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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emerging
 

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

  
Developing 

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

Melbourne to Warrnambool Release

The Australian Cycling Team's Luke Plapp ( Inform TM Insight MAKE ( was the star of the Australian cycling summer, emerging as the next big thing in the sport with a stage win and a top climbing performance on par with Richie Porte at the Santos Festival of Cycling and then going on to win the Australian national time trial championships ahead of four-time national champion Luke Durbridge (Team BikeExchange). 
 
Plapp fielded calls from international teams and was featured in global cycling media with the spotlight on the Victorian 20-year-old as he dazzled in late January and early February. That was set to continue at the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool but a COVID-19 outbreak forced the race to be rescheduled to May 1. 
 
“That was the end of the road block and we got back onto the track to do some rehearsals and trial some last things before the games,” said Plapp. “Since then for me, it has died down a bit, I guess we haven’t had the focus of the major races. There’s no TDU or nationals which was a big focus for me in trying to set up my career for the next few years after the Olympics.  
 
“At the moment, we’re doing the country carnivals, but it’s not the same as preparing for the TDU or road nats (Australian national championships).” 
 
Racing handicaps and country carnivals is the unlikely preparation for the bright lights of the Tokyo Olympics, from mainly having the eyes of uninterested cattle to the rapt attention of Australia and the world following Plapp and the rest of the Australian track team as they fight for gold. Racing long events on the road, culminating in the 267-kilometre Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool might seem counterintuitive as the riders prepare for the 4-kilometre flat-out effort of the team pursuit, but it’s all part of a grand strategy. 
 
“For us, we can’t start out a full-gas track prep too early on,” said Plapp. “You’re not burnt out as much, and you might get there too early and just be trying to hold onto the speed. So for us it’s about building that base and the races help and give us that focus and that goal even on the road. That’s been good for us. 
 
“We’ve had such a big block on the road that when we start our track work we don’t have to tap into the track, we can build on what we have and really focus on the track. If this was any other cycle (Olympic 4-year cycle) we’d be doing up in altitude doing a road block or something similar, so we’re doing what we can in Australia.” 
 
With coronavirus restrictions still in place, the Australian Cycling Team has opted for an absolute minimum of overseas competition with normal preparations like team camps at altitude in places like Mexico not an option. Despite those limitations, the plan is working from the perspective of Plapp. 
 
“I do think it is,” said Plapp. “Obviously, I don’t know what the situation is with the other countries on the track or what they’re doing. The difference is that I’ve seen them doing a lot of road races, whether that’s WorldTour or the level below.  
 
“They’ve got a bit higher level of racing than us with the NRS or country carnivals. I still think we’re getting exactly what we need out of these races, we had our international level races at the start of the year. We’re doing what’s right for us and I don’t think we are missing anything.” 
 
Plapp races for Victorian team Inform TM Insight MAKE on the road and said he was looking forward to the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool and gave some tips for those watching along from afar on the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page, who will be livestreaming the race from 11.30am AEST on Saturday.  
 
Read more at ​www.melbournetowarrnambool.com.au 

The next generation of Australia’s track cyclists recently completed an intense week of training at the AusCycling Under 19 Track National Training Camp in Adelaide.
 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and current international travel restrictions, the AusCycling determined early in the year that no National Australian Cycling Team would compete at the 2021 UCI U19 Junior Track World Championships scheduled for Egypt in April.
 
To ensure the ongoing development of Australia's best junior athletes, the Australian Cycling Team recently conducted alternative activities for twenty endurance and sprint athletes in place of the Championships.
 
Under the watchful eyes of coaches from the Australian Cycling Team and the High-Performance Network, athletes were immersed in a week-long camp at the Adelaide Super-drome featuring elite on-track training and racing simulations sessions.
 
The education continued off the bike through strength and conditioning programs and several workshops on the topics of race strategy, nutrition, mental health and wellness, sport psychology and more.
 
Director of Performance Pathway for the Australian Cycling Team, Jesse Korf, was pleased with the camp's success and is excited about the future of the athletes and the sport.
 
"The Junior World Championships is an important milestone for athletes in all cycling sports, and with the inability to compete in the 2021 edition due to the COVID Pandemic, the Australian Cycling Team is proud to have provided this program as a replacement," Korf said. 
 
"We were able to acknowledge the athletes, celebrate their selection and provide them with a meaningful development opportunity both on and off the track.
 
"We have some fantastic talent across genders in both sprint and endurance, and we are very excited to find out what the future holds for these riders.
 
"Moving forward, we are keen to increase the opportunities within our pathways and support promising cyclists on their journey towards becoming the world's best.
 
"This camp was a great step in that direction."
 
Athletes - AusCycling U19 Track National Training Opportunity 
 
Women:

• Alessia McCaig (Sprint, NSW)
• Kalinda Robinson (Sprint, NSW)
• Tyler Puzicha (Sprint, NSW)
• Ella Sibley (Sprint, SA)
• Alyssa Polites (Endurance, VIC)
• Lucinda Stewart (Endurance, VIC)
• Isabelle Carnes (Endurance, QLD)
• Sophie Marr (Endurance, VIC)
• Meg Marker (Endurance, SA)
• Haylee Fuller (Endurance, NSW)

Men:

• Danny Barber (Sprint, NSW)
• Danny Barber (Sprint, NSW)
• Maxwell Lieberknecht (Sprint, SA)
• Dylan Stanton (Sprint, SA)
• Ryan Elliott (Sprint, QLD)
• Dylan Eather (Endurance, NSW)
• Zac Marriage (Endurance, SA)
• Leo Zimmermann (Endurance, SA)
• Cameron Rogers (Endurance, ACT)
• Hamish McKenzie (Endurance, TAS)
• Dalton Stretton (Endurance, TAS)

Australia boasts a strong history of success in women's track sprint cycling, with Olympic champion and eleven-time world champion Anna Meares achieving stunning success for more than a decade.

