Tissot UCI Track World Cup #1 - Paris, France
​The Australian Cycling Team has opened the UCI Track World Cup season in Paris in style by topping the medal tally with eight medals including three gold, three silver and two bronze. Sprint Resplendent in his rainbow jersey, reigning world champion Matthew Glaetzer won the sprint gold. Glaetzer opened his account with a scorching 9.502secs in qualifying - just 0.05secs off his personal best set at altitude - before defeating Dmitriev, Carlin, Hoogland and Lavreysen to take the win. 👊🼠"It has been a great start to the season with both individual wins at Oceanias and my World Cup Sprint win today so I am quite happy," Glaetzer told Cycling Australia. "Through the rounds I felt good and was racing well. The semi final onwards was intense though, I don't think I had beaten Hoogland before so that was a good fight to make the gold ride. "I went to three rides again in the final which always tests you and your opponent to see how much is left in the tank. I backed up stronger in the third ride and took the gold."
Stephanie Morton scorched qualifying with a personal best 10.516secs before defeating Kobayoshi, van Reissen and Shmeleva on her way to the final where Hong Kong's Wai Sze Lee ended her run.
"After a huge week at Oceanias, then a long haul flight, then three rounds of the team sprint, to come out and ride a 10.5 was awesome," Morton told Cycling Australia. "I knew it would be a tough fight to make the finals but I took it one race at a time and stoked to walk away with the silver."
Women's Team Pursuit
Dual world and reigning Commonwealth champion Ash Ankudinoff led Georgia Baker, and team newcomers Macey Stewart and Kristina Clonan to gold in the team pursuit. Fastest qualifiers (4:20.154), the team progressed to the final with the best first round time (4:18.441), before posting a stellar time of 4mins 16.957secs to win gold over New Zealand.
Scratch
Ashlee Ankudinoff claimed her second gold of the World Cup with victory in the scratch race, while Leigh Howard took bronze in the men's final. Madison Dual Madison world champion Leigh Howard and Kell O’Brien took bronze on 17points with gold going to Hansen/Morkov. The medal was Kell’s first one at World Cup level. Macey Stewart and Georgia Baker took the double points on offer in the final sprint to grab a podium finish in the women's final. Team Sprint Fastest qualifiers (32.845) Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch progressed through the first round (32.763) but were pipped by just .001 seconds in team sprint final by Russia's Voinova and Shmeleva (32.820). In the men's, Jacob Schmid, Patrick Constable and Nathan Hart finished just outside the medals in fifth. >>> Official Results
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 Photo © Richard Morton Four days, four headlines from 2019 #OceaniaTrack The Australian Cycling Team wrapped up its start to the 2019 international track season at the Oceania Cycling Confederation Track Cycling Championships at the Adelaide Superdrome. The first stop in the qualifying process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Oceania Championships is one of the busiest events on the team’s schedule for the summer with 40 titles awarded over four days in the elite and under 19 categories. With so many events in so few days, we have highlighted four of the talking points from the four days of racing.  Matt motors and Steph scorches There would be no stopping Australia’s king and queen of track sprinting with Matthew Glaetzer and Stephanie Morton claiming five gold between them. Donning his rainbow jersey in the sprint, reigning world champion Glaetzer scorched the cold Adelaide velodrome in qualifying (9.725secs) before taking care of New Zealand’s Sam Webster and Edward Dawkins on his way to the final where he edged teammate Nathan Hart (Australia) for the gold. "It is an important title with good (qualifying) points now the Olympic qualifying has begun," said Glaetzer who also claimed the keirin crown. Stephanie Morton equalled her 2018 Commonwealth Games performance with a triple gold medal haul. She opened her campaign with gold in the team sprint with three-time world champion Kaarle McCulloch, before taking the keirin crown. On the final day of competition, Morton clocked 10.593secs in qualifying, just .07 outside of her personal best set at April’s Games. Morton reached the final after wins over Australia’s Lara Tucker and New Zealand’s Olivia Podmore, before proving too powerful for Natasha Hansen (New Zealand). "It was a tough one, but it was good with a real quality field out there,” Morton said after her keirin win. “It is cool the Oceania Champs are here in Adelaide, and we have such a strong women's field. So to come away with the win, I am happy.”  Madison future in good (sets of) hands With the Madison set to feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after being reintroduced to the programme for men and added for women, the Australian chances in just under two years from now looks promising. Macey Stewart and Georgia Baker teamed to take the women’s crown, while Cameron Scott and Alex Porter dominated the men’s event. It continues a strong year in the event for Stewart, who came into the Australian Cycling Team program last month, with the Tasmanian claiming the 2018 Oceania and national titles with Kristina Clonan. "A big confidence boost to go back to back in my favourite event,” said Stewart, who on her way to Paris for this weekend’s opening Tissot UCI Track World Cup series where she will race the Madison with Clonan. “It is exciting it [the Madison] is an Olympic event now, as it has always been my favourite event. It is exciting to be able to focus on it over the next couple of years towards Tokyo."  