The Australian Cycling Team is ready ahead of the 2019 UCI World Cup season which gets underway in Manchester on April 26.

Five countries will each host two rounds of the Series in 2019 the beginning in Manchester in April, before taking in stops in the Netherlands, France, USA and Argentina.

The 2019 World Championships will slot in between the French and USA rounds in July, with the 2019 season to offer all-important qualification points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Saya Sakakibara shone while on her debut in the elite ranks in 2018, finishing second overall on the year-end international rankings claiming one World Cup win and four podium appearances, in addition to claiming sixth in her first elite career World Championship final.  

"2018 was such a crazy season for me, I didn't expect any of the results," said Wollongong's Sakakibara, 19. "It has shown me it is possible to do it, now I understood where I am at against the rest of the field.  

"Coming into 2019, obviously there is confidence I can take into the season, But it is a brand new year, there is probably another new group coming through, it is a pre-Olympic year so everyone is trying to get those Olympic points. It is going to be really competitive, even more than last year.

"But like last year, I will be taking it race by race, coming into it with no expectations. I plan to build on 2018, learn from mistakes that I make along the way, and continue to grow as an athlete."

With a valuable year of experience under her belt, Saya dedicated her Australian based summer offseason to strength and power program. 

"At only 19, I am not as strong as the older girls in the elite class, so being in the gym three times a week was a priority over summer, working on my strength and power," said Sakakibara, who turns 20 in August. "Now it will be all about trying to convert that strength base into power and then on the bike.

Sakakibara opened 2019 with victory in the Oceania Championships and will be chasing the podium in Manchester.

"Always chasing the podium, Manchester is a tight track, it will be a new experience, tight racing, everyone is eager to put down good results to start the reason, going to be very competitive."

Kai Sakakibara celebrated his start to 2019 with victory in January's Oceania Championships and like sibling Saya, spent much of his summer deep in an offseason strength program. 

"We have seen great improvements from October 2018 vs February 2019, my sprint times have improved, as well as my start Hill times at Brisbane SX track as well," said Kai. "Another focus for me was on marginal gains - this was in sleep, nutrition, recovery, as well as doing what I already do in training a little bit better. 

"I think all of this combined has shown a huge bump in my performance compared to last year." 

Adelaide's Anthony Dean will also line up in Manchester's opening round following a consistent 2018 where he grabbed a podium at the Belgium World Cup round, in addition to two top-five placings, and top ten at the World Championships. 

"Heading into the 2019 season with high confidence and hopes," said Dean. "After finishing the final World Cup of 2018 in third, I have been setting my sights on the top step of the podium. 

"I am coming into the 2019 season in my best shape and looking forward to racing in the venue I got my first World Cup podium in 2014."

As the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games moves closer into view, Cycling Australia BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes is looking forward to another season.  

"The Australian Cycling Team have clear individual performance plans for all riders as we embrace diversity to enhance the individual athlete by targeting key areas of support required by the support network we align within Australia and around the world.  

"Simplifying the process and focusing on tasks and activities that will make an impact on performance."

2019 BMX Supercross Schedule - Riders contesting Round

• 27/28 April: Round 1&2 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Anthony, Kai & Saya
• 11/12 May: Round 3&4 - Papendal, Netherlands - Kai & Saya
• 8/9 June: Round 5&6 - Paris, France - Anthony, Kai & Saya
• 23-27 July: 2019 World Championships - Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
• 14/15 September: Round 7&8 - Rock Hill, USA
• 28/29 September: Round 9&10 - Santiago Del Estero, Argentina

More details at the UCI website:  https://www.uci.org/bmx-racing/events/uci-bmx-supercross-world-cup â€‹â€‹â€‹

Sydney's Brandon Loupos has opened the 2019 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup season with victory in round one, with many hailing his winning run as the best ever seen at a BMX Freestyle Park event.

After crashing in his first final run in Hiroshima, Loupos fired in an insane second run which included a 1080, a double backflip, a 900 and a cashroll to score 95.80 points, the highest score ever recorded at a World Cup event. 

"My score feels amazing and I couldn't be more blessed to get a score like that especially after crashing on the first run and giving the second run all I had, nothing feels better," Loupos said. 

"It is pretty crazy to have people come up to me and say 'it's the best run of all time' because to me it's just important to land my planned run and to inspire others. My main goal is to honor Dave Mirra, the greatest of all time, and when people say that was the best run ever, it makes me think I'm considered to be worthy of Dave Mirra."

