 Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the 14 athletes selected to the Australian Team for the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships to be held from 12-15 September in Emmen, the Netherlands.
It has been a stellar opening to the 2019 international season for Australian para-cyclists with a 24-medal haul, including eight gold, captured across the first two rounds of the 2019 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup season in May. Seven-time world champion Carol Cooke (VIC), reigning world champion Emilie Miller (NSW), and newcomer Paige Greco (SA) have been selected following their superb start to 2019 which sees them wearing the World Cup leader's jerseys in their respective categories. 2019 world champion on the track Emily Petricola (VIC) receives her first road team selection, with 2018 Road World Championship medallists Kaitlyn Schurmann (VIC), Hannah Macdougall (VIC) and Meg Lemon (SA) also selected. Reigning road champion Alistair Donohoe (VIC), dual Paralympic champion David Nicholas (QLD) and Darren Hicks (SA) will all be eager to add a road world title to the rainbow jerseys claimed at the 2019 Track World Championships in March. The Australian Team will contest the third round of the World Cup in Canada in August ahead of September's World Championships. Offering valuable qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the Championships will see the Australian Team vie against 200 of the world's best from 30 countries in the road races and time trials. Australian Team
0 Comments
Image: Casey Gisbon
Australia has finished the 2019 UCI Track World Championships in Poland in second place overall with ten medals, tying the Netherlands for the most gold medals with six. Underlining this consistent display across the Championships, the team boasted a result inside the top six in all but one Olympic event.
Adelaide’s Alex Manly continued the rainbow connection for the women’s track endurance squad with an electrifying victory in the 100-lap points race, while the vintage form of Sydney’s Kaarle McCulloch continued as she completed a set of medals with a surprise silver in the keirin. Sprint world champion from 2018 Matthew Glaetzer finished just off the podium in fourth, as did two-time world champions Leigh Howard and Cameron Meyer in the Madison. “Fantastic results, ten medals is tremendous, but more importantly it is about the performances,” said Cycling Australia Performance Director Simon Jones. “We saw some really good results across the board. The men’s team pursuit stands out clearly, a world record performance and by such a margin. “The women’s endurance squad’s performance was outstanding, there has been through quite a big change in the program and the girls have really bought in, there is good energy. “The women's team sprint gold which equally shows that they keep getting better as a team. Matt [Glaetzer] had a big season and to perform the way he did here, to finish fourth is a good result considering what we are trying to achieve at the moment. “From here we stop, to try to learn, not just from the World Championships, and to keep asking ourselves what we need to do. I think it the trick to this is to make sure we get the fundamentals right and we don’t make it too complicated because I think we are where we need to be at the moment.” WATCH
Click to set custom HTML
 Kaarle McCulloch celebrates a complete set of medals. Image: Casey Gibson The stellar form of Kaarle McCulloch continued with the Sydney cyclist completing a set of medals, winning a surprise silver in the keirin final. McCulloch added to her team sprint gold and time trial bronze with a storming ride to finish behind Hong Kong’s Wai Sze Lee who rode to her second gold medal of the Championships. “With the new format of the keirins, I was unsure how I would handle it with more rides, but I got better with my execution as my rides went on. In the final, I had to get better at finding the gaps, and I ended up getting Lee’s wheel,” said McCulloch. “I can’t quite believe this right now, the keirin is my last focus so it is nice to know that I can actually do it and encouraging as we head towards Tokyo. “This is ten years on from my first world title in Poland, I am still improving, I am setting personal bests. I love the environment here at Cycling Australia, working with Steph is amazing, we have a good partnership going on. “We have a common dream heading towards Tokyo and hopefully we can sign seal and deliver that dream.” Stephanie Morton, who looked in ominous form after storming to three straight wins in the heat, quarterfinals and semifinals, finished in fourth. The result capped a strong week from the South Australian who claimed sprint gold (with McCulloch) and a third straight World Championships sprint silver medal. MEN'S SPRINT Glaetzer battle's Jeffrey Hoogland (NED) in the semi finals. Image Casey Gibson Matthew Glaetzer wrapped up his 2019 UCI Track World Championships with a fourth in the men’s sprint, his second result just off the podium after also finishing fourth in the keirin.
Since winning the world title in the Netherlands twelve months ago, it has been a packed schedule for Glaetzer which took in both National and Oceania Championships, Commonwealth Games, the Japanese keirin season, plus four rounds to open the recent 2018/19 World Cup season which netted three gold and one silver. On Saturday, fifth fastest qualifier Glaetzer looked on track for a successful title defence with strong rides sending him to the semi-final against Jeffrey Hoogland (NED). However, on Sunday, the Dutch rider was too strong for the South Australian in their clash in two straight rides, ending the reigning champion’s hope of becoming just the second Australian to defend a sprint world crown. Up against hometown hero Rudyk (POL) and a parochial crowd in the bronze medal final, Glaetzer took the win in their first heat, before later being relegated for entering the sprinter’s lane. Riding a wave of red and white flags, Rudyk overcame Glaetzer in the front straight in their second heat to take the bronze medal. 
Alex Manly celebrates her second title of the UCI World Championships. Image: Casey Gibson
Alexandra Manly claimed her second rainbow jersey of the 2019 World Championships with an electrifying victory in the 100-lap points race.