Sharing the endurance spoils The results showed Australia’s endurance stocks run deep as the team shared the spoils across the Madison, omnium, points and scratch races and team pursuit. Australia’s world record holding team pursuit quartet showed their prowess in the bunch events, with Sam Welsford claiming both the omnium and scratch races, Kell O’Brien winning the points and, while Alex Porter took the Madison (with Cameron Scott). "The omnium was fun today! It has been a while since I have raced on the track, so it was good to get out there," said Welsford. "The Oceania Championships is good to see how you are going at the start of track season and as I have a bunch focus at the World Cups, it is perfect for peace of mind and confidence to get the win." In the women’s events, veteran Ashlee Ankudinoff continued her strong 2018 with three wins on the week in the scratch, points, plus the team pursuit where she teamed with team newcomers Kristina Clonan and Macey Stewart, plus Georgia Baker. “We have had two newbies in Kristina and Macey come into the squad, and I think they stepped up tremendously, we couldn’t be happier to start our season off with a gold medal,” said Ankudinoff. Like Ankudinoff, Baker celebrated triple gold on the week, triumphing individually in the omnium, with Stewart in the Madison and the team pursuit.  Long haul celebration
There was little time for celebration following the Championships, with a 13-member contingent checking in for a long haul flight to Paris on Sunday night. The team will have a few days to acclimatise and shed the jet lag ahead of this weekend’s opening Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup Series in Saint Quentin en Yvelines. The team set to contest the opening round is:
Following Paris, the sprint crew is set to race on a third continent in three weeks at the Series’ second round in Canada. The endurance contingent will head to the London Six-Day event.  A host of Australia’s world champions, world record holders and Commonwealth champions will headline this week’s 2019 Oceania Track Cycling Championships at the Adelaide Super-drome. Reigning sprint world champion Matthew Glaetzer, Olympic medallist and dual world champion Annette Edmondson, triple Commonwealth champion Stephanie Morton plus team pursuit world record holders in Kelland O'Brien, Alexander Porter, Samuel Welsford and Leigh Howard will be in action. The four-day competition is set to showcase some of the sport’s young guns including sprinter Holly Takos, and endurance riders Kristina Clonan and Luke Plapp. Follow Live Results  A dual 2018 junior world champion, Plapp, 17, was recently announced in the Australian Cycling Team’s Podium Potential Academy and will make his debut in the elite ranks at the Championships. “Racing the Oceania Championships is going to be an unreal experience. It will be the first time pulling on the green and gold in the elite men’s category and racing the likes of the older boys from the Australian Cycling Team for the first time at a major championship,” said Plapp who will move from Melbourne to Adelaide to take up the full-time Academy position. Plapp will take to the track in the team pursuit with fellow Academy members Godfrey Slattery, Conor Leahy and Jarrod Drizners. Australian Cycling Team’s Cam Scott completes the outfit. “I think we have a pretty awesome team created from the new Podium Potential Academy and I can’t wait to see where we can take it. There’s a huge opportunity ahead and being in such an elite environment with the support around can only make us grow.”  2017 Oceania champion Holly Takos, 22, has been steadily honing her craft with the Australian Cycling Team over the past few years alongside Morton and three-time world champion Kaarle McCulloch. “It's great to be able to train with two of the best female track sprinters in the world. Everything they do is world class, from the way they train to the way they handle themselves off the bike and it has been amazing to learn from them,” said Takos. “The entire team works hard, always supporting and challenging each other, which keeps me motivated and inspires me always to be pushing myself to be my best.” In 2017, the Adelaide-native broke through for her career win taking the Oceania keirin crown, edging Morton in the final. In 2019 she will line up in the team sprint, keirin and sprint. “Winning my first Oceania keirin title was very special. It was my first win and opened up many opportunities for me. The keirin is one of my favourite events, so I am fired up to get back out there and give it another crack this year. “It is great to have the Oceania Championships not only on Australian soil but in my home state, which gives the opportunity for my friends and family to come to experience the excitement of track racing.”  Kristina Clonan, 20, will make her debut as part of the Australian Cycling Team women’s endurance program, joining Olympians Annette Edmondson, Amy Cure, Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker and Macey Stewart.
Clonan’s star has been on the rise over the past couple of seasons, with the Queenslander claiming the 2018 Oceania and National Madison titles with Macey Stewart, in addition to a host of national podium appearances. The pair will look to defend their Madison crown in Adelaide this week. “Last season was a huge stepping stone, and I'm grateful to be racing alongside such strong girls that continually bring their A-game. It was a great confidence booster and experience, but I still have much work to do again this year,” said Clonan. “The last few months have been pretty busy for me. Japan was a great experience. I was able to race with Macey in the Madison, under the guidance of Tim Decker, who has so much knowledge and gave Mace and myself some good insight. “It is very motivating now to go back and race with Macey and try to defend our (Oceania) Madison title.” 2019 Oceania Track Cycling Championships
 The Australian Cycling Team begins a colossal summer of international track cycling in October with the 2019 Oceania Track Cycling Championships at the Adelaide Superdrome.