The win matched Loupos' efforts in the same round of the 2018 World Cup last April. 

"It feels unreal. I'm in the same position as last year, but this year since I've already had more experience and more times staying at number 1, I definitely plan to keep it," added Loupos, the 2018 World Championship bronze medallist. "I have the maturity and experience now to work hard at home to maintain the number 1 position throughout year."

2017 world champion Logan Martin claimed third with 91.10 points on his first run which included a 4 tail whip combo, and a 540 flair right on the buzzer.

Athlete Membership for 2019

​Podium

• Gordon Allan - Track
• Carol Cooke - Road
• Alistair Donohoe - Track/Road
• Paige Greco - Track/Road
• Darren Hicks - Track/Road
• Meg Lemon - Track/Road
• Hannah Macdougall - Road
• Emilie Miller - Road
• David Nicholas - Track/Road
• Emily Petricola - Track
• Amanda Reid - Track
• Kaitlyn Schurmann - Road

 
Podium Ready

• Stuart Tripp - Road
• Jessica Gallagher - Track
• Madison Janssen - Track
• Brad Henderson - Track
• Luke Zaccaria - Track
• Kieran Murphy - Track/Road
• Lachlan Glasspool - Track/Road

 
Podium Potential

• Grant Allen - Road
• Stuart Jones - Road
• Michael Shippley - Track
• Darcy Thompson - Track

The country’s best and brightest gathered at the Australian Cycling Team 'Women in Performance Track Cycling' Breakfast to discuss the challenges and opportunities within one of the most competitive sports in the country.

Held in conjunction with the recent Track National Championships in Brisbane, the breakfast was organised by Podium Potential Academy Sprint Coach Lynne Munro and hosted by National Manager of Communications Amy McCann.

The panel featured three generations of track cycling royalty including dual Olympic champion Anna Meares, four-time world champion Kaarle McCulloch and Australia’s first female Olympic sprint medallist Michelle Ferris.

Also attending the breakfast was a number of Australia's reigning world champion athletes in Amy Cure, Ashlee Ankudinoff, Alex Manly and Georgia Baker, Para-cycling Pilot Madison Janssen, UCI Commissaire Karen O’Callaghan, Cycling Australia director Linda Evans, plus a host of staff, sports scientists, state and institute coaches.

“A year and a half ago when I first came into the Australian cycling team, especially taking up a coaching position, I looked around and didn't see very many other women around,” explained Munro. “And because I knew the story that had gotten me there had its challenges, I wanted to make use of my position to leverage some change and accelerate the process.

“It is very easy for us now to think we are doing pretty good without actually reflecting on how we got there. We need to allow that knowledge and legacy of those that came before us to influence how we can shape the future.”

After spending time away from the sport following her retirements in the early 2000s, Australia’s first female Olympic medallist in track sprinting Michelle Ferris is excited to be back and a part of the discussions. 

“I think it is time we get together as a group of female athletes and help support each other, I am not sure what the next step is but that is the challenge to all of us, past and present riders to keep momentum in cycling,” said Ferris, a dual Olympic medallist (1996/2000) and seven-time World Championship medalist.

“Getting more people involved at a support crew level, staff, commissaries, coaches, everything and if we work together, we have more chance of making a difference for women in sport.” 

Four-time world champion and 2012 Olympic medallist Kaarle McCulloch took time out of her Nationals campaign to present a number of concepts and ideas to the attendees. 

“Two of the key things I wanted to get across was the importance of environment, and how to cultivate a positive environment,” said McCulloch. “But also how do we keep girls in the sport. 

“I have realised there is a whole multitude of things that we can do to get girls involved in the sport and more people in the cycling fraternity.  And that comes down to creating better support systems for coaches and for when we find talent, where do they go and how can they thrive.”

For more information about how to get involved in cycling, please contact Cycling Australia.

Australian Cycling Team athletes Logan Martin and Brandon Loupos are primed ahead of the start of the 2019 UCI World Cup season which gets underway in Japan on April 19.

An epic 2019 World Cup season includes stops in Japan, France and China, sandwiching a host of international C1 events including the lucrative X Games, before wrapping up with the World Championships in November.

Sydney's Loupos is looking to replicate his 2018 form which saw him bookend the year with career-best performances including gold in Japan's opening World Cup round before storming to bronze at the World Championships in November.

"2018 was definitely a great year for me and my best year so far in my BMX career," said Loupos who in unfortunate circumstances suffered a bike mechanical in round two and had his bike stolen just three hours before the final in round three. "But I'm looking forward to what the rest of 2019 has in store since I started the year off with three wins and keeping that momentum rolling will be key for 2019.