In recent years Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch achieved repeated success on the world stage, including winning the team sprint World Championship in 2019.
​
2020 saw a significant step for equality in women’s sprint cycling, with the UCI adding a third rider to the women's team sprint which achieved parity with the men’s event.

With limited depth in the current pathway, the Australian Cycling Team is taking a novel approach to developing the women’s sprint team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.   

​As a core component of the Australian Cycling Team’s gold-medal strategy, the Olympic Fast Track Program will seek to recruit exceptional athletes from outside the sport of cycling. It will aim to deliver them to the top step of the Olympic podium within one Olympic cycle. 

The vision is to develop an Olympic gold-medal-winning women’s team sprint combination whose journey to success positively impacts the future and supports a tangible step forward for women in the sport.

As a world-leader in sprint cycling knowledge and practice, the Australian Cycling Team is excited about the opportunity to extend and drive-forward the program’s approaches, with athletes on the program experiencing an exciting culture of learning, challenge, and change. 

The program presents an alternative model to developing world-beating athletes, utilising innovative thinking and practices, including exploring and developing an environment purposefully designed for women.  

Lynne Munro - Head of Olympic Fast Track Program | Australian Cycling Team

“This is an exciting program, taking targeted action and using innovative approaches to ensure we deliver a world-beating women’s team sprint for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games while leveraging the opportunity to make a difference for the future of women’s sprint. 

“It’s a bold vision, but there is a big opportunity here to lead the way, not only for our sport but shaping the design of performance environments for women.
 
“As one of the most successful nations in track sprint, we have a depth of knowledge and experience to capitalise on, and we will be pushing the boundaries of our coaching and preparation practices within the program.

“We want to harness the excitement of the opportunity, have people involved who contribute to the unique energy around the program. 

“Taking athletes new to the sport to the Olympic podium in a single cycle is a lofty goal, and we are looking for athletes that thrive on this degree of challenge, people who want to step out and find the next level in who they are and what they’re capable of.”

Get Involved

The program presents the opportunity of a fast and direct pathway to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and the Australian Cycling Team is keen to hear from athletes who think they might be suited and want to be part of this exceptional program. 

Whether this offers you a new or additional challenge to your current sport or training background, we want to hear from athletes inspired by this opportunity. 

Ideal athletes will have high levels of leg power, speed or acceleration, for example, in running, jumping or weightlifting, be highly motivated to challenge beyond limits and drive themselves and their team forward. 

Appropriate candidates will be offered entry to initial testing to assess their profile and potential. Future stages will work with a selected squad of athletes through progressive assessment and development.

Express your interest online through our website: australiancyclingteam.com/olympicfasttrack

The AusCycling Track National Championships was contested over five days of cycling action at the Anna Meares Velodrome from 24-28 March.

Plowright storms to triply gold in team pursuit, omnium and points races

Victorian powerhouse Jensen Plowright prevailed in three events, with an exciting skirmish with Queensland’s Liam Walsh to win gold in the elite men’s omnium.

Plowright, an Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy member, hit the ground running from the get-go in the four-race omnium with a second place in the scratch race early in the day.

Walsh battled back in the tempo round courtesy of a spirited lap gain on the field. However, Plowright balanced the ledger with a win in the elimination race at the beginning of the night session.

A Queensland versus Victoria battle ensued in the deciding points race, but Plowright’s ability to find an extra turn of speed proved too much for Walsh, who settled for the silver medal.

The win gave Plowright a second gold for the Championships after he guided Victoria to team pursuit gold on the opening day.

Moran wins elite women’s point race on the final lap

A South Australian onslaught from Chloe Moran and Amber Pate in the 100-lap points race capped off an exciting night of racing on Day 3.

Pate led the points for most of the race, only to have Moran take the title away from her at the final double-points lap finish after an opportunistic surge off the front with fellow South Australian Kat Chung-Orr.

The win secured Moran’s maiden individual elite national title and added to the team pursuit title she claimed on the opening day with South Australia

Leahy wins race against a clock

​A nail-biting elite men’s individual pursuit gold medal final duel between the Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy duo of Conor Leahy and James Moriarty captivated the Anna Meares Velodrome crowd.

Leahy, who broke his collarbone only five weeks ago, took command early in the 4000m battle, but Moriarty fought back to reduce the time split at the halfway mark. But the gap was too much of a mountain to climb for Moriarty in the back half of the race, as Leahy charged to back-to-back national titles.

The elite women’s individual pursuit was also a special occasion for a very different reason, with National Road Series rider Samantha de Riter claiming a maiden track national title.

Second-ranked qualifier De Riter proved too good for Australian Cycling Academy Podium Potential Academy member and former junior world champion Lauren Perry in the final as she stormed to her first green and gold jersey.