“I can’t believe what just happened just then, it is still a blur, it is so super special,” said Manly, who announced her race intentions early by figuring in the points in the opening two of ten sprint competitions. A conservative next thirty laps ensued before Manly launched a decisive move at the halfway mark. Together with Yang (KOR), Manly took a lap on the field and with it twenty bonus points and the race lead. Boylan (IRE) and Badykova (RUS) teamed to try to put a halt to Australia’s third women’s endurance world title of the week when they took a late lap, pushing Manly into third overall. Manly’s smart tactical race paid dividends as she finished among the points in the final sprint which elevated her to the top of the podium. “The plan worked out perfectly. I conserved energy at the start but still managed to get points,” Manly explained. “Then I recovered, recovered, recovered and when the moment was there I attacked. “I knew I had to go for a lap as I knew I would need a big chunk of points if I wanted to be in the mix for the medals. I just needed to stay composed for the final sprint, and I did.” The win was the women’s endurance squad’s third of the week, with Manly joining Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Amy Cure (TAS), Annette Edmondson (SA) and Georgia Baker (TAS) to claim the team pursuit title, while Ankudinoff won the individual pursuit. Cure and Baker also claimed Madison silver, while Edmondson finished fifth in the omnium. “This week has been super special, Ash getting the rainbows yesterday was so inspiring. And the girls in the Madison last night, they fought all the way, they almost had it. And also to Nettie, she only had one mistake which cost her but she fought to the end.” Men’s Madison
Image Casey Gibson
The Madison always promises and never fails to deliver, with the Australian pairing of Leigh Howard and Cameron Meyer edged off the podium in the dying stages of the 50km Madison final in which riders averaged an astonishing 59.2km/h.
The Aussie duo set the tone early, duelling with the Polish pairing and an excited crowd to sit atop the rankings equal with the home team after 5 (of 20) sprints. At this point, eventual gold medallists Germany made their first serious play for a medal, taking a lap on the field. This move was immediately answered by Australia, Denmark, Great Britain and Belgium. Second overall at the halfway mark, Howard and Meyer took another lap and for the rest of the race they desperately fought for a spot on the podium. However, the Aussie pairing was pushed out of the medals in a see sawing final fifty laps which saw multiple laps taken by the German, Belgian and Danish outfits in a thrilling end to the race.  Cam Scott powering through the time trial. Image: Casey Gisbon Just 24 hours after stunning the track cycling world by obliterating the team pursuit world record, Alex Porter, Kelland O’Brien and Cameron Scott shelved their rainbow jerseys to contest Friday’s schedule.
Debutant Scott clocked a personal best of 1mins 0.790secs for the four-lap time trial, the fifth fastest of the afternoon’s qualifying session. Scott emphasised his claim to be among the best in the world in the final with his 1min 1.048secs placing him fifth overall. After teaming with O’Brien, Leigh Howard and Sam Welsford to post the new world mark of 3mins 48.012secs in the four-kilometre team pursuit, Porter took on the individual event over the same distance, finishing fourteenth (4:25.562). In a punishing 160-lap points race, O’Brien pounced to take a solo lap and with it twenty points to move into third overall after forty laps. A sate of attacks ensued over the next eighty laps, and with half the field lapping the field at some point. O’Brien took another solo lap inside the final fifty laps to move into the bronze medal position, however, his opponents responded and his advantage quickly absorbed over the final twenty laps, before he finished a gallant seventh overall.  image via Casey Gibson In just her fifth international competition in the new four-race format, Annette Edmondson finished fifth in the women’s omnium.
The South Australian opened her campaign with a controlled second place in the scratch race before a tenth place in the tempo race placed fourth overall at the halfway mark of the competition. Edmondson’s run at the podium took a dent after finishing fourteenth in the elimination race which dropped her down to sixth overall, twenty-eight points reigning world champion Kirsten Wild (NED) heading into the final event, the points race. Early in the 80-lap race, Edmondson dropped to seventh however she launched herself midway through the race into medal contention after taking a solo lap and with it twenty bonus points. Despite her best efforts in the final thirty laps, Edmondson could not gain an advantage on the four riders ahead of her and finished fifth overall, just five points off the bronze medal. “I would have liked to have had a different result today, but I made a big mistake, and there was nothing I could do about it,” said Edmondson, referring to her elimination race result. “But you just have to put your head back on and think about the last race to come and how to change the result. “I had to do something in the points race, I managed to take a lap, but in the end, it took it out of me. I gave it everything I could and fifth was the best I could manage on the day.” The 2012 Olympic medallist and 2015 world champion in the now-defunct six-race format, Edmondson is still finding her feet in the four-race program. “I like that it is in one day, but I am still getting used to it and there is still a lot to learn of the new format,” said Edmondson, who took gold at the World Cup in New Zealand in January. “I need to get better at the tempo race, so it wasn’t like I had a perfect race other than the elimination race today. “But practice makes perfect and I will have a lot more opportunities out there before the big one in Tokyo. “Yes, it is disappointing today, but it makes you hungrier.” 
Photo © Casey Gibson
Two days after pulling on the team sprint rainbow jersey, South Australia’s Stephanie Morton (SA) claimed a third consecutive World Championship sprint silver medal.
“You can never be upset with three straight podium appearances at a World Championships,” said Morton, “Yes, it wasn’t the gold, but you have to put it into perspective that I am actually being consistent at a standard enough to get medals at a World Championships.”
At the Pruszkow Velodrome on Thursday, Morton topped the flying 200m qualifying for the fourth-straight World Championships with a time of 10.546secs (averaging 68.272km/h). She then progressed unscathed to the semi-finals with wins over Madalyn Godby (USA) and Olena Starikova (UKR).