"My goal is obviously to win as that's what we're all there to do! It would be really cool to go back to Hiroshima, back up my win from last year and obviously start the World Cup series off strong!"

2017 world champion Martin opened 2018 with a broken collarbone which forced him to miss the opening round of the season. He 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. unfortunately, Martin broke his ankle in October, which meant he was unable to defend his world title. 

"2018 was a roller coaster for sure, a few injuries throughout but also a few very high points in my career," said Gold Coast's Martin, who has no plans to play it safe in the adrenaline-filled discipline despite his run of injuries. 

"My 2019 goals are to achieve more of these big wins, however with fewer injuries. 

"But my goal is always to ride to the best of my ability at any event. Staying on my bike through my runs are always a large part of my focus but also not to play it too safe."

As the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games moves closer into view, Cycling Australia BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes is looking forward to another season.  

"While it is still a new discipline to UCI cycling, I am amazed by the work ethic shown by our Australian Cycling Team members, not only in their own development but the progression of the sport," Bootes said. "It is a pleasure working with such talented and committed athletes with a growth mindset towards performance."

2019 BMX Freestyle Season 

Three rounds will take place in April, May and October in Japan, France and China, before the 2019 Urban World Championships wrap up the season in China in November. 

• 19-21 April: Round 1 - Hiroshima, Japan
• 29 May - 2 June: Round 2 - Montpellier, France
• 31 Oct - 3 Nov: Round 3 - Chengdu, China
• 6 Nov - 10 Nov: Urban World Championships-  Chengdu, China

More at the UCI website.

After this extensive and always difficult review process it has been decided that two sprint athletes will not have their Australian Cycling Team membership renewed.
Those athletes are:

• Jacob Schmid
• Patrick Constable

As noted, this process of categorisation is not easy and we thank both riders for their positive contribution to the team and to our sport.
As part of our ongoing commitment to athletes well being, we are providing human resources and financial transition support to both men and our dedicated staff are available to guide them through their exit from the team.

They are:

• Ruth Anderson, Head of Performance Psychology and Behaviours
• Mark Gregory, Senior Athlete Career Development Adviser
• Murray Lydeamore, Welfare Officer
  
  

​All three are available to assist the athletes on an immediate basis and over the next 12-months.

The next major event for the Australian Cycling Team track members is the 2020 Oceania Championships in New Zealand in October, followed by the 2019/2020 UCI Track World Cup season which runs from November 2019 to January 2020, including round #5 in Brisbane,  December 2019.
​
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Victoria's Alistair Donohoe claimed a fifth career world title with stirring victory in the C5 individual pursuit at the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands. 

In a near personal best ride (4:27.456) to top the afternoon qualifying session, Donohoe overtook his Ukrainian opponent Yehor Dementyev in the final to take the world title. 

"I was a bit nervous and unsure going into today's rides really," said Donohoe. "I knew I was in really good shape from the summer of racing I've had, just wasn't sure how that would translate into times today!

"I knew going in I just had to really control the start and not go out too hot, I'd seen a lot of people earlier on going out really quickly and paying for it in the tail end of their pursuit. Being round seven of nine, I still had three really good riders coming up behind me to I just had to put them out of my mind and try to execute the best ride I could and be happy with that. 

"Happy, surprised, pumped, shocked, that's probably how I was feeling after the qualifying time. I didn't think I had that time in me but the coaches believed in me and I believed in them so it worked!

"Heading into the final, I had the same thoughts again, just go out and ride your ride for the first half of the four kilometres, then worry about racing him. I was lucky enough to put some good time into him early and get the catch so it made for a short and sweet final round.

"Overwhelmed and happy as Larry I am!"

After claiming his fifth career world title - second on the track - Donohoe paid tribute to the team and his support staff. "This team is backing each other so much and creating such a positive environment I think it's really bringing the most out of all the riders. One of the most relaxed and constructive teams I've been amongst.

"I'd love to thank my family for all their love, support and encouragement that makes doing what I do so much easier!

"To my coach Nick Owen for backing me and giving me the confidence and ability to get out there and rip it and have fun.  To the CA coaches on this trip for putting in the finishing touches and ironing out the wrinkles to allow me to stand on the top step today.

"The support around me is second to none and it feels as though I've had the easiest job out of them all!"

About 

​The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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.

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world's best from 30 countries. 