“I had a bit of a faster schedule in mind, but the legs weren’t quite there. I crashed five weeks ago and broke my collarbone … to come here and win that race, yeah, I’m pretty happy. I went out really hot maybe expecting a bit more than I had in the legs but to hold off in the end feels pretty special.” – Conor Leahy
​

Birthday joy for Martin-Wallace

Alexandra Martin-Wallace made it a birthday to remember on day 5 of the 2021 AusCycling Track National Championships, claiming a big win in the elite women’s scratch race.

Queensland’s Martin-Wallace had toiled hard all week-long for no podium reward but was able to turn her fortunes around in the final elite women’s race of the program.
Zipping up the green and gold jersey was a special moment for the Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy member, who was celebrating her 21st birthday.

The South Australian duo of Moran and Breanna Hargrave rounded out the podium in the silver and bronze medal positions.

Edwards wins maiden individual national title

Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy member Sophie Edwards scored a milestone win in the gruelling elite women’s omnium, the first individual national title of her career.

The South Australian was neck and neck with Queensland’s Alexandra Martin-Wallace in the scratch and tempo portions of the omnium but asserted her authority on the field with a classy win in the elimination race.

Edwards was then placed under the microscope by 2021 U23 national road champion Emily Watts’ unrelenting attacks in the final points race.

Watts persisted with attacks as the lap count dwindled, but Edwards' talent shone through to the finish to comfortably win the omnium green and gold jersey.

Edwards’ gold medal is her second of the Championships and continues South Australia’s dominance in this week’s elite women’s events.

The finish of the points race was heartbreak for Martin-Wallace, who lost her bronze medal finish to Tasmanian and fellow Podium Potential Academy member Lauren Perry on a countback after the final sprint.

Frislie triumphs in chaotic elite men’s scratch race

A frenetic elite men’s scratch race with entertainment from start to finish shut the curtains on a super Saturday at Anna Meares Velodrome.

Victorian Graeme Frislie emerged unscathed and first across the line in a ferocious scratch race that had the crowd on the edge of its seat.

From the gun, the pressure was on for the elite men courtesy of a daring but unsuccessful attempt to gain a lap from Haddon Kilmartin.

The intensity never wavered and would culminate in a series of courageous one-out attacks by firstly Jordan Villani and then Josh Duffy, who looked at one stage to have the win all wrapped up.

A rapid chase led by eventual silver medallist Oliver Bleddyn reeled Duffy back in on the final passing of the back straight, leading to a moment of chaos which ended with Frislie crossing the line for the national title and Blake Agnoletto, Declan Trezise and Jensen Plowright laying on the Anna Meares Velodrome boards.

All three riders were thankfully unscathed from major injuries in the incident.
​

The AusCycling Track National Championships was contested over five days of cycling action at the Anna Meares Velodrome from 24-28 March.

Clonan claims triple crown on hometrack

Queensland’s sprint queen Kristina Clonan notched a trifecta of individual national titles after winning the elite women’s keirin, sprint and time trial, plus grabbing silver in the team sprint. 

In the keirin, the Podium Potential Academy's Clonan hit the front early in the keirin 1-6 final and never wavered in speed despite a valiant effort from Felice Beitzel, who would finish second, as well as Lara Tucker. The sprint sensation has a chance to win a fourth gold medal today in the elite women’s team sprint as a member of the Queensland team.

“I saw Lara come around and thought, oh, this is going to hurt, and it did – but yeah, it was good. It was a proactive race with people trying things. This is the place to try it, and I just think that’s great. I just love when people are gutsy.”

In the sprint, the Queenslander overcame her idol and mentor Kaarle McCulloch in the semi-final before defeating South Australia’s Breanna Hargrave in the gold medal final.

​“Kaarle is my idol, and when I switched over (to sprint), she was a really great mentor for me and really took me under her wing so I’m forever grateful. To race against her is just awesome.”

Cornish powers under a minute; claims dual crowns 

Thomas Cornish, a member of the Australian Cycling Team’s Podium Potential Academy, scorched the track with a time of 59.598secs en route to winning the elite men’s 1000m time trial title.

The history books were rewritten on the opening night firstly through the Victorian under 19 women’s team pursuit outfit smashing the clock with a time of 4mins 32.984secs.

“I’m absolutely stoked to have gone under (the minute) by half a second almost … it’s unbelievable – I can’t really describe it to be honest. I was not expecting it.” 

A scintillating performance from sprint Cornish  catapulted New South Wales to the elite men’s team sprint title.

Cornish, the third and final rider in the New South Wales team sprint train, overturned a seemingly unreachable deficit of 1.4 seconds to South Australia in the final pulsating lap of the gold medal final ignited the Anna Meares Velodrome crowd.

The Sutherland Shire speedster posted the fastest final lap split of the day when it mattered most, with a time of 12.748secs.

“Full credit to the boys, they delivered me pretty well, and we were within distance with one to go, and I just went through and managed to bring it home, which was good.

Richo defends sprint crown; double up in keirin

Matthew Richardson successfully defended his Australian sprint title at the 2021 AusCycling Track National Championships in dominant fashion.

The Western Australian’s undefeated run to gold was a display of pure speed and sprinter’s instincts that highlighted his potential to be Australia’s next big star on the track.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic games team member defeated Malaysian and former keirin world champion Mohd Azizulhasni Awang in the gold medal final.