The four-day Championships will run October 10 to 13 and will pit Australia’s best against trans Tasman rival New Zealand’s best, with 40 events will be decided in the elite and under 19 categories. Live Results It will be the first hit out on Australian soil for the team since the record-breaking 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April and starts a summer of cycling which includes the UCI Track World Cup Series and World Championships sandwiched between National Championships. Four of Australia's current team pursuit world record holders will be in action across the points, scratch, omnium and Madison events including Kelland O'Brien, Alexander Porter, Samuel Welsford and Leigh Howard. The men’s team pursuit competition is set to showcase some of the sport’s rising stars including members of the recently announced Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy such as dual 2018 junior track world champion Luke Plapp. The women’s team pursuit will feature dual world and reigning Commonwealth champion Ashlee Ankudinoff, Olympian Georgia Baker plus Macey Stewart and Kristina Clonan who make their debut as part of the Australian Cycling Team program. Former world champion and Olympic medallist Annette Edmondson will feature in the bunch races. A full sprint contingent will be headlined by reigning sprint world champion Matthew Glaetzer and triple Commonwealth champion Stephanie Morton. Three-time world champion Kaarle McCulloch, Olympians Patrick Constable and Nathan Hart, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jacob Schmid, and 2017 Oceania champion Holly Takos are also confirmed. Oceania Track Cycling Championships Overview
 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
Australia's Rohan Dennis etched his name into the record books with a storming ride to claim his maiden individual time trial world title at the 2018 UCI World Championships in Austria.
‘‘I can’t really explain it. It’s an amazing feeling, it is a dream come true," said the Adelaide cyclist who becomes just the second Australian to win the event after Michael Rogers' three consecutive titles between 2003 and 2005. “I've never won it (time trial world title) in any age group, I’ve been after this since I was a junior, so to win my first one in the seniors is pretty special. "I am just going to enjoy the moment, and enjoy the next year in the rainbow," Dennis added.
The victory caps a stellar season from the Adelaide cyclist who has stood on the top step of the podium in six time trials in the 2018 season including at the Giro d'Italia and twice at the Vuelta a España.
The 28-year-old mastered the demanding 52.1 kilometre time trial to finish nearly one and a half minutes ahead of reigning champion Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands) who claimed the silver, with Belgium’s Victor Campanaerts half a second further behind in third. "I was being coached from the team car by Brad McGee, and he gave me confidence at the top of the climb,” Dennis said after the race. “Once Dumoulin was through Brad told me I was a minute up and he kept me calm. I was considering a bit of a victory salute but I wanted to make sure - you're never sure until Tom crosses the line. "I knew the power we (BMC) rode in Sunday’s team time trial, where we lost 19 seconds on the winners. I held higher power up the hill than I did in the TTT, and I knew Dumoulin had been pushing hard in the TTT, so I had a good idea of what power I needed to hold him. "I think it was a 35 seconds gap at the bottom and at the top, I was fairly confident that I'd at least done the same time as him.
Dennis will now turn his attention to Sunday's road race where he will line up with Simon Clarke, Jack Haig, Chris Hamilton, Damien Howson, Nick Schultz, Robert Power, and Rory Sutherland.
Remaining Schedule (times AEST) 27.09. THURSDAY
28.09. FRIDAY
29.09. SATURDAY
30.09. SUNDAY
PHOTOS
Photos copyright Casey Gibson.
 Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the implementation of the revised athlete pathway strategy, the Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy.
The Academy’s focus will be on developing athletes to target success at the 2024 Olympic Games and beyond in both sprint and endurance disciplines. The program will see athletes immersed in a high-performance environment at the Australian Cycling Team headquarters in Adelaide, with the aim of bridging the gap between the country’s regional high-performance network and the podium programmes in Adelaide. The Academy aims deliver a comprehensive and balanced performance curriculum to develop athletes for the physical and mental demands of a high-performance sport, prepare them for Australian Cycling Team podium program, Olympic success and ultimately for life beyond sport. Athletes will work with two full-time, discipline-specific coaches who will lead the Academy’s performance planning, training and racing strategies. The program will aim to support growth and learning opportunities both on and off the bike to build long-term resilience with high levels of athlete ownership. Working with the Senior Athlete Career Advisor, athletes will be guided and supported through a process in which they will engage in formal education / career development to ensure a future career pathway away from the bike. An inaugural class of thirteen athletes was selected following an intense application process which included performance assessments, video presentations, panel interviews and reference checks. This process created a deeper understanding of the person behind the performances which allowed for a more balanced appraisal of athlete suitability and potential. The Academy will launch in November 2018, to coincide with the end of the Academic year. At this point, athletes will relocate to Adelaide for the next step in their performance journey. Jon Norfolk (CA Head of Performance Pathways & People) said “We are excited to be launching the Academy program in 2018, adding an essential layer into our performance pathway. “This Academy programme is the first stage of our broader pathway strategy which in time will assess the needs of all disciplines and levels of the sport. A well-functioning athlete pathway is fundamental to long and sustainable success, and it’s a platform we need to focus on and build upon over the next 6-10 years.” “The Academy gives athletes full exposure to the Australian Cycling Team performance environment with a holistic programme explicitly designed to maximise their athletic potential. “However, success for the Podium Potential Academy will not just be measured in future Olympic success, but in the performance of all its graduates in transitioning out of sport successfully. “This success will be the result of a long-term athlete development strategy, with the Academy building on the great work of our network institutes and delivering the next stage of preparing athletes for future Olympic performance.” Australian Cycling Team Podium Potential Academy Athletes 2018 Women’s Sprint:
Men’s Sprint:
Women’s Endurance
Men’s Endurance
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
 The 2018 UCI World Road Championships will be held in Innsbruck, Austria from 23 September.