More
 

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Photos

​Casey B. Gibson 

Victoria's Emily Petricola is celebrating after claiming both the world record and world title in the C4 individual pursuit at the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands. 

In a stunning afternoon qualifying ride, Petricola broke her own world record with a time of 3mins 53.297secs for the three-kilometre event.  In the final, Canada's Kelly Shaw was no match with Petricola overtaking her opponent before the finish line to take the gold. 

"The world record was very unexpected and unplanned, so it is hard describe or articulate exactly how I felt," said Petricola, however the Victorian could detail the meticulous planning involved since winning silver at 2018 World Championships after also breaking the world record in qualifying. 

"I spent a lot of time over the course of the last twelve months identifying exactly what went wrong last year and what I needed to change so I didn't have the same outcome this year," she said. "I've worked really hard with both Shane Kelly and Cameron Jennings on controlling my riding so I can go faster in a second pursuit ride than in qualifying.

"This is difficult for me as I do tend to get a bit excited on race day, but I really did my best to follow the instructions being given to me throughout and, thankfully, today we executed two good, fast rides to get the rainbows."

Relocating from Melbourne to the Australian Cycling Team headquarters in Adelaide earlier this year, Petricola was quick to thank coaches in both cities.

"I have to thank first and foremost Cam Jennings for his coaching guidance and support. Shane Kelly who until my recent relocation spent a huge amount of time and energy teaching me so much; Harry Brennan for his expertise and support I in more areas than he is obliged to provide.

"But to all CA staff that are here with us - they have been beyond incredible including Warren McDonald, Keren Faulkner, Eliza Smythe, Nick Formosa, Mikey Winter, Jade Lean, Nathan Jennings and Louise Marvin.

​"All my friends and family that have provided unending patience in their support of me doing this."

Later in the sessions, Petricola backed up her gold medal performance with a bronze in the C4 scratch race. 

Team mate Meg Lemon took silver in the scratch race, while also taking bronze in the individual pursuit. 

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.
​
More
 

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© Casey B. Gibson

Sydney's Gordon Allan celebrated his maiden World Championship medal with silver in the C2 1km time trial final at the 2019 UCI Para-cycling World Championships in the Netherlands on Friday. 

In amazing scenes, Allan covered the four laps in just a tick under fifty kilometres per hour to set a new world record with a superb time of 1min 12.873secs.

However in the very next ride, the final competitor to take to the track in Colombia’s Alejandro Perea just pipped the Australian's new mark by 0.005secs (1min12.838secs). 

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
• Official Website 

Photos 

© Casey B. Gibson
​

Twenty-four hours after smashing the individual pursuit world record on her way to winning a maiden world title, debutant Paige Greco was at it again in the C3 500m Time Trial.

The Adelaide cyclist took her second world title in as many days in a blistering time of 39.442secs which smashed the previous mark by almost two seconds.

"I am very happy, two good rides, I still can’t believe it," said Greco, a former stand out on the athletics track who has been cycling for little more than twelve months, who has already turned her attention to improving her world's best times. "I’m looking forward to getting back into training and keep working at it.

"I’ve only been in the sport for a short time but this has given me the determination to keep training and working on the things I need to improve on.

​"I want to thank all the coaches for their ongoing support and my coach back home Loz couldn’t have done it without them."

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
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© Casey B. Gibson

Sydney's Amanda Reid is celebrating after setting a new world record way to claiming the C2 time trial world title at the UCI Para-cycling Track Worlds in the Netherlands on Friday.

The second last rider to take to the Apeldoorn track to complete the two laps, Reid scorched the track in 45.564km/hour to clock the new mark of 39.505secs.  The previous holder Alyda Norbruis (NED) was unable to better Reid's time in the final ride, giving Reid the gold.

"I still don’t think this is real," said Reid.  "It took a while to sink in what I had actually done and the time I had just rode.

"Now that it has all sunk in, the feeling is unbelievable, a world title is amazing and the world record on top of that is like a dream come true for me.

"I am truly fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing support system and without them this wouldn’t be possible."

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
• Official Website 

Photos 

© Casey B. Gibson

#Apeldoorn2019 Day 1 Recap 

It was a triple treat for the Australian Cycling Team on the opening day of the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands with Paige Greco, Darren Hicks and David Nicholas claiming individual pursuit world titles. 

Debutant Paige Greco (SA) announced herself in the best way possible with a world record in qualifying and the world title in the C3 individual pursuit. 

Greco, who only began cycling two years ago, scorched the Apeldoorn track time of 4mins 0.206secs in qualifying to smash the existing world record by three seconds. 