In the keirin, the Malaysian one-two punch of Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Muhummas Shar proved too much to handle with Shar taking gold and Awang the silver. Richardson finished in the bronze medal position and was crowned the national champion.

Cycling's next-generation dreaming of a potential home Olympic Games in 2032 will also be in action, including a dozen from the Australian Cycling Team's Podium Potential Academy. 

​Brisbane's own Kristina Clonan continues her rise through the sprinter's ranks and hopes the home-town track knowledge and crowd support will spur her to defend her sprint crown.

"I'm really excited to be in Brisbane defending my sprint title. Track Nationals was postponed to December last year, so this has been a quick turnaround, but I'm excited," Clonan said.

Clonan will headline the sprint events with Kaarle McCulloch, the London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist and four-time world champion who continues her preparation towards Tokyo.

"To be here amongst riders such as Kaarle, she's been my idol for such a long time, and it's just awesome to get amongst it," Clonan added.

The Queensland Government supports the AusCycling Track National Championships through Tourism and Events Queensland, and the Brisbane City Council through Brisbane Economic Development Agency, and features on the It's Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Track Nationals peddling into town was a great way to showcase Brisbane as Australia's home of cycling.

"As Australia's urban adventure capital with an enviable outdoor lifestyle, Brisbane is the perfect location to welcome Australia's top cycling talent," Cr Schrinner said.

"Our strong cycling culture, safe network of cycle and bike paths, and internationally recognised Anna Meares Velodrome help to cement Brisbane's reputation as a world class events and cycling destination.

"We look forward to the economic boost this event will bring to our city, driving our economic recovery by attracting visitors to stay at our hotels, dine at cafes and restaurants and spend up with local businesses."

About #TrackNats21

​The AusCycling 2021 Track National Championships will feature 38 national titles contested over five days of cycling action at the Anna Meares Velodrome from 24-28 March and headlines the 2021 Brisbane Cycling Festival schedule, which will run 24 March – 12 April.

The Queensland Government supports it through Tourism and Events Queensland, and the Brisbane City Council through Brisbane Economic Development Agency, and features on the It's Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Live Streaming The Championships will be live-streamed via the AusCycling YouTube channel and SBS Cycling Central's Facebook Page:

• Thursday 25 March 2021 6.30pm AEST (7.30pm AEDT)
• Friday 26 March 2021 6.30pm AEST (7.30pm AEDT)
• Saturday 27 March 2021 6.30pm AEST (7.30pm AEDT)
• Sunday 28 March 2021 11am AEST (12pm AEDT)

Official website Visit the official website at tracknationals.org.au

Tickets Available at the door or online tracknationals.org.au/tickets.

Live Results Via the official results page.

Schedule - Gold Medal Finals

Wednesday 24 March 2021

• Elite - Time Trials (M&W), Team Pursuit (M&W)
• Under 19 Team Sprint (M&W), Team Pursuit (M&W), Scratch Races (M&W)

Thursday 25 March 2021

• Elite - Individual Pursuit (M&W), Sprint (W)
• Under 19 - Time Trials (M&W), Madisons (M&W), Keirin (M&W)

Friday 26 March 2021

• Elite – Omnium (M), Team Sprint (M), Points Race (W)
• Under 19 – Sprint (M), Omnium (W), Points Race (M)

Saturday 27 March 2021

• Elite - Sprint (M), Keirin (W), Omnium (W), Scratch Race (M)
• Under 19 - Individual Pursuit (W), Omnium (M)

Sunday 28 March 2021

• Elite - Team Sprint (W), Keirin (M), Scratch Race (W), Points Race (M)
• Under 19 - Points Race (W), Individual Pursuit (M)

Follow via AusCycling social media:

• facebook.com/AusCyclingAus
• twitter.com/AusCyclingAus
• instagram.com/AusCyclingAus
• AusCycling YouTube

Twenty-one-year-old Maeve Plouffe has etched her name onto one of Australia's most prestigious track cycling honour boards with a sensational record-breaking ride in Adelaide. 
 
Plouffe broke the Australian individual pursuit record while competing in the AusCycling Track Championships - South Australia, eclipsing the existing mark set by Ashlee Ankudinoff during her 2019 World Championships winning ride.  
 
"Being the fastest Australian woman in the history of the individual pursuit is still something I'm wrapping my head around," said Plouffe, who soared around the Adelaide Super-Drome in a time of 3mins 25.44secs to take half a second off the national mark.  
 
Plouffe's last effort in the 3000m individual pursuit came on her World Championship debut in Berlin in February 2020, where she clocked 3mins 26.742secs for the 12-lap event.  

Amazingly, Plouffe broke the record while in the middle of heavy training as part of Olympic preparations.  
 
"This record is something that I have had my eye on since Berlin last year, but in all honesty, I wasn't expecting to break it until at least after the Olympics on full preparation and taper. With Tokyo only six months away, we are training heavily, which means there are very few opportunities to freshen up and test the legs against the clock. 
 
"But when my coach Glenn (O'Shea) gave me the option to race the State champs, I jumped at the chance because I find that the individual and team pursuit skillsets translate across very nicely, so any opportunity to practice suffering against the clock is an invaluable one!  
 
"Racing an individual pursuit can be nerve-racking because it truly is a truth race — there's no hiding, hence why it's so beneficial to use it to assess how you're progressing."