Morton was dominant in her semi-final defeat of rising star Lea Sophie Friedrich (GER) , beating the German in straight heats, setting up a tantalising clash with Lee, with the pair claiming five of the six World Cup sprint gold on offer this season. In the first heat, Lee turned on her speed to reel in Morton on the home straight for the win. Morton took it to Lee in the second heat with a surprise attack with two laps to go, however, it wasn’t enough to hold Lee claimed her maiden world title. “She is absolutely on fire at the moment, she was amazing when I raced her at the World Cups and I knew it was going to be some tough racing,” said Morton, who celebrated her maiden elite world title on Wednesday in the team sprint with Kaarle McCulloch. “I ticked boxes today, but I also made mistakes. The first ride in final I wasn’t too happy with, I made one small mistake and it was race over. Not unhappy with the final, still yet to go over it. “But we will go through and see what we got right and what we didn’t.” For the 28-year-old Morton, it continued a consistent 2018/19 season which saw her top the sprint qualification, while claiming two gold, silver and a bronze in the four World Cups she entered. “I feel like every race I go into now I am more confident, am racing better... the exposure we are getting consistently racing at this higher level I feel more prepared going in,” Morton said. “When I first started racing at this level, I was so nervous. “Now it is cool calm and collected. You have a job to do and you get it done, simple as that.” Morton will now have a day off before contesting the keirin on the final day of the Championships on Sunday. “Kick the heels up tomorrow (Saturday), have a bit of rest and recovery, and we will see what happens in the keirin on Sunday. We all know what that is like, it is unpredictable, so bring it on.”  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.  Photo © Casey Gibson Moments after cheering their male counterparts to team pursuit glory, Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Amy Cure (TAS), Annette Edmondson (SA) and Georgia Baker (TAS) completed the prestigious double by claiming the women’s crown.
Fastest qualifiers on Wednesday (4:14.915), the quartet subbed in Alexandra Manly - who celebrated her twenty-third birthday on Thursday - in place of Edmondson for their first-round clash with Italy. A malfunction in the Australian starting gate, followed by a false start by the Italians, failed to rattle the Australians as they soared into the final with a stunning win in 4mins 13.913secs. Edmondson returned for the final and the Australian quartet pounced on the British outfit from the gate, establishing a lead of half a second after one kilometre. In a tight tussle, the margin remained under one second for the entirety of the 16-lap race, with the Australians holding off a late fightback to win in a time of 4mins 14.333secs (averaging 56.619km/h), two-tenths of a second ahead of Great Britain (4:14.537). “It still hasn’t sunk in, we always believed we could do it,” said Edmondson, who shared in the 2015 world title with Cure and Ankudinoff. “We’ve got a great team vibe at the moment, everyone is really positive and really relaxed coming in and in a good mental space, so when you see your teammates doing well you do the same! “We did all we could out there and we’rereally happy to be world champions!” Georgia Baker was ecstatic to claim her maiden elite world crown. “We put three really strong rides together, we’re so happy to be world champions,” Baker said. “At the moment I am struggling for words I am so proud and happy be in the rainbows. We have worked super hard, not just us but also Macey and Kristina back at home. They deserve every bit of this too.” Fellow Tasmanian Amy Cure was overcome with emotion following the win, her second after winning in 2015. “It is so great to be able to share this moment with these girls, it has been a bit of a roller coaster year, so it’s great to be able to pull on the rainbows now and do it with this group.” For Ankudinoff, she becomes the first Australian woman to win three career team pursuit world crown after claiming the 2010 (with Tomic and Kent) and 2015 crowns (with Edmondson, Cure and Hoskins). “It has been a couple of years since we have been on the top step. This is definitely special to share it with the four other girls plus two at home, it is a very special moment and I will never forget this,” Ankudinoff said. Celebrating her twenty-third birthday on Thursday, Alex Manly received the best present from her teammates as she cheered trackside during the final. “Super special to share it with these girls, it is awesome. They gave me chocolates this morning but I think this present is a lot better,” Manly said. After recording his first World Championship victory at the helm of the women’s track endurance program, a visibly emotional Jason Bartram lauded praise on the Australian Cycling Team. “It means a lot, it really means a lot,” Bartram said. “I’m proud of the girls and we put everything into this. “To see it come across and see those girls get what they work for every day means everything. “The staff support we have is unreal, everyone chips in their little bit and plays their role and contributes to great performances. I could try and say names, but I hope everyone who has been a part of this along the way knows they are important and matter.” 
Stephanie Morton (SA) and Kaarle McCulloch (NSW) surged to their first world title as a team sprint pairing in a stunning display of speed at the Pruszkow Velodrome on Wednesday.
The pairing topped the afternoon qualifying session (32.492), before setting a new national mark of 32.368secs in their first-round defeat of China. In the final, the duo scorched the track once again, with McCulloch bolting from the gates and Morton powering home to record a time 32.255secs which eclipsed their new national mark. “I am speechless, and it takes a lot for that to happen,” said Morton. “It is pretty surreal, we had pretty high expectations tonight, and we have absolutely exceeded them. Gold was just a bonus.” The win was Morton’s first at an elite World Championships, however, it is her fourth career rainbow jersey after she piloted visually impaired cyclist Felicity Johnson to three Tandem world titles in 2011 and 2012. Morton and McCulloch’s previous best was silver at the 2017 World Championships. “We had set a couple of things to focus on, the plan was to build on every ride and get faster and faster, regardless of conditions,” Morton revealed. “And we did, and that is the most important thing. “Going back, reviewing the videos, seeing where can we get more gains and the fact that we pulled it off every time is the most important take home from today.”
For McCulloch, it was a fourth team sprint world crown after partnering Anna Meares to three straight titles (2009-11).