The Australian Cycling Team will contest the elite, under 23 and under 19 road races and time trials from Monday 24 September. Australian Cycling Team Racing Schedule Times are approximate AEST 24/09 Monday
25/09 Tuesday
26/09 Wednesday
27/09 Thursday
28/09 Friday
29/09 Saturday
30/09 Sunday
Watch live Catch the action live from Austria via SBS OnDemand online/app, plus SBS Viceland TV! Keep an eye on the SBS website for broadcast times. Follow online Australian team via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Road Worlds via Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. 
2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ashlee Ankudinoff has returned to Australia eager to contest her first race since the April’s Games, the National Road Series Tour of King Valley from 31 August.
In April at the Anna Meares Velodrome, Ankudinoff, along with Annette Edmondson, Amy Cure and Alexandra Manly soared to team pursuit gold, smashing New Zealand by nearly ten seconds in a time that would have won the 2018 World Championships. “It’s a moment I will never forget,” reflected Ankudinoff, who also boasts two world titles in the team format. “Racing in front of family, friends and a home crowd is something you dream of. I was fortunate to live my dream that night, standing on that top step, singing the national anthem with my three teammates.” Ankudinoff was also critical in the team’s second Commonwealth Games gold which saw an emphatic scratch race win by Cure in a brilliant display of team racing. “I can’t forget the scratch race. This is another moment that I will never forget when I look back at my career. I didn’t win the gold medal, but I certainly felt like I did. Amy, Nettie and I had a plan going into that race and for it to come together on race day is something incredible. It was such a rewarding feeling for me knowing that I had contributed to Amy’s gold.
Following the Games, Ankudinoff enjoyed a well earned three-week Hawaiian holiday with her partner Jack before hopping back on a plane to the USA mainland for the summer criterium series where she picked up wins in the Tour of America’s Dairyland series.
“I decided I would have quite a bit of time off the bike because if all goes to plan, I won’t be having much time off over the next two years heading into the Olympic Games,” Ankudinoff said. “It was such a long build up to 2018 Commonwealth Games, and we did put a lot of emphasis on peaking for this event, so it was great to switch off both mentally and physically. “We made a lot of sacrifices last season by not doing any World Cups and no World Championships, but I do think it was the best thing, you could see by our time, it is positive heading into the next two years.”
Ankudinoff’s focus over the next two years is firmly set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She will rejoin the new look women’s track endurance squad in Adelaide this month along with Edmondson, Cure and Manly, Georgia Baker plus Tassie’s Macey Stewart and Queensland’s Kristina Clonan who joined the program mid-year.
“I think both Kristina and Macey are great inclusions into the women's track endurance Team. I really look forward to training with them over the next few years,” said Ankudinoff. “We all know there is a lot of hard work ahead of us between now and then. “We now have a team of seven, and of course seven doesn’t go into four, but I think with the team we have now along with an excellent training/support environment that is based out of Adelaide to do something special in two years time. “All eyes are on Tokyo and that Olympic Gold medal.” Ankudinoff will line up for Specialized Women’s Racing in the National Road Series Tour of King Valley event from August 31 - 2 September, followed by Amy’s Otway Tour on 15/16 September. Following this, Ankudinoff will contest the 2018 Oceania Track Championships in Adelaide from 10-13 October.  Carol Cooke with outgoing Para Technical Director Peter Day Australia is celebrating a successful end to the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup season with five gold and a total of fourteen medals at the third and final round in Canada. In the season ending honours, Carol Cooke (WT2) and Stuart Tripp (MH5) were crowned overall UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup champions. Cooke never missed the podium in 2018, claiming three victories, two seconds and one third on the season to edge close rival Jill Walsh on a count back. Tripp claimed three wins from four races, including two gold in the final round, to claim the leader’s jersey. In other final season results, Alistair Donohoe (MC5) two silvers in the final round moved him to third overall on the Series, while Meg Lemon (WC4) also finished third after two podiums to end the year, just ahead of Hannah MacDougall (WC4) in fourth. Kyle Bridgwood (MC4) finished fourth overall after contesting just two of the three rounds, while Darren Hicks (MC2) was eighth after winning his only two races of the season in round one. The results capped off a strong season for the Australian Cycling Team which netted twelve medals, including three rainbow jerseys, at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy earlier this month. Round 3 Summary of Results
 Stuart Tripp celebrates his World Cup season victory! 
Photo © UCI
The Australian Cycling Team enjoyed a successful week at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, with three world titles, nine medals and a handful of world and Australian records.