Plouffe joined an exclusive list that have broken both the Australian record and the 3min 30-second barrier in the past two decades. It also includes a trio of world champions in Ankudinoff, Rebecca Wiasak and Katie Mactier, and multiple national champion Annette Edmondson.  
 
"With no specific prep, I was mostly interested in seeing where I was "at" in this phase of our prep, which makes the record even cooler because it shows that our Australian women's cycling squad has really stepped up to an unprecedented high in the last year.  
 
"We still have a lot of work left to do, so I'm eager to see how much we can improve as a squad between now and the Games!" 
 
After taking up cycling in 2015 at the age of 14 after taking part in long-distance ocean swimming, Adelaide's Plouffe claimed several medals on both the road and track in the under 17 endurance ranks. 
  
She made her debut in the green and gold for Australia at the 2017 Junior (Under 19) Track Cycling World Championships. In her first year in the elite ranks in 2018, Plouffe joined the Australian Cycling Team's Podium Potential Academy for its inaugural class.  
  
"Over the last two years, I've seen the most challenges physically and mentally than I think I ever have in my career, but they have also been the most rewarding. Although I have a long way to go, I think I've matured and come into myself as an athlete over the last year.  
 
"There is a big difference between training to be a generally good athlete in most areas to training to perfect a particular role or event. I've found that moving towards the latter has really caused my times to drop substantially. Being around my more experienced teammates and support staff has taught me the little things that really do separate the good from the best!  ​

Becoming a train-on member of the Podium endurance squad late in 2019, Plouffe excelled with five Oceania Championships medals in October before stepping up to the World Cup level where she won team pursuit gold and silver.  
 
But despite the success, Plouffe was considered an outside chance of receiving a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games team selection due to the strength of Australia's women's endurance ranks.  
 
"It's been daunting at times — I wasn't originally in contention for an Olympic spot, but I knew deep down that if I would regret not pushing hard for an opportunity to put my hand up for selection. I'm grateful for the coaching staff at the Australian cycling team for giving me a chance.  
 
After a strong debut at the UCI World Championships in February 2020, Plouffe received her maiden Olympic team nod alongside experienced riders Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Amy Cure and Annette Edmondson.  
 
"The selection process was brutal because the depth of talent in the women's track endurance field is outstanding — I was thrown into a new team racing 10+ seconds faster than I've ever been before, which took a lot of mental resilience.  

With the Games postponed just a few weeks later, Plouffe revealed the roller coaster ride, followed by the COVID-19 interrupted 2020, has taught her to be more relaxed.  
 
"Although a delayed Games due to COVID was a disappointment, a positive was that I at least had a few months to breathe and reset after what was a stressful selection period. A whole extra year to prepare as a young athlete is invaluable, especially for me because it gave me more time to mesh with my new team." 
 
And while she has a full schedule of training and racing with the Australian Cycling Team, and also ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast on the road, as she prepares for the Games, Plouffe still finds time to improve in other areas of life by completing a dual Science / Law degree. 
 
"During 2020, I also was able to take on a full-time study load in my double degree because I knew we wouldn't be travelling for races. Overall, I feel so much more relaxed and set up for Tokyo 2021 — there has been a lot of hard work put in, now it's up to us to execute as a team!" ​​

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

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

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

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

Guests:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women's Recap

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

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

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

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

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

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

WOMEN'S GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

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

In front of about 1300 fans - 50 per cent capacity because of the COVID restrictions - the Australian Cycling Team was back on track at the Adelaide Track League.

Full report at https://tourdownunder.com.au/blog-articles/matthew-glaetzer-on-overcoming-cancer-to-compete-in-the-olympics  

Jack Fletcher fletchermedia.com.au @fletcher_media

Australia’s track stars and Olympic hopefuls will light up the Adelaide Super-Drome on Tuesday 19 January to kick off the week-long cycling extravaganza in South Australia. 

The track event, in partnership with AusCycling, will see Perth’s four-time title world track holder Sam Welsford joined by Leigh Howard, Alex Porter and Kell O’Brien with whom he won the 2019 World Title Winning Team Pursuit. 

Sprinters Matt Glaetzer and Nathan Hart will round out a solid seven-man squad who have all been selected for the Tokyo Olympics this year.

“Incorporating disciplines such as track to the calendar for 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling is really exciting. There is some sensational track talent here in South Australia, in both the men’s and women’s leagues and I’m thrilled to be able to welcome rising stars as well as some very highly accomplished riders,” Men’s Race Director Stuart O’Grady said. 

“We are so fortunate to have a world class facility in the Adelaide Super-Drome and this event will be the perfect curtain raiser to the Santos Festival of Cycling” he added.

The men's endurance squad is coached by Tim Decker who commented, “It’s great to have the quality of athletes here to compete in the Santos Festival of Cycling Track event. During the event there will be multiple World Champions and Olympic medalists in most of the events, therefore the quality of racing will be fantastic to watch.”

The women’s endurance squad is headlined by Australia’s only four-time world champion in the track endurance ranks, Ashlee Ankudinoff, and features Team Garmin-Australia track and road sensations Annette Edmondson, Maeve Plouffe and Georgia Baker as well as Team BikeExchange’s guest rider Alexandra Manly.“

There is something really special about Adelaide summers and track racing. Going back many years they have set the backdrop to incredible nights of exciting racing steeped in tradition.” Women’s Race Director Kimberley Conte said.

