Cycling South Australia Names Stellar Team for Track Nationals
Cycling South Australia has named a stellar team littered with Olympians, world champions and Youth Olympic up-and-comers for the 2013 Subaru Cycling Australia Track Cycling Championships in Sydney from 30 January to 2 February, 2013.
Reigning omnium world champion Glenn O'Shea, 23, is one of many big name riders in side, with the London 2012 Olympics team pursuit silver medallist looking to improve on a superb 2012 season.
"Obviously last year was pretty good, and now it's motivation to continue on in 2013 to defend my world title," O'Shea said.
O'Shea recent form has been nothing short of scintillating, with the Bendigo-native successfully defending his national omnium crown at Melbourne's DISC Velodrome last December.
O'Shea then made history at Tasmania's summer sports carnivals, becoming the first rider to win all the major wheel races in one series with victories in Latrobe, Launceston and Devonport and Burnie.
"At the track nationals, I am not 100% certain of what I will ride, but I will definitely do the team pursuit and might have a crack at the kilo for something different, and you will see me in the bunch races," O'Shea said.
Fellow Olympians Matt Glaetzer and Alex Edmondson have also been named, with Glaetzer to lead the defending team sprint team which will also feature reigning national kilometre time trial champion James Glasspool and a new recruit in former Victorian Jason Niblett.
Edmondson, along with O'Shea, 2012 Subaru National Road Series winner Luke Davison, 2012 junior world champion Miles Scotson, Ed Bissaker, and George Tansley, will form a formidable endurance squad aiming to defend it's team pursuit crown, the Southcott Cup.
In the 2012 Cup, O'Shea and Edmondson teamed with Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis to an all comers record for the 4000m with an astonishing 3:56.834.
Headlining the women's side will be Olympic medallist Annette Edmondson, who like O'Shea has experienced a whirlwind 2012 in the omnium.
Edmondson collected bronze in the Omnium in London and the silver medal at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, in addition to claiming both the Oceania and Australian omnium crowns last December in perfect fashion by claiming all events.
"I had a pretty solid run of results in 2012, after the Games I took a break after that, so I wasn't sure where my form would be at but I'm happy with where it is at the moment," Edmondson said.
"I really have to make sure I stay on top of my game for the national championships at the end of January because we have World Champs at the end of February."
Other female members include Stephanie Morton, who claimed the keirin title at December's Oceania Championships, with Jessica Mundy to will make an eagerly anticipated debut in the senior ranks.
The U19 men's team features a number of strong riders who will also ride at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in Sydney from January 16-20.
SA team members Callum Scotson and Josh Harrison have been selected for the AYOF track endurance team, while Patrick Constable, Jai Angsuthasawit and Alex Radzikiewicz are in the sprint team.
The U19 women's team will be lead by AYOF track endurance team member, Alex Manly.
South Australia claimed the Robina Joy Trophy in 2012 after topping the points tally based on the performances of their elite male riders.
The 2013 Subaru Cycling Australia Track Cycling Championships will be held at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome from 30 January to 2 February, 2013.
Cycling Australia