Australia's Future Stars on Show at National Champs in Noosa This Week

While many of Australia's top male and female professional cyclists are lining up in the Tour de France or Giro Rosa this month, Australia's next crop of future stars are in Noosa for the 2013 Cycling Australia U19 Road National Championships which begin on Thursday.

More than 130 of Australia's brightest young cyclists will flock to the tourist mecca for the four-day event, each with the goal of being crowned national champion in the individual time trial, road race and criterium. In the under 19 men's category, reigning Oceania time trial champion Tom Kaesler (SA) headlines an 87-strong field and will face tough opposition from the likes of Oceania road champion Ryan Cavanagh (QLD) and Oscar Stevenson (VIC), James Thompson (QLD), Joshua Harrison (SA), Callum Scotson (SA) Jack Edwards (NSW) and Sam Welsford (WA). Reigning Oceania time trial champion Emily McRedmond (WA) will wear the number one saddle cloth in the women's category, with a great battle looming with a solid field which features Oceania road champion Josie Talbot (NSW), plus Alexandra Manly (SA), Lucy Kirk (ACT), Kelsey Robson (WA), Elissa Wundersitz (WA), Lauren Perry (TAS) and Macey Stewart (TAS). The event has been a breeding ground for Australia's elite professional cyclists, with 2012 London Olympic Games cyclists Rohan Dennis, Josephine Tomic, Melissa Hoskins and Amy Cure, plus reigning world champions and Orica GreenEDGE cyclists Cameron Meyer and Luke Durbridge, all forging their careers with victories at the championships. Current Jayco-AIS team members Alexander Morgan, Caleb Ewan, Taylah Jennings, Emily Roper and Georgia Baker all contested the Championships as recently as last year. The action gets under way on Thursday with the individual time trials, with a rest day scheduled for Friday. The road races will be held on Saturday and Sunday will feature the critierums. The Championships will run from Thursday 4 July to Sunday 7 and are supported by the Australian Sports Commission and are hosted in conjunction with Cycling Australia and Cycling Queensland. Follow the action