“We just got better and better with every ride, we were a bit nervous to begin with, but we just kept focussing on our processes which is what we were here to do,” said McCulloch, who in romantic circumstances celebrated the 2019 crown on the same velodrome she won her first world title in 2009. “Ten years on I am the world champion with Stephanie Morton and in a blistering time too. “We are really proud, and happy that this is all building towards Tokyo. This is a nice step in that direction we will take a lot of confidence out if this. McCulloch also revealed she is relishing the switch to the position of first-wheel after spending her years with Meares in the second-wheel position. “Anna and I worked really well together, but I feel a little relieved that I am only doing one lap now,” McCulloch joked. “So sucked in Steph, it was hard work chasing Anna in first-wheel, so I hope I am making it hard for Steph to chase me.” Patrick Constable (SA), Nathan Hart (ACT) and teenage debutant Matthew Richardson (WA) finished sixth in the men’s team sprint. Sixth fastest in qualifying (43.628), the trio was edged (43.518) out of the medal finals by eventual silver France (43.086) in the first round. ABOUT The 2019 UCI Track World Championships will be held in Puruszkow, Poland. WATCH LIVE In Australia via FOXSPORTS Australia. VIEW GUIDE COMING UP The Championships run 27 February to 3 March. VISIT WEBSITE
FOLLOW
Photos © Casey Gibson
The Australian Cycling Team has completed its penultimate training session in Pruszkow, Poland ahead of the 2019 UCI Track World Championships which will be held from 27 February to 3 March 2019.
Team pursuit world record holders Leigh Howard (VIC), Kelland O’Brien (VIC), Alexander Porter (SA) and Samuel Welsford (WA), plus debutant Cameron Scott (NSW) and nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer (WA) will hit the training track on Tuesday for one last hit out ahead of the Championships which opens with the team pursuit on Wednesday afternoon.
Back on the World Championship stage after Australia strategically skipped the 2018 World Championships in favour of the Commonwealth Games, Welsford is champing at the bit to claim a third team pursuit rainbow jersey in four years. “We had the rainbows in 2017, so I’m pretty confident I can say on behalf of the boys that we want to go and get those back,” said Welsford. “Team pursuit times are getting so fast now, a lot of teams are getting down to that low (three minutes) 50 (second) barrier. 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.” Read full article. 2018 Commonwealth Games champions Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Amy Cure (TAS), Annette Edmondson (SA) and Alexandra Manly (SA), plus Georgia Baker (TAS) have wrapped up their on-track preparations as they target the top step of the women's team pursuit podium. In ominous words for the rest of the competition, dual 2015 world champion Edmondson has revealed she has rediscovered her love of track cycling since returning to the Australian Cycling Team to focus on the track. “I found that spark again, a spark I haven't had for a long time and I'm really excited to be back," said Edmondson. “It’s awesome (to be back), there aren’t many opportunities to represent your country at the World Championships." Read full article. 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) set to make his elite World Championship debut. Glaetzer is aiming to take his sensational early season form into the World Championships after a near-perfect start to the 2018/19 World Cups in which he powered to three gold and one silver across the first four sprint competitions. “I haven’t had a better season, the World Cups were almost flawless, except for the last (fourth round) one which took its toll,” said Glaetzer. “There is some strong competition, it's tough. Yes, I won three out of four, but it was very close all the way through.” Read full article. Stephanie Morton (SA) and Kaarle McCulloch (NSW) comprise the women’s sprint selections, with the pair setting a new Australian record in the team sprint last November, while Morton netted eight medals including four gold across four rounds of the World Cup season. Morton knows she will take career-best form into this week’s World Championships and as she strives to find the top step of the Worlds sprint podium after two straight silver medals, she is fully aware she will be a marked rider in Poland. “I am certainly not the underdog anymore that’s for sure,” admitted Morton. “I think there’s the potential to start letting those thoughts creep in like ‘I’ve got to back up like last year’ or ‘I’ve got to do better than last year’ but you just can’t put that pressure on yourself." Read full article. WATCH LIVE In Australia via FOXSPORTS Australia. VIEW GUIDE SCHEDULE The Championships run 27 February to 3 March 2019. VISIT WEBSITE
FOLLOW Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam Facebook AustralianCyclingTeam | Instagram @australiancyclingteam | Twitter @AusCyclingTeam 2019 UCI Track World Championships #Pruszkow2019 www.pruszkow2019.pl | facebook.com/PZKol | twitter.com/pzkolarski 
PHOTO - PETE PHOTOGRAPHIE
Stephanie Morton knows she will take career-best into this week’s World Championships. And so does the rest of the world.
The 28-year-old fired across the 2018/19 World Cup season netted her eight medals from four rounds including four gold. Morton topped the sprint qualification in every World Cup, taking sprint silver and bronze in the first two rounds before storming to her first individual World Cup gold medals in rounds three and four. And as she strives to find the top step of the World Championship sprint podium after two straight silver medals, Morton is fully aware she will be a marked rider in Poland.
“I am certainly not the underdog anymore that’s for sure,” admitted Morton, who also clocked personal bests in the flying 200m including her first career sub-10.5 second ride in the flying 200m (10.484seconds) during the past World Cup season.
“But for me it’s just about focusing one race at a time. I think there’s the potential to start letting those thoughts creep in like ‘I’ve got to back up like last year’ or ‘I’ve got to do better than last year’ but you just can’t put that pressure on yourself. You’ve just got to go one race at a time and hopefully, if you do everything right, you’ll be at the final. “But I’m not letting those thoughts creep in, I’m there to do a job, the end goal is Tokyo, so as much as it might be nice to take home the rainbow you have to think of the end goal which is Tokyo. “So, wins this week might come from nailing a tactic or skill that I’ve never done before at a World Championship so I’m trying to be realistic and take that pressure off and hopefully just produce some good racing.” 