Melbourne’s Luke Plapp celebrated dual world titles in the points race and in the Madison with Blake Quick (QLD) (read more here), while Sydney’s Thomas Cornish stormed to the kilometre time trial world title in world record time (read more here). Leigh Hoffman (SA) set a new Australian record in the men’s sprint, while Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark in the individual pursuit. Summary Gold
Melbourne’s Sarah Gigante left the World Championships with a silver medal and smile as wide as the Aigle velodrome after coming to within one sprint of a world title. “I don't think I have ever been so excited for a race,” Gigante told Cycling Australia. “Not only was the experience of racing for my country, at a world level and overseas, completely foreign and novel but it was made especially special by the fact that I had had no clue whether I would be healed in time to race for about three months.” It was a battle to make it to the start line in Aigle after the six-time 2018 national champion crashed on a descent in a club road race in May which left her with a broken left elbow, left shoulder and right wrist. Surgery quickly followed for the Brunswick Cycling Club rider before she suffered another blow after dislocating her shoulder on one of her first recovery rides. “Even most of the doctors I saw laughed when I said that I wanted to race in August, so you can imagine that I felt beyond grateful and fortunate to have the chance to pull on the treasured green and gold.” It was a quick start to the points race, with Gigante figuring in the first serious attack from a group of riders which took a lap. Inside the final 20 laps, Gigante stunned the field by taking a lap of her own and the race lead. However, the fast-finishing Italian rider Silvia Zanadri took the final sprint win and the double points on offer, which gave her the title by just five points. “I ended up taking silver, which I am stoked about,” Gigante said. “Just being at Worlds was amazing enough, so to place in one of my favourite races in a great field was so crazy! “I felt so good to be back! I can't thank my support network enough. I wouldn't be here right now without them, let alone with a silver medal around my neck. To Holden Team Gusto, Brunswick Cycling Club, Cycling Australia, my friends, heroes, and my family, especially my brilliant mum, and everyone else who helped me to get here, thank you so much! I couldn't have done it without you all.” In other results, Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark and won bronze in the individual pursuit, while Alice Culling (VIC) & Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD) took bronze in the women’s Madison. In the sprint, Alana Field (VIC) enjoyed three top ten finishes and personal best (11.373) in the flying 200m. Field took sixth in the sprint after being edged by the eventual silver medallist in quarterfinals, while also grabbing eighth in the keirin and ninth in the time trial. WATCH THE POINTS RACE FINAL
Elite Sprint Coaches Nick Flyger & Ross Edgar, plus Kaarle McCulloch and Steph Morton were on hand to celebrate! Photo @UCI
The Australian Cycling Team enjoyed a successful week at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, with three world titles, nine medals and a handful of world and Australian records.
Melbourne’s Luke Plapp celebrated dual world titles in the points race and in the Madison with Blake Quick (QLD) (read more here), and Sydney’s Thomas Cornish stormed to the kilometre time trial world title in world record time. Leigh Hoffman (SA) set a new Australian record in the men’s sprint, while Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark in the individual pursuit. Summary Gold
It was a spectacular week for Sydney’s Tom Cornish who scorched his way around the Aigle track on his way to claiming a world record, a world title and a silver medal. The Southern Cross Cycling Club member won sprint silver on Saturday with a personal best 10.041secs, which broke the seven-year-old Australian record. However, it was short-lived with teammate Leigh Hoffman lowering the new mark just two rides later with a stunning 10.037seconds. Unfortunately for Australia, the pair met in the semi-finals, which Cornish took in three closely fought heats. In the final, Cornish was edged by Poland’s Laczkowski in two heats. “It was tough, we'd battled each other at Oceanias and Nationals before but he would always get the better of me, so to come out on top was a bit of a surprise,” Cornish told Cycling Australia. “I couldn't have imagined winning sprint silver, my goals coming into the sprint were to be top five, so I was pretty happy when I made the gold/silver final. My goals for the sprint final were to make sure I gave him a run, but I was pretty tired from the semi against Leigh though. “I felt happy with silver, but also a little disappointed, I'd come so close to the gold.” Less than twenty-four hours later, Cornish produced an eye-popping 1min 00.498sec ride to break the junior kilometre time trial world record on his way to claiming his maiden world crown. “To break the world record and win the kilo, I am pretty excited! Never thought I'd be able to achieve something like this,” added Cornish, 18, who thanked coach Shane Kelly, himself a three-time kilo world champion who won the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games time trial bronze the year Cornish was born. “I'd like to thank Shane for coaching me through the Junior Worlds campaign, my parents and family for supporting me, and everyone else in the team for being there and cheering me on.” In a strong debut, Hoffman finished fourth in the sprint and sixth the in keirin. Matthew Rice claimed fourth in the kilometre time trial.
Photo © klementdesign – UCI
The Australian Cycling Team enjoyed a successful week at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, with three world titles, nine medals and a handful of world and Australian records.
