Australia at full strength for track cycling test event

[divingbrit]

Australia have announced a full-strength squad for the three-day London World Cup next month which will double up as a test event for the 6,000-capacity Olympic velodrome, which has sold out for all six sessions.

The battle between the Australians and British teams will be central to the Olympic track cycling event in the summer, while the old adversaries will also square off at the World Championships in Melbourne early in April.

Given those two huge meetings there was an argument for Australia keeping the powder dry next month but the opportunity to train and compete at the Olympic venue was too much to resist and ultimately they have decided to travel in strength

All of which should guarantee some world class action, albeit early in the season, both in the two team pursuits – men's and women's – and the individual sprints.

In the men's individual events Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny will find themselves up against Shane Perkins and Scott Sunderland, while in the women's event Kaarle McCulloch and Anna Meares have proved untouchable in recent years in the team sprint and Mears' individual clashes with Vicky Pendleton are always worth savouring.

"This will be our only opportunity to race on the Olympic velodrome and familiarise both athletes and staff with the environment ahead of the Games," says Cycling Australia's national performance director Kevin Tabotta.

"The World Cup will help sharpen our team focus, knowing that there is just over 180 days to go before first event of the Olympic track program. It will also give us an idea of where the rest of the world is in terms of preparation for the forthcoming World Championships in Melbourne in April."

"We are on target to qualify the maximum track places for the Games so the focus now it to ensure we are in the best possible position to win medals in London. That means setting targets for teams and individuals and making sure they know what is expected of them as we come close to nominating teams for the Worlds and the Olympic Games."

In the men's endurance squad the Australians, selecting from a hugely strong pool, have named six riders including Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Luke Durbridge and Michael Hepburn, who are the reigning team pursuit world champions while Bobridge is also the reigning individual pursuit champion.

Cyclones Australian Team

• Women
• Amy CURE
• Annette EDMONDSON
• Melissa HOSKINS
• Kaarle MCCULLOCH
• Anna MEARES
• Josephine TOMIC
• Alex BIRD
  
• Men
• Jack BOBRIDGE
• Rohan DENNIS
• Luke DURBRIDGE
• Alexander EDMONDSON
• Matthew GLAETZER
• Michael HEPBURN
• Glenn O'SHEA
• Shane PERKINS
• Scott SUNDERLAND

Telegraph.co.uk