Photo - Guy Swarbrick
Morton will partner with Kaarle McCulloch in the team sprint, with the pair finding success early in the season with gold in a new Australian record time in the second round of the World Cup. The pair begins their 2019 World Championship campaign on the opening day of competition.
“Kaarle has now moved down to Adelaide so we’ve been able to train together a lot more and just been able to gel and practice things in training that we usually wouldn’t get to,” Morton added. “We would often just rock up to the race and have to race together, so it’s been fantastic having her here and really bouncing things off each other and really pushing each other as well. “I think it makes a huge difference having someone else there and both nipping at each other's heels and pushing each other to go faster and I think that’s why we saw some really good times at the World Cups and hopefully we can keep that momentum going into the World Champs.” The Australian Team is settling into Pruszkow, Poland, ahead of the 2019 UCI Track World Championships which will be held from 27 February to 3 March. Morton will be in action in the team sprint on day one (Wednesday) won team sprint gold with, the sprint begins on day two and three, before concluding her campaign with the keirin on Sunday. SCHEDULE
FOLLOW
Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam Facebook AustralianCyclingTeam | Instagram @australiancyclingteam | Twitter @AusCyclingTeam 2019 UCI Track World Championships #Pruszkow2019 www.pruszkow2019.pl | facebook.com/PZKol | twitter.com/pzkolarski WATCH LIVE In Australia via FOXSPORTS Australia. >>> Foxtel - TV Guide 
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.” 
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
ABOUT Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam
2019 UCI Track World Championships - Poland 
Photo - Guy Swarbrick
In ominous words for her rivals, dual 2015 world champion Annette Edmondson has revealed she has rediscovered her love for track cycling as she embarks on her 2019 UCI Track World championships campaign.
“I found that spark again, a spark I haven't had for a long time and I'm really excited to be back,” said Edmondson, who last represented Australia at a UCI Track World Championships in 2016 after taking time away from the track post the Rio Olympic Games and hitting the road scene. “It’s awesome (to be back), there aren’t many opportunities to represent your country at the World Championships. “It’s been three years since I’ve been there, I decided I wanted to come back after I was a little bit jealous while my teammates were racing at the World Championships.” Australia’s women’s endurance squad for Poland’s World Championships is comprised of Edmondson and fellow 2018 Commonwealth Games team pursuit gold medallists in Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Amy Cure (TAS) and Alexandra Manly (SA). Georgia Baker (TAS) rounds out the quintet.
Edmondson will line up in two events in Poland, the team pursuit and the omnium, the two events in which she boasts rainbow jerseys from 2015. At the World Cup in New Zealand last month, and in what was just her second competition in the new four-race omnium format, Edmondson won gold.
“It’s my third omnium in the new format so it’s an awesome opportunity to race against some of the best in the world,” said Edmondson who took her world title and Olympic medal in the now-defunct six-race format. “While it was great to get a win in New Zealand I definitely didn't get to race against everybody that I wanted to so I’m really excited to see where I’m at when against all of the strong hitters at Worlds.” Like all events, however, the focus will be on the team pursuit event which gets underway on the opening day of competition, with Edmondson’s excited about the team’s prospects following a number of changes at the Australian Cycling Team Headquarters in Adelaide. “We’ve changed a few things in the last couple of months at training and we’re joining in with the boys, we’ve got a lot more staff on board and we’re noticing a big difference because there’s a lot more attention to detail,” explained Edmondson. “It’s a good shift and a positive move forward and we’re looking forward to seeing the changes. “We’ve got seven super strong girls at the moment, it’s awesome to see strength coming through as well so we are all in a very good place leading into the next year going into Tokyo.” 
The Australian Team arrived 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.
SCHEDULE
ABOUT Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam
2019 UCI Track World Championships - Poland 
Photo - Guy Swarbrick
Reigning world champion Matthew Glaetzer (SA) is aiming to take his sensational early season form into next week’s 2019 UCI Track World Championships in Poland.
It was a near-perfect start to the 2018/19 season for the South Australian who powered to three gold and one silver across the first four World Cup sprint competitions in November and December. Glaetzer also clocked a flying 200m of 9.502sec early in the season, just shy of his 9.459sec personal best set five years ago (at altitude). “I haven’t had a better season, the World Cups were almost flawless, except for the last (fourth round) one which took its toll,” said Glaetzer. “There is some strong competition, it's tough. Yes, I won three out of four, but it was very close all the way through.” Glaetzer has admitted there is a different feeling on the eve of his ninth World Championships campaign which could see him join John Nicholson (1975, 76) as the second Australian to win two sprint world titles. “This year is different being reigning sprint world champion, but I see it as another challenge in my career,” explained Glaetzer. “I have taken a step towards that higher position in the port, but it is a good challenge, it won’t be easy, more pressure and expectation from myself and externally.”
Glaetzer headlines a strong sprint quartet which features Olympians Patrick Constable (SA) and Nathan Hart (ACT) plus nineteen-year-old debutant Matthew Richardson (WA).
“It is exciting times in the Australian sprint team,” said Glaetzer of the squad which won ten medals including six gold over the six-round 2018/19 World Cup season. Glaetzer will line up in the sprint and keirin, while Constable, Hart and Richardson - who claimed team sprint gold at the final round of the World Cup in Hong Kong - will form the team sprint outfit. “Matt Richardson has been exciting, pretty impressive at a young age, but we are not putting pressure on him, he is there to experience it and enjoy it and see what he can do. “Hopefully, I might be able to slot in and give it a rip and see what we can do as a country.” In addition to chasing rainbows, Glaetzer remains focussed on continual improvements ahead of the Worlds, and ultimately the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games which looms in eighteen months. “I want to race well, race smart, minimise mistakes,” Glaetzer said. “If you can nail that, the results will flow. “Also continuing to improve on a few weaknesses of mine. It is a project with myself and the staff, just to keep developing, keep getting better, because everyone else is as well. “I have to keep the edge on the competition.” 