The 22-year-old Adelaide cyclist proved it was no fluke as she posted 4mins 1.609secs in the final, even after overtaking her German opponent Denise Schindler. 

“I was really happy with the world record and then happy I could back it up in the final,” said Greco. 

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
• Official Website 

Photos 

© Casey B. Gibson

#Apeldoorn2019 Day 1 Recap 

It was a triple treat for the Australian Cycling Team on the opening day of the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands with Paige Greco, Darren Hicks and David Nicholas claiming individual pursuit world titles. 

Queensland’s David Nicholas celebrated a third straight world crown in C3 individual pursuit category. 

“It feels so awesome, I can't explain the feeling,” Nicholas said. “It is hard to believe, but yes it is my third pursuit world title in a row. It takes a lot of effort to stay on top, but it is all worth it to get the rainbow jersey!”

Fastest qualifier in the afternoon session (3:30.775), Nicholas, 27, powered to a personal best 3mins 29.879secs on his ways to an eight-second victory in the final over Spain’s Eduardo Santas.

“My strategy in the qualifying was to ride a time that would earn me a place the gold medal ride, but I was rolling fast, and I qualified first. In the final, I set myself a goal as my PB and achieved that.”

The reigning Paralympic champion Nicholas was quick to praise his support team. 

“Thanks so much to Cycling Australia for all the help and support this year. Thanks to my coach Nick Formosa for everything he has done for me.”

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
• Official Website 

Photos 

© Casey B. Gibson

#Apeldoorn2019 Day 1 Recap

It was a triple treat for the Australian Cycling Team on the opening day of the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands with Paige Greco, Darren Hicks and David Nicholas claiming individual pursuit world titles. Read More.

“Right now I think I’m feeling every emotion possible,” said Darren Hicks after claiming his maiden world title. “I am excited & relieved, and in disbelief, I can't quite comprehend that I've finally got my first world championship and rainbow jersey, it's crazy!”

Second fastest in C2 Individual Pursuit qualifying (3:42.709) behind Tristan Chernove (CAN) by less than half a second, before Hicks turned the tables on his Canadian opponent by three seconds in the final (3:45.390).  

“My plan for qualifying was the same thing we have been working on for months, that is until I came through on my second lap six-tenths up on my schedule,” said Hicks revealing it not all went according to his pre-race plan. “After that, it was 'hold on for dear life' and get through those last ten laps without blowing my left leg apart!! In the end, I think I was fortunate to scrape in as the second qualifier, but hey, I'll take some luck going my way for a change!

“The final was a chance to make right what I did wrong in the qualifier, but unfortunately the tank was pretty empty from leaving it all out there on my first ride. So, in the end, I just settled to my schedule as best I could and tried to be as smooth as possible, the time is a little disappointing but in the end, the time doesn't matter in a medal ride off, just as long as you cross the line first.”

The win comes after a tumultuous year for the 34-year-old Adelaide cyclist who in January had charges against him dropped for a freeway truck crash that killed two people in 2014, the same accident in which Hicks lost his right leg.

“It has been a full on year, it was a long, agonising, very expensive road but it's behind me now, and I can finally focus fully on my racing,” Hicks said. “I just would like to say thanks to everyone that's helped me get to where I am today. I'm very grateful for all the opportunities I have been given and am glad I could bring home the chocolates for the first time on the big stage!

“A thank you to my awesome wife who supports me galavanting around the world riding my bike, your unreal babe, and I can't wait to show you the new bling!!”

About 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. 

Qualification points towards the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are on offer, with 16 of Australia's best set to vie against 200 of the world’s best from 30 countries.

More
 

• #AusCyclingTeam Hub
• Results 
• Official Website 

Photos 

© Casey B. Gibson

The Australian team has settled into a chilly Apeldoorn in the Netherlands ahead of the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships which run 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. 

While it snows outside, many members of the team including former world champions Alistair Donohoe (VIC) has opted for time in the sauna! 

Former world champion Tandem pairing Jessica Gallagher (VIC) and Pilot Madison Janssen (VIC) fine-tuned their preparations for the Championships at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Switzerland after the pair received an invitation to attend the International Training Camp. Read more.  

In the men's Tandem events Brad Henderson (SA) will be piloted by Luke Zaccaria.

The team will also feature reigning world champion David Nicholas (QLD), plus former world champions Amanda Reid (NSW) and Simone Kennedy (NSW).
 
​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.