“The heat, the speed and rush of the wind as athletes race past all combine to make an incredible atmosphere. Do yourself a favour, when you are in the stands, go to the apex of the turn and look straight down from the railing and feel your heart racing as the riders speed past. I promise you won’t be disappointed!”

“It’s really exciting to be able to expose track racing to fans who may have only been focused on the road racing events previously. I hope it excites as many people as last year, I really encourage everyone to come down and watch and see what track racing is all about!” Maeve Plouffe

2021 Santos Festival of Cycling 

• Ashlee Ankudinoff
• Georgia Baker
• Annette Edmondson
• Maeve Plouffe
• Alexandra Manly
  
• Matt Glaetzer 
• Nathan Hart 
• Sam Welsford 
• Kell O'Brien 
• Leigh Howard 
• Luke Plapp
• Alex Porter

​
Tickets

Tickets for the Adelaide Track League are selling fast and available at www.adelaidetrackleague.com

Tuesday 19 January 2021
Adelaide Super-Drome
State Sports Park, 50 Anna Meares Way, Gepps Cross SA 5094
Tickets: $10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Team Garmin-Australia: 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling

MEN’S

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

​
WOMEN’S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Simon Jones - Performance Director, Australian Cycling Team

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

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

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

About the Australian Cycling Team

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

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

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

Athlete Memberships 2020/2021

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

2019 world champion Stephanie Morton OAM, 29, has announced her immediate retirement from international cycling after a ten-year international career which spanned both able-bodied and para-cycling disciplines. 

One of the world's fastest for nearly a decade, Morton's impressive resume boasts the 2019 team sprint world title with Kaarle McCulloch, seven World Championship medals, four Commonwealth Games gold medals, thirteen national titles and stunningly, three Paralympic world titles and Paralympic Games gold.    

As a strong medal chance in the three Tokyo Olympic Games track sprint events, including one of the team sprint gold medal favourites, the decision to hang up her bike eight months out of the rescheduled Games did not come lightly for Morton. 
 
“It was not a decision I have taken lightly, and thankfully I had the support of the Australian Cycling Team throughout the whole process, along with my family and close friends," said Morton. 

“No one could have prepared for what 2020 delivered, hence why this decision has been eight months in the making as I needed to really consider what was best for me moving forward, and it has probably been the toughest thing I've ever had to do.  

“But even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it moved the Games' date, I had always said that the Tokyo Games wasn't going to define me, win or lose. 

“In an ideal world, it would have been nice to go out one more time wearing green gold, but we aren't in an ideal world anymore.  

“I feel like if we have gone through a global pandemic and the worst that happens to me is I miss a bike race, then I'm doing ok."

Beginning her cycling journey in 2005 at the age of 15 with South Coast Cycling Club in Adelaide, Morton impressed both on a state and national level as a teenager.  

At twenty in 2010, Morton took on the role as Tandem Pilot for visually impaired cyclist Felicity Johnson, with the combination winning three world titles across 2011 and 2012, followed by gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In 2013, the pair were awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) Medal for service to the sport.  

After the 2012 Paralympic Games, Morton switched her sole focus to the single bike and individual success immediately followed with a triple national title haul in 2013 gaining her a maiden elite World Championship selection.  

Over the next three years, Morton amassed a further seven top-eight places before breaking onto the World Championship podium in 2017 where she claimed dual silver in the individual sprint, the first of three consecutive silver medals in the event.  

In the team sprint event, Morton enjoyed early success with Meares, before winning World Championship silver in 2017 with Kaarle McCulloch. The pair went to break the Australian record on multiple occasions over the next few seasons, before setting their existing mark during their 2019 World Championship winning campaign in Poland.   

At the Commonwealth Games, Morton claimed four gold across two campaigns, firstly at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where she defeated long-time idol Anna Meares to win gold in the sprint. On home soil in 2018 on the Gold Coast, Morton dazzled with a triple gold medal haul.   

Morton's Olympic debut came in Rio 2016 where she teamed with Anna Meares in the team sprint where they finished fourth. Morton also claimed two 13th place finishes in the women's keirin and individual sprint. 

“I have had such an amazing career.  

“The past fifteen years has left me with a lot of favourite moments.  

“I think winning three gold medals in front of a home crowd at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games would have to be up there, along with becoming world champion with Karlz in 2019”. 

Morton will now turn her attention to her post-racing career having studied a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice in parallel with her international cycling career.  
​
“I have always had a plan for after cycling. You have to. I made sure I was studying so that when the time came to enter the "real world" I would hit the ground running.  

“The bike has given me a lot of achievements but cycling and being an elite athlete has given me the ability push myself and always strive to be the best version of me, and to me, that's a huge achievement I can take with me into my new life. I start my new career next month, and I'm really looking forward to taking the skills I've obtained as an athlete with me into the workforce”.  

A selfless person on and off the bike, Morton quickly thanked all those who played a part in her sensational career.   

“It takes an absolute army to get an athlete to their best. To all the staff I have worked with over the years, thank you for pushing me to be my best, and for creating an elite environment. They work so hard behind the scenes to make our dreams come true.  

“Thank you to the Australian Cycling Team for believing in me, especially in the last four years with Simon Jones at the helm, making sure we were doing everything possible to put ourselves in a position for medals.  