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.
Glaetzer will be in action in the keirin on day two (Thursday), while the sprint begins on day three (Friday) and concludes on Saturday. SCHEDULE
ABOUT Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam
2019 UCI Track World Championships - Poland 
 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
Sprint
Follow Australian Cycling Team #AusCyclingTeam
2019 UCI Track World Championships  Cycling Australia is pleased to announce a 17-rider team for the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships to be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March.
The Championships offers valuable qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, with the Australian team to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries. The selections feature a host of reigning and former world champions including David Nicholas (QLD), Amanda Reid (NSW), Simone Kennedy (NSW), Alistair Donohoe (VIC) and Kyle Bridgwood (QLD),plus the Tandem pairing of Jessica Gallagher (VIC) and Pilot Madison Janssen (VIC). Emily Petricola (VIC) returns to the team following her outstanding debut at the 2018 World Championships which saw her bring home dual medals and the individual pursuit world record. “The world record, it’s a lovely sort of thing that I'll be proud of when I look back on my career, but at this moment for me it’s just about trying to be better than what I’ve been before, to try to make sure that there’s no one better than me on that day,” said Petricola, who unofficially bettered her existing world mark on the way to the National crown last December. 2018 World Championship silver medalist in the scratch race Darren Hicks (SA) will look to continue his strong form with a focus towards the timed events. “It’s just exciting to go into 2019 with a lot ahead rather than just the time trial so I’m excited,” said Hicks, who went within two seconds of the 3-kilometre individual pursuit world record (set at altitude) at December’s Nationals. “The individual pursuit has never really been a focus, but I’d like to run a three 41 or a 42 just to reassure myself that it’s something I can do every time we get to any track in the world.” Newcomer Paige Greco (SA), who shone at December’s Track Nationals in Melbourne, will make her national team debut, as will Michael Shippley (QLD) and Daniel Van der Laan (NSW). “It’s (Australian team selection) has been a goal since I moved to Adelaide, so I am thrilled and excited,” said Greco, who announced herself on the para-cycling scene with dual national records and gold at the 2018 Track Nationals. “My goal at worlds is a PB (personal best time), but I’ve got some things I need to work on. “I’m also really looking forward to the team environment as it will be excellent to get some advice from the more experienced riders and see how they handle the pressure.” In the men's Tandem events Brad Henderson (SA) is confirmed, with his Pilot to be named at a later date. The Australian Cycling Team will head to Brisbane in late January for a team training camp and UCI Category 2 event before heading to the Netherlands in late March. The Team celebrated ten medals at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio, the fourth most by any nation behind Great Britain, Netherlands and China. ATHLETE (STATE) CLASSIFICATION
 Sydney’s Brandon Loupos capped a superb 2018 season by winning bronze in the BMX Freestyle Park final at the 2018 UCI Urban World Championships in Chengdu, China, on Sunday.
Loupos, who qualified second in Saturday’s semi-finals, scored 88.72 points in his first run in Sunday’s final. In his second run, Loupos' attempt at bettering his score ended when he put both feet on the ground. 18-year-old Justin Dowell (USA) took the gold after a producing a superb 92.20 point ride in his first run, which proved too strong for all other competitors. Kenneth Tencio Esquivel (Costa Rica) took the silver medal with his first run of 88.9 points. “It feels great, I worked hard to get on the podium and after having a disappointing worlds in 2017 when I got tenth with a bad mistake, to come back this year with third, it feels really good,” said Loupos, who celebrated victory in the opening round of the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup in April and second in round two in May. “I was aiming for the top spot and I thought I could have done it. But to have that little slip up in my first run, but to still get on the podium, it’s pretty awesome.” Loupos narrowly edged countryman Jake Wallwork (88.6points) into fourth overall. “I’m stoked! It feels amazing to make the top four at world champs, especially coming off a win last week,” said Wallwork, who won gold at the final round of the World Cup Series held one week before the World Championships. “Last year it was all a bit new, it was different, but this year I knew what to expect, I trained my backside off and I came into this event strong.” BMX Freestyle Park debutant Caroline Buchanan finished twelfth overall after she was unable to start the finals due to a crash in practice in which she sustained a dislocated and broken finger. “I was hoping to end the year on a bit more of a high, but hopefully I’ll back riding soon,” said Canberra’s dual BMX racing Olympian and eight-time world champion, who continues her recovery after an off-road vehicle accident outside of Canberra in December forced her off the bike for six months. “This year is all about resilience building.” Gold Coast’s Kyle Baldock, who won silver at Sydney’s X-Games in October, crashed in his opening runs and missed out on a finals berth. Reigning world champion Logan Martin, who claimed the first-ever rainbow jersey on offer in the discipline in 2017, was forced to withdraw after injuring his ankle during training in October. Australia’s best now turn their focus to the inaugural Freestyle BMX Nationals which is set to thrill fans at Melbourne’s Rampfest from 23-24 November 2018, which offers the first green and gold jersey on offer in the discipline. Following his scorching end to the season, Melbourne’s Wallwork is keen for a strong showing on his home track. “Ahead of nationals, I’m feeling great. It’s on my home ground, and I’m excited to try and get that green and gold jersey.”  The Australian Team has departed the 2018 UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, finishing equal third on the medal table behind the Netherlands and Belgium. Three medals; gold in the elite men’s ITT, silver in the elite women’s RR and a silver in the junior men’s ITT making this one of the best all-around performances in recent years.
