New-look Hall of Fame for Australia’s cycling greats

AusCycling is set to launch the first multi-discipline Hall of Fame to acknowledge the nation’s riding and cycling greats.

Combining Mountain Biking, Track and Road cycling, Hall of Fame inductees will join those anointed by their respective organising bodies before the formation of AusCycling in 2020.

Inductions to the new-look Hall of Fame will begin in 2024 and will be announced at special functions during the National Championships of each discipline.

BMX Hall of Famers will continue to be recognised in a separate function which will be on September 15 this year.

“I love the rich history of Australian cycling and it’s important to acknowledge the key figures of all the cycling disciplines, both as athletes and, in some cases, administrators of the sport we love,” Matthew Keenan, the chair of the AusCycling History & Heritage Committee, said.

“The list of people already in our Hall of Fame is a great story of Australian cycling and riding.

“Alf Goullet, our first international star in the 1900s, was often the main attraction on the track at Madison Square Garden. Phil Anderson on the road was a pioneer and was the first non-European to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.

“Caroline Buchanan won multiple world titles in BMX and mountain biking.

“And Iris Dixon (nee Bent) was a trailblazer in 1940s and 50s, dominating in Australia at a time when there were no races for women at the Olympics or world championships”.

Creation of the multi-discipline Hall of Fame will allow for consistent timing of each year’s inductions and ensure that eligibility to receive the honour is consistent, and includes the requirement that nominated athletes have been retired for a minimum of two years.

The new eligibility criteria will have no effect on those previously inducted to their discipline’s Hall of Fame.

Athlete nominations for AusCycling Hall of Fame inductions can be made here and nominations for others who have made an outstanding contribution can be found here.

The AusCycling Awards Policy can be found here.

BMX Hall of Fame nominations can continue to be made at https://www.australianbmxhof.com.au/index.php/nomination-form

If a person is nominated for 2024 but not inducted, their nomination will remain under consideration for future years.