Melbourne’s Luke Plapp celebrated dual world titles in the points race and with Blake Quick (QLD) in the Madison, while Sydney’s Thomas Cornish stormed to the kilometre time trial world title in world record time (read more about Tom's ride here). Leigh Hoffman (SA) set a new Australian record in the men’s sprint, while Sophie Edwards (SA) broke Amy Cure’s eight-year-old national mark in the individual pursuit, while Sarah Gigante's comeback from injury resulted in silver (read more here). Summary Gold
Recap - Plapp celebrates dual world titles in Switzerland Melbourne’s Luke Plapp revealed he celebrated his maiden world title at the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Switzerland by sleeping in his rainbow jersey. “I was so sweaty, and it was so tight and hard to put on the jersey,” Plapp told Cycling Australia. “But I didn’t take it off for the next 12 hours and slept in it. I honestly could not stop smiling the whole day and night. Also, to receive all the support from back home was something else! Plapp, who rides with the Brunswick Cycling Club, took three laps on the field to win the points race on 70pts. After the race, he quickly dedicated the win to his teammate James Moriarty who was forced to watch from the sidelines after breaking a collarbone in training crash two days out from the start of the competition. “I would like to dedicate this race to James, this was meant to be his race,” explained Plapp. “I raced it on his behalf, and I’m sure he would have been in the same position as I would was in the race. It meant a lot to be able to win it for him, and I’m sure next year he will do it! Plapp capped the week off in style by winning the Championship’s final event, the Madison, with Blake Quick. There the pair figured all but two of the fourteen sprint decisions to take the crown on 47 points ahead of Russia and Denmark. “The Madison has been my goal for so long,” revealed Plapp. “And to achieve it with such a fantastic mate was so special and once again having one of the previous best Madison riders in Matt Gilmore guiding us was unreal. “You’d probably be able to tell after the 100 hugs and the celebrations after the race, that this one is going to take a while to sink in. “I want to thank Matty Gilmore and Shane (Kelly) for coaching us over the last few months and Bernie for being an amazing team manager. Also to the Brunswick Cycling Club and Cam McFarlane for all his support and guidance and for just keeping me enjoying my cycling. And of course mum and dad.” It was a triple treat for Plapp and Quick with the pair each claiming three medals for the week. On the opening day, the pair teamed with Matthew Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA) to win bronze in the team pursuit, while Queensland’s Quick also won omnium bronze. WATCH THE POINTS FINALWATCH the MADISON FINAL
It has been an emotional, but successful comeback for Caroline Buchanan after the dual Olympian claimed the win in her first race back following her life-threatening crash in seven months ago.
Buchanan claimed the win at the Rockshox Pump Track Challenge at Whistler in Canada, her first race since she suffered a broken nose, sternum, two collapsed lungs and bleeding around her heart following an off road vehicle accident outside of Canberra last December. "Last time I won was here, first time in 2018 I have won a major event, " said an emotional Buchanan after the win. "In one of my worst years, thanks to everyone who stuck behind me. "This win meant a lot to me tonight." WATCH the final Peter celebrates with Emilie Miller at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships. Cycling Australia would like to thank Peter Day, who after nine years of leading the Australian Cycling Team Para-cycling program, will step down from the role at the end of September. Peter’s remarkable cycling coaching career has spanned across three decades, with his first role coming as the Head Coach of the inaugural QAS Cycling Program in 1991. “As QAS coach, I had the privilege of working with several Para-cyclists, most notably Chris Scott who was a multiple Paralympic and world champion. "As I really enjoyed the coaching experience and personal relationship developed with Chris, I felt I could contribute to and achieve the overall goals and objectives of the program as required by Cycling Australia and the Australian Paralympic Committee.” Commencing with the Cycling Australia High Performance Network in 2009, Peter guided the program through two Paralympic Games campaigns which netted six gold medals in London 2012 and three at Rio 2016 for a total haul of 27 medals. During his management, the team astoundingly claimed more than 30 world titles across both the UCI Para-cycling Road and Track World Championships. “My most fulfilling time had to be the 2012 London Paralympics,. Not only because of the outstanding results, but I think it was another massive step for the profile of Para-cycling and the athletes who truly deserve the recognition. “My unforgettable moment came there when I watched this young man David Nicholas, go from being absolutely devastated with his result in the IP on the track, to win gold in the TT on the road and then go on to claim the IP gold at the 2016 Rio Games.”  Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with Alexandra Lisney, Sue Powell & Michael Winter. Photo APC. Peter’s results were recognised off the road and track, notably with many accolades highlighted by the APC and CA Coach of the Year awards, but he was quick to acknowledge the athletes’ role. “Something that I have always been very conscious of is that great athletes make coaches look good. I was very extremely lucky to work with some exceptionally talented cyclists in my early coaching years before and also as the inaugural QAS Coach including Kerrie Meares, Scott McGrory and Robbie McEwen. “So it is fitting to come out the other side of my coaching career recognising some of our current great Para-cycling champions, and again just to name a few, Carol Cooke, David Nicholas and Alistair Donohoe who have continued to make me look good with their achievements.” Peter also spent many years championing the cause of Para-cycling away from the finish lines and podiums via the UCI Para-cycling Commission. “Of great personal satisfaction and this is the bigger picture but my involvement with the UCI which gave me the voice and vehicle to address the international factoring and minus 1 rule. This rule change effectively ended the discrimination against the more disabled who don’t attract the same size fields, especially in the women’s classifications.”  