Rohan Dennis etched his name into the record books with a storming ride to claim his maiden individual time trial world title, finishing some 1:21 ahead of warm favourite Tom Dumoulin. Dennis became just the second Australian to win the event after Michael Rogers claimed three consecutive titles between 2003 and 2005. Amanda Spratt rode alone for the final 40km of the women’s road race on her way to a silver medal. She had been one of the main protagonists in a competitive and entertaining race and is just the sixth Australian woman in sixty years to reach a World Championship road race podium. Spratt was supported as a protected leader for the first time at the World Championships, and all assembled impressively rose to the occasion. Lucy Kennedy called it “showtime” when she lit up the race on the first ascent of Igls while keeping something in reserve to nullify attacks before Spratt slipped into what was the start of the winning move. Earlier in the week, Luke Plapp claimed silver in the junior men's time trial, adding to his dual track world titles won at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Switzerland in August. The final race of the World Championships saw the men's road race, with the super demanding course profile delivering on its promise of pain, pain and more pain. The pressure and strain were evident at 90 kilometres to go with several riders being dropped from the main peloton including three-time reigning world champion Peter Sagan. The finale was a hotly contested affair with Valverde (Spain) winning from Romain Bardet (France) and Michael Woods (Canada). Jack Haig capped off a strong 2018 season with 19th place, 1min 21secs behind the winner, after being in all the right moves in the final 20 km. Rob Power (70th) was the only other Australian finisher on a day which saw more DNFs than riders cross the finish line. In both road races, the teamwork and commitment to the race strategy were impressive, with all riders playing their part in the race results. In other results, Callum Scotson finished tenth in the under 23 time trial, and Jai Hindley was the best placed Australian in 11th in the under 23 road race, both bagging good results amongst high-quality opposition. Debutants Sarah Gigante and Anya Louw gained useful experience in their junior time trial and road race campaigns, with the two 17-year olds producing top 20 Time Trial results. Australian Cycling Team Performance Director Simon Jones: “Overall we had a really pleasing World Championships, and it is very satisfying to see the result of good pre-planning that led to good delivery on the day. “It’s been a terrific collective effort, and I want to pay tribute to all involved this week in Austria. The manner in which the riders came together as a team and the way the staff worked as a unit in the lead-up and throughout the week in Innsbruck. It was excellent. “Having said that, we have already started reviewing and looking at areas for improvement, with an eye on Yorkshire in 2019 and Tokyo 2020."  Photo - Craig Dutton Australian teenager Saya Sakakibara is celebrating after claiming the win in the final UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, which also secured second overall for the Wollongong cyclist on the year-end international rankings. “I am so over the moon,” said Sakakibara, 19. “I am so incredibly grateful for my support, and for the Australian Cycling Team for supporting me all the way and giving me the opportunity to race each round this year, especially when I contested no World Cups last year." Round 8 FInalSantiago del Estero, Argentina, hosted the final two rounds of the season, with Sakakibara lucky to escape with just scrapes and bruises after spectacularly crashing out of the Round 7 semi-final on Saturday when a rider crashed and took her wheels from under her. Recovering in time for Sunday’s eighth and final round, Sakakibara lead from the gate, and with former world champion Alise Willoughby (USA) and reigning world champion Laura Smulders (Netherlands) breathing down her neck, she surged to the victory with judges awarding the win to the Australian in a photo finish. “I did not expect that (win) especially after yesterday crash, I was kind of shaken up a little bit and little fearful coming into today. However, I got a good start and an excellent first straight, and I was able to make it work all the way to the finish line.” ROUND 7 SF CRASHSakakibara finished second behind world champion Laura Smulders (Netherlands) on the BMX Supercross rankings after a season that included one win and four podium appearances, in addition to claiming sixth in her first elite career World Championship final. “My aim this year was to gain as much experience as possible, and I did exactly that. I was able to get some wins and podiums along the way, I couldn’t be happier with this season,” said Sakakibara, who will now head back to Australia to continue preparations towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. “I am really looking forward to getting back into the offseason, gaining strength, and hopefully I will come back faster and definitely will have more confidence heading into next season. “Every race is critical from now on in terms of Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2020, and I will be aiming for the top, for the podium, all the way to the Olympics. “I am working so hard to making sure I am going to be there.” In the men’s finals, Rio Olympic finalist Anthony Dean took bronze in round eight. PHOTOSCopyright Craig Dutton 
Australia’s Amanda Spratt soloed the final 40km to claim a stunning silver in the women’s road race the 2018 UCI Road World Championships in Austria.
Reigning Olympic champion Anna Van der Breggen (Netherlands) soloed the final 39 kilometres of the race to to claim one of the most dominant victories ever seen at a World Championships. She finished over three minutes ahead of Spratt, with former world champion Tatiana Guderzo (Italy) taking bronze. “I honestly I think I can be really proud with the silver medal. It caps off a great season for me,” said Spratt, who became just the sixth Australian woman in sixty years to reach the World Championships' road race podium.
Spratt, Grace Brown, Brodie Chapman, Tiffany Cromwell, Shara Gillow, Lucy Kennedy and Sarah Roy, were among the 149 starters to set out on the 156km course which featured an 85km loop before three punishing laps of a 24km circuit with 2400m of vertical climbing.