“Thank you to my teammates, both past and present. I've made some friendships that will last a lifetime, and we have shared some amazing experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. I cannot wait to see what this team does in Tokyo-look out.  

“To my coach Nick. Thanks for always putting the person before the athlete. This has helped not only me, but the whole team be the best person they can be, which then carries over onto the bike. It was an absolute honour to have you by my side through this journey. 

“A huge thank you to the supporters who have followed my journey. I love reading your messages of support, and racing in front of the roar of a home crowd- it still gives me goosebumps. 

“My family and friends. For following me around the world and sharing in the highs and lows and chasing the dream with me. I couldn't have done this without you”.  

Morton - Career Snapshot  
​ 

• 4x World Champion (Elite – 2019; Para – 2011, 2012 x 2)  
• 4x Commonwealth Games gold (2018 – 3; 2014 - 1) 
• 2x Olympian (Rio 2016; Named to Tokyo 2020 team prior to retirement)  
• 13x National Champion (Elite) 
• 2012 Paralympic Games gold medalist (Tandem Pilot for Felicity Johnson)  
• Current Australian record holder (with McCulloch) Team Sprint (32.255seconds) 

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.

Hear from the Victorian Members of the Australian Cycling Team who took part in a live webinar to hear their insights and experiences of riding through COVID-19.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic team members Leigh Howard, Kell O’Brien and Luke Plapp, Podium Potential Academy member Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Australian Cycling Team Lead Endurance Coach Tim Decker chatted with Matt Poyner about challenges, opportunities and the things they have learned since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit earlier this year. 

WATCH NOW

NEXT 

Our second ‘Riding through COVID-19’ live webinar will feature Paralympic and world champion cyclists Carol Cooke, Stuart Tipp, Emily Petricola and Hannah Macdougall on Tuesday 1 September.  ​

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.

As the uncertainty of the COVID-19 Pandemic continues and as the timelines for easing of restrictions varies across the country, Cycling Australia (CA) can confirm the 2020 Elite & U19 Track National Championships in Brisbane has been rescheduled to December. 

In considering the decision, CA consulted with state governments, medical experts and our Member States, to ensure that the Championships operate in a manner that is accessible, fair and safe for all participants, officials and local communities. 

The Championships was initially scheduled for March 2020, but was postponed to September following the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic. The Championships will now be contested from 16-20 December in conjunction with the Para-Track National Championships (18-20 December) to create a blockbuster five-day feast of track cycling at the Anna Meares Velodrome. 

The Championships is expected to attract a host of Australia’s best, including those athletes aiming for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, across the traditional team and individual events including the sprint, pursuit, time trials, Madison and Omnium. 

While Australia’s Team for the 2020(1) Paralympic Games is yet to be named, Emily Petricola and Paige Greco will use the nationals to further push their names in front of selectors for the Games. 

“It’s disappointing that the Games were postponed but we’re all looking forward to getting back into serious racing at the nationals, which is always a highlight,” said Petricola, a C4 pursuit, omnium and scratch race world champion.“(If selected) This would be my first Paralympics if chosen so I’m hopeful a vaccine can be found so it can go ahead.

“You can’t spend too much time worrying about it, you’ve just got to keep training in the hope that it is going to happen.”
​
The program and entry information for the rescheduled Elite and U19 Track National Championships will be available soon at tracknationals.org.au. 

2020 Track National Championships - Frequently Asked Questions

Tasmania’s Amy Cure, 27, has announced her immediate retirement from international cycling following a glittering twelve-year career representing Australia on the highest stage.

“It’s one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make,” said Cure, who was selected to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020 last March. Cure revealed her decision to retire came following the postponement of the Games due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. “I feel the same as I do on the start line at an Olympic Games or World Championships. I’m incredibly nervous, but also so excited for the unknown.”
​ 

 

One of the world’s most decorated track cyclists, Cure etched her name onto almost every honour board with her enviable resume boasting three world titles, two Commonwealth Games gold medals, three Australian Olympic Team selections and ten national titles. 

Cure stands alone as the only track cyclist in history to win a medal in six different world championship events - the individual and team pursuits, points and scratch races, the Madison and the omnium. Her 13 career World Championships medals (3 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze) ranks second all-time for Australia’s female track cyclists behind Anna Meares (27). ​

“I have settled on this decision for a little while now, and I’m confident I have made the right choice and am excited for the next chapter in my life,” said Cure. “Cycling is and will always be something for which I’ll be forever grateful. It’s taught me so many valuable lessons that have shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve learned to be disciplined, perseverant and optimistic, but I think one of the biggest things I’ve learnt is how to be resilient.
 
“I’m satisfied with the achievements I’ve accomplished across my career, and my time with the Australian Cycling Team has given me so many incredible things in my life, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities and experiences I have had and the friends I have made. 

“But after making cycling my priority for the last decade, my relationships with family and friends are my priority now.”

Cure’s interest in cycling was sparked at the age of twelve after a visit to watch the Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals with her family. 

After quickly joining her local Cycling Australia club, Mersey Valley Devonport, Cure began to impress on the national stage as a teenager, before turning heads while on her Australian debut when she claimed four junior (Under 19) world titles across 2009 and 2010, including setting a world record in the individual pursuit. 

