Cycling Australia

Australia’s junior cyclists are set to embrace the experience of competing in an international meet on home soil at the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) to be held at Dunc Gray Velodrome from 16 – 20 January 2013 in Sydney.

Ten of the 14 Australian track cyclists who contested the 2012 Olympic Games in London, including Anna Meares, had one of their first experiences of international competition at an AYOF.

The next generation of Australian cyclists will be among 54 riders competing from January 17 to 20 at the Dunc Gray Velodrome.

Two teams from Australia will race against cyclists from New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and the combined Oceania team of Tahiti.

Junior world champion Kelsey Robson will lead local hopes over the four days of the track cycling program.

Robson, a dual 2012 junoir world champion on the track, believes the Olympic Youth Festival is a great way to gain more experience in competing at international meets.

“It is like everything, it prepares you for bigger competitions like world championships,” Robson said.

The 17-year-old from Western Australia will race in the women’s scratch, omnium and team pursuit events.

Callum Scotson said the experience gained from riding at the AYOF would help make him a better competitor.

“It is good to practice having pressure on you because I am riding in a national team,” the 16-year-old said. “You have the kit on, and you do not want to make mistakes in front of your team managers.”

The South Australian rider will compete in the scratch, omnium and team pursuit events.

Both riders said they would also use the event to gauge their form ahead of the Subaru 2013 Cycling Australia Track National Championships beginning in two weeks at Dunc Gray Velodrome

First events to roll off the 2013 AYOF track cycling program are the qualification heats for the men’s 4000 metres team pursuit and women’s 3000m team pursuit from 2.30pm (AEDT) on Thursday at Bass Hill.

Finals for those events and the men’s team sprint are the first medals on day one at the Bass Hill Velodrome.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM – AYOF 2013

ENDURANCE (8 men, 6 women)

Men                                                      Women
Callum SCOTSON – SA                           Alex MANLY – SA
Joshua HARRISON – SA                          Kelsey ROBSON – WA
Bradley HEFFERNAN - NSW                    Elissa WUNDERSITZ – WA
Matthew ROSS – VIC                             Josie TALBOT – NSW
Sam WELSFORD – WA                            Lauren PERRY – TAS
Reece TUCKNOTT – WA                          Macey STEWART – TAS
Daniel FITTER – QLD           
Michael RICE - ACT

SPRINT: (6 men, 4 women):

Men                                                     Women
Michael DOCKER – NSW                        Tian BECKETT – WA
Max HOUSDEN – NSW                           Tennille FALAPPI – QLD
Patrick CONSTABLE – SA                       Kiara DUNDAS – QLD
Jai ANGSUTHASAWIT – SA                    Courtney FIELD – VIC 
Alex RADZIKIEWICZ – SA
Thomas CLARKE - ACT

Other Links
	AYOF 2013 - website