Peter with some of Australia's best after being named Coach of the year in 2016. While his legacy will be felt around the sport and the Australian Cycling Team for years to come, the sport has also left a lasting impression on Peter. “Generally I will take away the highest respect and admiration for the Para-cyclists who welcomed my support as many needed to demonstrate abilities to overcome adversity and challenges almost on a daily basis, that most able-bodied cyclists couldn’t begin to consider. “I take away a great deal of personal pride in knowing I did the best I possibly could with the resources available and also great satisfaction realising the developed lifelong friendships with colleagues and athletes. “I am proud of the people I worked with and am extremely confident that the greatly enhanced operating structure that is currently in place will serve to progress the Para-cycling program through to the Tokyo Paralympics.” Peter paid tribute to his strong support network across Australia. “Of course as with everything in life many people influence you, assist you and like how a great athlete makes you look good, so does a great support team. “In the beginning, I was entirely at sea with what was effectively a two-man show, Tom Skulander and I appreciate his guidance. To the Golden Rainbow, Murray Lydeamore volunteering his services as Team Manager which saw us do every World Track and Road Championship 2010 – 2016 and two Paralympics. “Throughout the years I enjoyed support from SIS/SAS coaches, and I particularly enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Kipp Kaufmann (Cycling Victoria/Australia), and I must recognise him for his efforts to take Para-cycling competition into environments of higher profile and recognition. “To the Australian Paralympic Committee and special thanks to Kate McLoughlin, a big thank you to Paul Brosnan for his support and direction in his role of General Manager Australian Cycling Team, and to Kevin Tabotta’s and the progress that was made with Para-cycling integration within the High Performance program. “I must recognise the long-term commitment from Keren Faulkner, Nick Formosa, Michael Winter, Eliza Smyth, Berthy May and Dan Brent as integral to our program and more recently Cameron Jennings, Nick Owen and excellent administration support from Nathan Jennings. “I also enjoyed this past year working with Simon Jones as Performance Director; I appreciated Simon allowing me the autonomy to get on with delivering stated goals and objectives as we build the required momentum towards medal-winning performances Tokyo 2020.”  Peter coaching Sue Powell at the World Championships. And what is next for Peter Day? “I suppose all the things people say they will do when they retire are going around in my head. “I know I will miss the athlete interaction and my work colleagues and friends who have been so incredibly supportive of me during both the good and bad times. “But I think I will just take a step back, not be email driven, slaved to by the phone and not wondering what disaster will hit the KPI’s for that year. “And just annoy my wife a bit more than I currently do.” The 2018 UCI Para World Cup in Canada will be Peter's final event in the role. Details of the new appointments to the Cycling Australia program will be made in the coming week.  Peter (right) with Stuart Tripp at the Rio Paralympic Games. Photo APC.  Cycling Australia is excited to announce the full teams for the 2018 UCI World Road Championships to be held in Innsbruck, Austria from 23 September. The 2018 squad selections in all categories were based on a clearly defined strategy, with riders selected for specific roles to help place an Australian rider on the podium. Australian Technical Director Brad McGee: “We know the course is going to be super tough and feel confident we have the right mix of talent and purpose for this event. “We started this process thinking about how to win these races. Then we worked back from that endpointand considered which riders had the capabilities to deliver on that strategy. “At the Commonwealth Games we worked in a very similar manner and produced gold medals in both road events. We’re taking the same approach to these World Championships and hope to produce a similar result.” For Australian Cycling Team Performance Director Simon Jones, the key to success at Innsbruck in 2018 will be executing on the defined strategy. “From the moment the course was released, we have been thinking about how to best perform this year. The team has developed the best possible strategy and the selections were made to support the key objective of maximizing the chances of winning. From a selection process perspective, we have moved to an earlier selection timeframe to give all athletes time to prepare and think about their roles and where applicable do specific work.” The 2018 UCI World Road Championships will be held in Innsbruck, Austria from 23-30 September 2018. MEN’S ROAD RACE
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The junior squads were announced May 2018. View the team here.
 The Australian Cycling Team begins its 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships campaign on Wednesday evening at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. Watch Live
2017 World Championship bronze medallist Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD) is eager to hit the track for her second tilt at a rainbow jersey. “I am really looking forward to Worlds, my last major race was Nationals, so it’s been a long time coming for me,” said Martin-Wallace, claimed scratch bronze in 2017 and will contest the Team Pursuit, Omnium and Madison in 2018. “After getting fourth, fifth and sixth last year in those events respectively I’m aiming to improve my results and hopefully be on the podium. “I haven’t thought too much about the competition; I’m just trying to focus on the things that I can control and prepare myself to be at my best.” Martin-Wallace and fellow 2017 representative Alice Culling (VIC) will team with debutants Sophie Edwards (SA), Lauren Robards (ACT) and Sarah Gigante (VIC) in the endurance events. The men’s endurance crew suffered a cruel blow on the weekend with James Moriarty (QLD) breaking his collarbone after coming down following a clip of wheels in training. “It is devastating for him, and the team, but I have been so impressed with how the team has gotten around him, and how he has responded to the situation,” said Gilmore, who revealed he would take Moriarty under his wing as a guest coach for the Championships. “While he, unfortunately, won’t be out on the track, we feel this is a great opportunity for James to experience a different look at the World Championships. He will be able to shadow the coaching staff in the pits, in team meetings and learn the processes the staff go through each day.” The endurance line up will now form from a quartet of debutants in Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), Michael Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA). “I think it is going to be very special, pretty excited to get it underway,” said Plapp, who will line up in the team pursuit and will partner with Quick in the Madison. “I know it is going to be a lot different than nationals, everyone will be on another level, and it all becomes more tactical, you can’t ride everyone off your wheel. “But I am not going to ride differently; it is about backing yourself, not worry about how they race, but race your own race. Go in with a game plan and don’t follow other wheels.” The sprint team comprises Leigh Hoffman (SA) and Thomas Cornish (NSW), and Alana Field (VIC). The 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships will be held from Wednesday 15 - Sunday 19 August at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. Schedule Finals to be held in afternoon sessions beginning at 4pm local time (midnight AEST).
