PEDAL TO THE METTLE
The renewal, and redemption, of Australian cycling will take another step at the Commonwealth Games. After a disappointing Olympic campaign in Tokyo (one bronze on the track, a bronze in the men’s time trial on the road and a gold in the freestyle BMX), which followed on from Rio (two medals on the track) AusCycling will put its faith in youth for the Birmingham Games.
Of the 34 riders selected, 23 will be making their national team debut.
It is something that has AusCycling executive general manager of performance Jesse Korf optimistic even though he concedes Australia might not replicate the 23 medals it won at the last Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“After most Olympic Games there is a bit of a changing of the guard, but we also have a fair few athletes who have moved to proteam spaces out of the track program in the last year, which is something we are encouraging,” Korf said.
“But being that is the case, we have a bit of a mix between experienced and new athletes “Which is exciting. Everything starts with opportunity.”
The squad has attracted proven performers such as Caleb Ewan, Michael Matthews, Rohan Dennis, Miles Scotson for the road and time trial race on the men’s side, while 2018 team pursuit gold medallist Alexandra Manly will compete on the road in the women’s races.
But the most of the attention will be on the track.
Only five from the track in Tokyo – Matthew Richardson, Matthew Glaetzer, Luke Plapp, Georgia Baker and Maeve Plouffe – will compete in London, where the track cycling will be held.
The changes have also been many at coaching level with AusCycling recently announcing Gene Bates would be the head coach of endurance – for road, mountain bike and track endurance – and Scott Gardner the new head coach of acceleration and action – covering BMX, BMX freestyle and track sprint.
“There has been a fair few changes in terms of coaching and structure as well,” Korf said.
But he is expecting strong performances in London, especially in the men’s sprint with Glaetzer and Richardson in the team.
“On the women’s side of things, Kristina Clonan has made a big step up, so she will be exciting to watch in the 500m time trial,” Korf said.
“And for the women in the team sprint we have Alessia McCaig, who is a very much a high potential developing athlete, and Breanna Hargraves.
“It is hard to say where this will land from a team sprint perspective . . . but we do expect the performance from the men’s sprint.”
In the endurance events there is optimism after some strong results at the Track Nation Cup in Milton, with excitement around the leadership roles Plapp – who will also compete in the road race – and Plouffe will assume at just 21 and 23.
“When we are looking at endurance squads for the men, they
. . . won’t be as strong as the Tokyo riders, noting that some riders on pro teams were unavailable,” Korf said.
“Luke Plapp is on the team, but he is the only one, so that will be very interesting to see how they perform.
“They performed really well at the World Cup in Canada but the World Cup at Canada isn’t a Commonwealth Games.
“Maeve has enjoyed a really steep progression curve, she has been performing very strong. If we are talking about track and the team pursuit and individual pursuit then she is proper world class.”
Jessica Gallagher, who won two silvers on the Gold Coast, will head the small contingent of paracyclists while World Cup MTB leader Rebecca McConnell will not compete as she seeks to maintain her standing at the top of the
classification.