit world champions Samuel Welsford, Kelland O’Brien, Leigh Howard, Alexander Porter and Nicholas Yallouris, plus individual pursuit world champion Jordan Kerby; named in their first Games’ team.  

Three-time world champion Leigh Howard will also debut, with eight-time world champion and triple 2010 Games Gold medallist Cameron Meyer rounding out the strong line up.  

Defending scratch race Gold medallist and dual world champion Annette Edmondson, dual 2014 Games medallist and world champion Amy Cure and 2010 representative Ashlee Ankudinoff will lead the women’s endurance squad. 
Dual world champion Rebecca Wiasak, Rio Olympian Georgia Baker and rising star Alexandra Manly all receive their first Commonwealth Games’ selections.

“It’s really not that often someone gets to represent their country in a home Commonwealth Games in their career, so for me, it’s something very special that I’ll never forget,” said Cure, a dual medallist from 2014. 

“(I am) super excited to have the team pursuit on the calendar at the Games. I’m really excited to see what the team can achieve; as one of our three Olympic events, it’s great to get another opportunity to race this race in front of big crowds.”

Australia’s sprint crew is awash with Commonwealth Gold with defending sprint champion Stephanie Morton to form a formidable women’s sprint duo with 2010 team sprint champion Kaarle McCulloch. 

2014 keirin Gold medallist Matthew Glaetzer will spearhead an impressive men’s sprint quartet with Rio Olympians Nathan Hart and Patrick Constable, and Jacob Schmid. 

A host of Australia’s WorldTour elite highlight the road selections, with reigning national champion Alexander Edmondson, 2006 Commonwealth Games road race Gold medallist Mathew Hayman, Steele Von Hoff, Mitchell Docker, Callum Scotson and Meyer, forming a versatile six-member men’s road squad.

“I have very fond memories of the 2014 Commonwealth Games from Glasgow, so I am really excited about lining up in the road race in 2018,” said Edmondson, who won Gold and Silver in the pursuit events on the track four years ago.
“Of course being a home games there’s a bit of added pressure, but we are going to have a home crowd cheering us on which is going to be huge.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of racing in the green and gold on home soil!”

Triple world championship medallist and 2014 Commonwealth Bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot will head the six-member women’s team with reigning road national champion Shannon Malseed, dual national road champion Gracie Elvin and 2010 Games Bronze medallist Chloe Hosking, who gains a third team selection.

2010 team member Tiffany Cromwell returns while Sarah Roy makes her debut. 

“It's a bit of a pinch yourself moment,” said Hosking who becomes just the third Australian female cycling behind Anna Meares and Kathy Watt to be named to contest three Commonwealth Games. 
“To think I represented Australia at 20 in Delhi and I'm still racing and still getting stronger and still pulling on the green and gold. I would never have dreamt this growing up.”  

The Tandem Para-cycling selections are led by 2016 world champions Jessica Gallagher and Pilot Madison Janssen, while Bradley Henderson will make his debut with Pilot Thomas Clarke who won Bronze at the 2014 Games. 
2014 Bronze medallists and dual Olympians Daniel McConnell and Rebecca McConnell (nee Henderson) will contest the mountain bike cross-country competition.

“I'm very excited about the upcoming Games, to have a home Commonwealth Games is going to be a great experience,” said McConnell who grabbed a top ten finish at last year’s World Championships in Cairns. “I have pretty high expectations going into the Games.

“I really like the course, I think it suits my strength pretty well. I just want to get to the start line 100% fit and ready to go, if I can do that anything is possible.”
Similarly, Rebecca McConnell is hoping the home course advantage plays into her hands when she lines up against a world-class field.

“I have been fortunate enough to race on the course at the Nationals Series in January, it's a great course, with technical climbing and descending and the strongest rider will win,” said Henderson.  
“With world champions and World Cup winners in both the men's and the women's field the racing is going to be fast and exciting so we hope to see lots of spectators in April!”

Australia has enjoyed strong success at recent Games with a 24-medal haul including seven gold in Glasgow in 2014, and 21 medals (14 gold) in Delhi in 2010. 

Tickets still available to 12 sports across the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games competition schedule. 

Commonwealth Games Australian Cycling Team

ROAD
  • Tiffany Cromwell                                
  • Gracie Elvin                                       
  • Katrin Garfoot                        
  • Chloe Hosking                         
  • Shannon Malseed*                
  • Sarah Roy*                            
  • Mitchell Docker*                     
  • Alexander Edmondson                      
  • Mathew Hayman                    
  • Cameron Meyer                                 
  • Callum Scotson*                                
  • Steele Von Hoff*                    

MTB   
  • Daniel McConnell                              
  • Rebecca McConnell (nee Henderson)

TRACK ENDURANCE          
  • Ashlee Ankudinoff     
  • Georgia Baker*
  • Amy Cure       
  • Annette Edmondson  
  • Alexandra Manly*
  • Rebecca Wiasak*      
  • Leigh Howard*           
  • Jordan Kerby*
  • Cameron Meyer         
  • Kelland O’Brien*
  • Alexander Porter*      
  • Samuel Welsford*      
  • Nicholas Yallouris*    

TRACK SPRINT
  • Kaarle McCulloch      
  • Stephanie Morton 
  • Patrick Constable*     
  • Matthew Glaetzer 
  • Nathan Hart   
  • Jacob Schmid*           

PARA TRACK (TANDEMS)
  • Jessica Gallagher* / Madison Janssen* - Pilot         
  • Bradley Henderson* / Thomas Clarke - Pilot

​* Commonwealth Games debutant
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