Cure made her elite World Championships debut in 2011 at the tender age of 18, before her first Australian Olympic Team experience came a year later with selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games. At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, an unfortunate training crash on the eve of the Games cruelled the team’s chances of a podium finish. 

Breaking through for the first of three world titles in 2014 with victory in the points race in Colombia, Cure added a second rainbow jersey one year later in France after victory in the team pursuit in world record time (with Melissa Hoskins, Ashlee Ankudinoff and Annette Edmondson). 

At the 2019 UCI Track World Championships in Poland, Cure secured her third world crown with Ashlee Ankudinoff, Alexandra Manly, Annette Edmondson and Georgia Baker in the team pursuit. 

Amy contested two Commonwealth Games, firstly in Glasgow in 2014 where she won silver and bronze medals, before dual gold on home soil at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.

While focused on the track, Cure also achieved success on the road with a triple victory (GC, Youth and Points Classification) in the 2013 Tour de Feminin in the Czech Republic a highlight, while also contesting such WorldTour Classics as Ronde Van Vlaanderen, La Flèche Wallonne and La Course by Tour de France. 

“The 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold medals would have to be up there for one of the best. A home Games is something so special and to have all your loved ones close by was incredible,” said Cure, who revealed her 2019 world title was her greatest achievement. 

“Four months prior to those world championships, I had a breakdown of a long-term relationship that came to an unexpected end. It was a difficult and dark time, so to be able to come out and win the gold medal despite the circumstances was an incredible self-achievement and my proudest moment.”

While Cure walks away from the team with a third Australian Olympic Team selection secured, she is confident that her squad has the goods for success in Tokyo in 2021. 

“I really believe they have the girls to give Australia every opportunity of success in Tokyo as they have great depth, talent and coaching.

“It’s been a difficult decision as I know Glenn O’Shea will be an exceptional coach. That made it hard in my decision making as I know it’s a huge set back in moving forward.

“I would much rather allow someone else that has the drive, energy, motivation and potential to be great. I believe they will do just as good, if not better without me there. And there is no doubt in my mind about that.

Cure paid tribute to the many people integral to guiding her along her journey in the sport. 

“I’ve been fortunate to have some pretty influential people in my career, both on and off the bike. It is hard to thank everyone, but I would like to mention Matthew Gilmore, who has been beside me all 15 years of my career. Whether it was in the TIS as a coach or CA, he has been such an influential mentor to myself personally and my career as a cyclist. 

“And the other would have to be the Trengove family. I moved in with them ten years ago when I was trying to make my first Olympic Games, and they have been so supportive and understanding.

“And to my teammates who have been there every single day along the way and the support from all the staff at both Cycling Australia and the Tasmanian Institute of Sport. They have given me so many opportunities for which I will be forever grateful. 

“And finally, a thank you to my family back in Tassie. They have been so supportive of me across the whole journey, through all the ups and downs. I wouldn’t have achieved what I did without their support.”

“I want to personally thank Amy for her tremendous contribution to the sport of cycling for more than 15 years,” said Cycling Australia Performance Director Simon Jones. “I fully support Amy’s decision to retire, understanding the significance to her and the team. From all the team, we wish you well for the future."

Cycling Australia will nominate a new athlete to the AOC for selection to the Tokyo 2020 Australian Olympic Team in line with its nomination criteria. 

Amy Cure - Career Snapshot  

• 3x World Champion (Elite - 2014 Points Race, 2015 & 2019 Team Pursuit) 
• 3x Olympian (2012, 2016, Named to 2020 team prior to retirement) 
• 2x Commonwealth Games gold (2018 - Team Pursuit & Scratch Race)
• 10x National Champion (Elite)
• 4x Junior World Champion (2009 & 2010)

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.

Cycling Australia says thank you - National Volunteer Week 

As the country celebrates National Volunteer Week, Cycling Australia would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers who give their time to keep the wheels of our great sport turning across Australia.

The contributions and sacrifices of thousands of volunteers across our hundreds of clubs, events and the Australian Cycling Team, ensure our cyclists, participants and spectators can share in and enjoy our great sport. 

The theme for National Volunteer Week 2020 is “Changing Communities. Changing Lives” and it is clear that we have many unsung heroes who are doing just that across the country. 

In the Australian Cycling Team, Olympian Stephanie Morton has been making a difference through her volunteer work with the University of South Australia Invictus Pathways Program.

The Invictus Pathways Program is for current and past-serving veterans and emergency first responders who have physical, emotional and/or psychological conditions often suffered as a result of traumatic events. The aim of the program is to provide pathways for community reintegration, rehabilitation and recovery programs and to also provide goal setting, peer to peer activities and to support well-being.
 
The Program utilises sport and exercise to help those impacted achieve life goals and Morton jumped at the opportunity to become an ambassador in 2017 and has attended a number of training camps with athletes. 

“Having been a part of the Australian Para-cycling program from 2010-2012, I thought it was a great opportunity to pass on some of my experience and even learn a thing or two myself,” said Morton, a 2012 London Paralympic Games gold medallist as a Tandem Pilot. 
 
“These people have literally sacrificed their lives to keep ours safe, so being able to chat with them and even just be a small part of their journey is humbling. 

“We talk about everything from recovery to race day pressure, but I enjoy attending their events and functions where I hear them share their story or be recognised for their efforts at the Invictus Games.”