2018 World Championship scratch race silver medalist Darren Hicks (SA) will look to continue his strong form with a focus towards the timed events, while Paige Greco (SA), Michael Shippley (QLD) and Daniel Van der Laan (NSW) will make their national team debut. 

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​Australian Para-cycling duo Jessica Gallagher and Pilot Madison Janssen will fine-tune their final preparations for the 2019 Track World Championships at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Switzerland after the pair received an invitation to attend the International Training Camp. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to train in a new environment and experience the high-performance centre,” said Gallagher. “We are looking forward to training alongside and learning from the international riders and in particular tandems as we don’t get to experience this in our daily training environment in Australia. 

“The centre encompasses all the facilities an athlete needs which will allow us to focus on our final preparations and being based in the Swiss Alps, we think it will have some pretty nice views too!”

The trip will provide another opportunity for Janssen to hone her skills in the specialised Pilot role and the Victorian is aiming to absorb as much as possible across the two-week camp. 

“I have been blessed to have some great coaches in the past such as Jason Niblett and Alex Bird and currently I have been under the watchful eye of one of the best sprint coaches Shane Kelly,” Janssen explained. “So for me, it will be taking in how others coach a tandem, and it will be nice to pick up some new things and bring them back home.” 

The duo won dual silver at the 2018 World Championships in Rio, and are chasing their own personal best in Apeldoorn while watching for the strong British outfit. 
 
“Coming off two second places at both the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games in 2018 we are looking to bridge the gap between us and Great Britain who took home all four gold in 2018 (in World Record times),”  said Gallagher, “While also knowing there are some teams hot on our heels, so it’s going to be a tight competition! 

“Personal best performances will put us in strong contention.”

Janssen is confident the team can deliver following a solid build up in Australia prior to the camp.  
 
“I think for us as a pairing; it is an excellent opportunity to nail everything that we have worked on over the past few months,” said Janssen. “And if we execute these things then I can see us achieving our goals, any time less than previous is one step closer to the top step.”

Gallagher is also excited about a new opportunity to race in the Tandem team sprint which will be held for the first time at the 2019 World Championships. 

“While it is an exhibition event this year we are excited the UCI is acknowledging the incredible spectator events that tandem sprint racing is and giving us the opportunity to show it to the World in the hope that it may become a Paralympic event in the future. “

Gallagher and Janssen will depart Switzerland on March 10 to join the Australian team in Apeldoorn for the Championships which will be the first Paralympic qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

“It’s exciting to think of the big 18 months ahead, Tokyo is firmly in sight, and with the World Champs being the first qualification opportunity, the whole Australian team is focused on putting their best foot forward,” Gallagher added. 

The 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the Netherlands from 14-17 March and 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. Website.

BMX FREESTYLE

There were dual celebrations for Brandon Loupos who claimed two C1 events in Canada.

Sydney's Loupos won the Canadian Joyride150 event in Toronto, and with an international field in below freezing conditions, was grateful that the competition was indoors on an amazing skate park. Brandon followed this with a win on the Sunday at the Toronto X jam event.

Brandon currently resides in North Carolina USA as he prepares for the 2019 World Cup season which begins in Japan on April 19.

Logan Martin continues to sweat it up in during his Australian season, taking the win at Brisbane's Village Skate Park in his first contest back from injuring his ankle prior to the 2018 World Championships in November.  

Completing his rehab at his Australian base, Martin will begin a busy 2019 season in Costa Rica next weekend with for the X Knights competition / show.

​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.  
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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.”

​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.
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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.

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.”

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.
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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.    ​

Reigning sprint world champion Matthew Glaetzer’s title defence is on track with the South Australian powering his way through the men’s sprint semi-finals in Poland.  

 Glaetzer began with the fifth fastest qualifying ride (9.706, 80km/h) on Saturday afternoon, before defeating for Quintero (COL) and Fukaya (JPN) in two solid rounds of 1/16 & 1/18 rides.He stormed into the semi-finals after defeating New Zealand’s Ethan Mitchell in two commanding rides in their quarterfinals match up. 

The sprint competition continues on Sunday afternoon, with Glaetzer to face Jeffrey Hoogland in the semi-final. 

Nathan Hart (ACT) qualified seventh fastest in 9.733secs and defeated Peralta (ESP) in their round of 1/16, match up. Hart edged on the line by Joseph Truman (GBR) in the 1/8 final, however, the Brit was later relegated for improper riding.   
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In the quarterfinal, Hart’s campaign came to an end after he was defeated by Harrie Lavreysen (NED) in two straight heats.