Spratt was caught up in a early crash but recovered and with the help of team mate Kennedy, was able to remain at the front of the race and in touch of the pre race favourite Dutch team and form part of the crucial breakaway. On the penultimate lap, Van der Breggen launched herself from the main field to join Spratt's group, and despite her best efforts, Spratt was unable to keep the wheel of the Dutchwoman. Van der Breggen soloed to the biggest winning margin in thirty years (3mins 42secs), while Spratt powered the final 40km home on her own to finish two minutes ahead of Guderzo. “It was a tough race out there, the whole team did an incredible job throughout the first stage to get me fresh to the final,” said Spratt, whose season has included victory at the Santos Women's Tour Down Under and Emakumeen Bira, a stage win at the Giro Rosa and podiums at Amstel Gold and at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. “That meant I could get into that break before the second last climb where I knew the Dutch would attack. I was waiting for that move. “Anna came across so quickly, I really tried to hold her wheel up that climb. She was honestly on another level today, she really deserves that title.” WATCH THE RACE
Photo © Casey Gibson
Brunswick Cycling Club's Luke Plapp claimed silver in the junior men's time trial at the 2018 UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.
Plapp powered across the 27.8km course to post the fastest time of the day to that point, however Belgian Remco Evenepoel powered home to claim gold almost one and a half minutes ahead of the Australian. Italian Andrea Piccolo claimed bronze. The medal adds to the Melbourne cyclist's dual track world titles (Points Race & Madison) he won at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Switzerland in August. WATCH >>> See Luke's ride here
Luke Plapp
I woke up so excited, just wanted to race and send it! 'No nerves, no hope' I thought to myself when the butterflies started flying around! I wasn't sure how to feel about my time crossing the line. I was confident my time would be up there, but little did I know how much it would get beaten by! Pretty stoked with the silver and has been an unreal couple of months. It is a bitter-sweet feeling of silver. 'Never put a number on to come second' but there was nothing I could have done to get the top step! The course was crazy, it had a little bit of everything. So many climbs and so many descents! PHOTOS
Copyright Casey Gibson
 Cycling Australia is today announcing that 24-year-old Queenslander Nick Schultz from Caja Rural - Seguros RGA will be joining the Australian Cycling Team in Innsbruck, Austria as part of the men's road race team.
Nick Schultz: “It is an honour to be selected to represent Australia at the World Championships. I will give my maximum to deliver whatever is required. I would also like to wish Richie a speedy recovery and thank Cycling Australia for their faith in selecting me.” Australian Cycling Team Performance Director Simon Jones: “Nick is coming into the team in a specific climbing support role. He has just completed the Vuelta and he has the form and desire to contribute to the team strategy. I want to thank Nick for taking up this late opportunity”. The UCI Road World Championships will take place in Innsbruck-Tirol (Austria), from 22 to 30 September 2018.  Cycling Australia regrets to announce that due to illness, Richie Porte will not be at the start line for the 2018 UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. Despite plans for the Vuelta a España to serve as a perfect preparation for the challenging Worlds course, illness in the last week of the Vuelta has persisted post event. Richie Porte: "I'm really disappointed to miss the road race. It was a big goal for me at the end of the season and I had been training and racing with the road race in mind. However, recent illness means my preparation has been far from ideal and for a race of this difficulty, with more than 4600metres of climbing, you need to have the best preparation possible to be up there. Within the Cycling Australia team, we have decided that it is in the team's best interests if my place goes to someone else. I wish the whole Aussie team the best and will be cheering them on from home." BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Max Testa: “Richie developed an upper respiratory infection towards the end of the Vuelta a España which has required him to take antibiotics and stop training. He will need a few more days off the bike to recover properly which means it does not make sense for him to line up at the Worlds Championships. Richie will resume training next week and will be able to race again this season.” Australian Cycling Team Performance Director Simon Jones: “No one is more disappointed than Richie, and he knows he won't be able to perform to his high expectations. “The team has worked really hard behind the scenes to pull the game plan together, and we will regroup and refocus during the week ahead.” Cycling Australia is considering its options with regards to a replacement for Porte in the team. The UCI Road World Championships will take place in Innsbruck-Tirol (Austria), from 22 to 30 September 2018.  Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the BMX Freestyle selections for the Australian team which will contest the 2018 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in China in November.
BMX ‘Freestyle Park’, which will make its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, sees cyclists perform a series of tricks during their ‘1 minute run’ across a ramp-filled course. Riders’ tricks are judged based on difficulty, originality, style and execution. The Australian team in China will be headlined by the Gold Coast’s Logan Martin who claimed the first-ever rainbow jersey on offer in the discipline in 2017. 2018 began ominously for Martin following a training crash in March which broke his collarbone in four places and forced him to miss the opening round of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup. Martin recovered in time to contest the Series’ second round in May where he finished second, before storming to a third-round win in July and gold in the BMX Park Final at the X-Games in the USA later that month. “I’m stoked to have another opportunity to ride the UCI World Championship again this year and represent Australia,” said Martin, who currently sits fourth overall on the World Cup standings. “To have won the first-ever UCI BMX Freestyle World Championship last year was mind-blowing to me and I will most definitely be going for the gold medal again this year. “I have had a rough start to the year, but my main focus was to get back to full strength leading into July’s World Cup and X-Games in which I won both Park events. “It has been a much better start to the second half, and I’m feeling really good and strong on my bike. I’m looking forward to the next few events and to finish off the year strongly.” Brandon Loupos celebrated victory in the opening round of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup, however, in unfortunate circumstances, the Sydney rider suffered a bike mechanical in round two and had his bike stolen just three hours before the final in round three. The Gold Coast’s Kyle Baldock and Melbourne's Jake Wallwork round out the selections. The 2018 UCI Urban Cycling Worlds Championships will take place in Chengdu, China, from 7-11 November 2018. More → www.urbanworlds.cn Follow the Australian Cycling Team - Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Australian Team - 2018 UCI Urban Cycling Worlds Championships
|
Categories
All
Archives
June 2019
|
RSS Feed
FOLLOW |
|
© 2018 Cycling Australia, All rights reserved.