Follow Australian Cycling Team updates Follow the Australian team in Aigle via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Australian Cycling Team WOMEN’S ENDURANCE
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O'Brien celebrates winning gold at the Gold Coast Games. Photo © Tim Bardsley-Smith.
Two of Australia’s world record team pursuit quartet will switch the fixed gear for the road bike this week, with Kelland O’Brien and Sam Welsford to suit up for the Australian Cycling Academy in the National Road Series.
The Australian Cycling Team members will reunite again for the Tours second event for men, the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast, a five-day, six-stage Tour beginning in Mt Gambier on 15 August. In April, O’Brien scorched the Anna Meares Velodrome with Alex Porter, Sam Welsford and Leigh Howard, with a time of 3mins 49.804secs in the gold medal ride at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the first sub 3:50 time in history. “I can't believe how fast time has gone since April! That day is probably the most memorable day of my career to date for sure,” said O’Brien, who revealed the quartet celebrated with a tattoo of the new mark. “The atmosphere in the velodrome day one of the Commonwealth Games was electric. During racing, I can never hear the crowd, but in that final, the crowd was so loud that it was all I could hear!” The youngest cycling team member and one of the youngest gold medallists at the Commonwealth Games, O’Brien only turned 20 in May and has revelled growing in Tim Decker’s endurance program. “My parents always treated me as an equal person and not a child, and from the moment I came into this program I was treated with the same respect and what comes with that is I an expected to operate at the professional level the older guys do,” he remarked. “Being a part of Tim's program has been a dream come true for me. Not to say it hasn't been without its challenges, but I love the challenge, working in our group is unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I couldn't be more proud to say I belong there!” Since a break after the Games, O’Brien has mixed track and road, with two trips to Japan including a win and podium in two Madisons with Welsford at the Japan Track Cup in July. “I had some time off relaxing after the Commonwealth Games, but I was very keen to get stuck into it again! It felt awesome to get back on the track bike and get a win with Sam in Japan, we had won that event in 2017, so it was a good feeling to go back and win it again.” For the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast, O’Brien will team with Welsford, fellow Australian Cycling Team member Cameron Scott – who took a stage win at the Tour of Qinghai Lake last month. Following the NRS season, O’Brien has his sights set on the summer track season starting with the Oceania Championships in Adelaide in October, followed by the UCI World Cup Series and December Nationals in Melbourne. “Summer track season is my favourite time of the year, and with even more racing on than usual I can't wait to get back to Adelaide with the team in preparation for that busy time of the year,” added O’Brien, who is now eyeing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. “Although sub 3:50 was a fantastic achievement, we as a team see that as a great result on the way to our ultimate goal. “Next for the team is to regroup for the next two years leading up to Tokyo.” The seventh edition of the Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast will start with a traditional morning criterium in Mount Gambier on Wednesday 15 August, with the Tour to end with a grand finale street race on Portland’s waterfront on Sunday 19 August. Campolina-Visit Victoria Tour of the Great South Coast: Teams / Results  The Australian Cycling Team has landed in Aigle, Switzerland ahead of the 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships which run 15-19 August. Watch Live Returning 2017 representatives Alexandra Martin-Wallace (QLD) and Alice Culling (VIC) and eleven debutants form a 13-member squad set to contest the Championships held at the UCI World Cycling Centre. Martin-Wallace and Culling, along with Sophie Edwards (SA), Lauren Robards (ACT) and Sarah Gigante (VIC) will contest the women’s endurance events, while Luke Plapp (VIC), Blake Quick (QLD), James Moriarty (QLD), Michael Rice (ACT) and Luke Wight (SA) form the men’s endurance quintet. The sprint trio features Leigh Hoffman (SA), Thomas Cornish (NSW) and Alana Field (VIC). Selected following February Track Nationals, the team has been turning heads at their camp held at the Australian Cycling Team headquarters in Adelaide, and not just because of their freshly dyed hair. “They are one of the best groups I have ever worked with, how they have come together as a squad and bonded in such a short period, it is very impressive,” said Matthew Gilmore, Cycling Australia’s National Junior Coach. “We have worked just as hard on the team cultures and establishing team values, and this has really shaped the team, helped them be better teammates to each other,” added Gilmore, who was impressed by the team's level of detail in researching and delivering a presentation to the coaches on the legacy of the men’s annual tradition of dying their hair blonde. “The Junior Worlds is the biggest thing for the riders at the moment, but for us, it provides a real opportunity for us to set the tone moving forward, for the team and CA moving forward. "If we start that at the junior level, then it gets them on the right step.” Debutant Leigh Hoffman has enjoyed the jump from the state level to the national team for his maiden World Championships. “It has been a huge culture change stepping up, we have learned it is all about respect. Respect of your team kit, your teammates, the opportunity you have,” Hoffman said. “And for so many riders from all around the country to get along so well, it is fantastic. We have moulded together really well; we are just one happy family.” Schedule Finals to be held in afternoon sessions beginning at 4pm local time (midnight AEST).
Follow Australian Cycling Team updates Follow the Australian team in Aigle via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Australian Cycling Team - 2018 UCI Junior Track World Championships WOMEN’S ENDURANCE
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