ARA Australian Cycling Team elite downhill squad selected for 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships

Eleven riders have been selected to represent the ARA Australian Cycling Team at the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pal Arinsal, Andorra.

The AusCycling National Selection Panel today, confirmed the riders who will compete at the venue next month.

South Australian Troy Brosnan, who is expecting his first child around the time of the event, was selected to contest his 14th World Championships should circumstances allow him to compete.

While Mick Hannah will compete at his 20th Championships, three years after he last raced for the rainbow stripes.

The men’s team will also be represented by 2019 Junior Downhill World Champion Kye A’Hern as well as Luke Meier-Smith and brother Remy, Jackson Connelly, Oliver Davis and Jackson Frew.

Sian A’Hern, Ellie Smith and Elise Empey join the team to compete in the elite women.

Brosnan, who finished with the bronze at the National Championships in March, is currently third in the overall World Cup rankings after recording two podiums at Fort William and Val di Sole.

Luke Meier-Smith defended his national downhill title earlier this year at Awaba to secure his place in the team.

Younger brother Remy has made the finals of the four World Cups, with a top 20 finish his best at Fort William this year.

He finished fourth at the National Championships one place in front of Canberra’s Kye A’Hern who makes his seventh Australian team.

It will be Jackson Connelly’s second world championships after his debut in Scotland in 2023 where he finished 45th

Fellow Victorian Oliver Davis who signed with professional team Santa Cruz Syndicate this year, has recorded two top 30 finishes this World Cup season.

At last year’s world championships in Scotland, Davis finished in 20th place.

Jackson Frew recorded a win at the second downhill national series race at Thredbo in February and a semi-final appearance at the Leogang World Cup round in June as well as solid performances in Crankworx events.

Hannah is a four-time world championship medalist and was an automatic selection after his win at Oceania’s.

The Cairns born athlete will also play a major role as a team leader and mentor for the junior riders.

Ellie Smith, the current national champion will line up for her fifth World Championships after she was unable to make the start line in 2023 due to illness.

Joining her will be Elise Empey the silver medalist from Awaba.

The 21-year-old has competed in all the World Cup rounds this year with a semi-final result in Poland.

Rounding out the women’s team is Sian A’Hern for her third World Championships appearance.

The Canberra native missed the National Championships due to injury but has contested all four World Cup rounds this year with two semi-final performances.

ARA Australian Cycling Team (Elite Downhill) for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships

Elite Men

Kye A’Hern (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
Troy Brosnan (Inside Line Inc)
Jackson Connelly (Jindabyne Cycling Club)
Oliver Davis (Albury Wodonga Mountain Bikers Inc)
Jackson Frew (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
Luke Meier-Smith (Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders)
Remy Meier-Smith (Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders)
Mick Hannah (Cairns Mountain Bike Club)

Elite Women

Sian A’Hern (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
Elise Empey (Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club)
Ellie Smith (Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Club)