Nineteen track and road cyclists geared up for Paris Olympic Games

Chef de Mission Anna Meares announced nineteen road and track cyclists to the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024 at the Adelaide Super-Drome today, with nine Olympic debutants, seven athletes making their second Olympic Team, two athletes returning for their third Games and Matthew Glaetzer making his fourth Olympic Team.

Athlete bios available here

Kristina Clonan, Georgia Baker, Alex Manly, Maeve Plouffe, Sophie Edwards and Chloe Moran will contest the women’s track events, with Matthew Glaetzer, Matthew Richardson, Leigh Hoffman, Kelland O’Brien, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn on the men’s side.

Grace Brown, Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Lauretta Hanson, Michael Matthews, Simon Clarke and Lucas Plapp will take on the road events, racing through Paris’ iconic monuments, with the start and finish line of the road race in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Matthew Glaetzer’s fourth Olympic appearance equals the second most for any male Australian track cyclist, behind only Shane Kelly’s five appearances.

Paris 2024 marks 100 years since Australia made its Olympic debut in road cycling, with Victoria’s Sidney Ramsden first competing in the event at Paris 1924.

Four-time track cycling Olympian, six-time Olympic medallist and Paris 2024 Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares congratulated the athletes on their selection.

“Our track and road cycling teams are a great mix of debutants and returning Olympians, yet despite the debuts, all bring great experience and composure to big time competition,” Ms Meares said.

“Making the Australian Olympic Team is never easy, and in this sport, winning and losing can come down to thousandths of a second.”

“My excitement for this team is great, as are my hopes. It’s hard to not feel this way having dedicated 22 years myself to loving it. And I admit, it will be one sport I’ll find the hardest to watch.”

“All the athletes selected can be proud of their efforts, and grateful for those who have supported and pushed them. I look forward to seeing them compete in Paris.”

2022 and 2023 World Championship Time Trial silver medallist Grace Brown said she is honoured to be selected for her second Olympic Team.

"Tokyo was a special experience for me, but finishing fourth in the individual time trial left me with a desire to go for more,” she said, “I have big goals in Paris and that is to go after a medal on the first day of competition.”

“For the road race, I'm excited to join Lauretta and Ruby in the fight for another great result. We’re a small team, but I believe our individual attributes really complement each other, which will allow us to become favourites for the race.”

“Overall having the Olympics in Paris is going to be an extra unique experience for me, since my professional team is French. It feels next best to a home race!”

Michael Matthews will take on the 273km men’s road race course at his first Olympics. The 33-year-old is no stranger to big performances on French roads, as a three time Tour de France stage winner and 2017 green jersey winner.

“It’s truly an honour to represent Australia at the Olympics,” he said. “It’s been a dream of mine since I knew what the Olympics was.

“I have been close to making the team two times now and to have a course that suits me so well it’s a dream come true.”

Dual Olympian Georgia Baker thanked her family, friends and supporters for helping her reach her third Olympic Games.

“It’s an honour to be selected to represent Australia at my third Olympic Games,” she said.

“Like many athletes, there’s a lot of people supporting behind the scenes that goes unnoticed. From my family, friends, coaches & teammates to my primary school back in Tasmania - they have all played a role in my selection into the Olympics team, simply by believing in me and the Australian team.

“Many have been there on the good days and also the hard ones and I can’t thank those that are closest to me enough for their support.”

“The support from home makes such a difference and is hugely appreciated by the team!”

“The Olympics is a special moment that I’ve learnt to not take for granted, so I’ll be soaking it up as much as I can because there’s nothing quite like it. Our team is focused and ready for the next month ahead.”

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner welcomed today’s announcement.

“Being selected to compete in an Olympic Games is one of the pinnacles in our sport and we are incredibly proud of these six road and 13 track athletes.”

“The Australian track team has a proud and rich Olympic history. From four-time Olympian Matt Glaetzer to our many debutants, we look forward to supporting these amazing athletes to continue that legacy in Paris. We have no doubt they can match it with the world’s best on the boards of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome.

“The road team also features first-time Olympians Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Michael Matthews, and Lauretta Hanson competing alongside dual Olympians Grace Brown, Simon Clarke, and Lucas Plapp. Specifically chosen for the profile of the Paris 2024 road race and individual time trial, the athletes representing Australia have every chance of being right there when the medals are decided.

“We also acknowledge the incredible team of coaches and support staff who will play a vital role behind the scenes. Their dedication gives every athlete an opportunity to realise their Olympic dreams.

“Congratulations again to our road and track athletes on being selected to represent the green and gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We look forward to the BMX and mountain bike athletes being announced next week. It’s going to be an exciting Olympic Games.”

Australian Olympic Team for Paris – Road and Track Cycling

Road

• Grace Brown (St Kilda Cycling Club)
• Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Brunswick Cycling Club)
• Lauretta Hanson (Macedon Ranges Cycling Club)
• Michael Matthews (Vikings Cycling)
• Simon Clarke (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
• Lucas Plapp (Brunswick Cycling Club)

Track

• Matthew Glaetzer (Central Districts Cycling Club)
• Matthew Richardson (Midland Cycle Club)
• Leigh Hoffman (Whyalla Cycling Club)
• Kristina Clonan (Sunshine Coast Cycling Club)
• Kelland O'Brien (St Kilda Cycling Club)
• Samuel Welsford (Northern Beaches Cycling Club)
• Conor Leahy (Peel District Cycling Club)
• Oliver Bleddyn (Norwood Cycling Club)
• Georgia Baker (Northern Districts Cycling Club)
• Alexandra Manly (Murraylands Cycling Club)
• Maeve Plouffe (Port Adelaide Cycling Club)
• Sophie Edwards (Adelaide University Cycling Club)
• Chloe Moran (Central Districts Cycling Club)

The cycling track competition will be held from Monday 5 August to Sunday 11 August 2024 at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux.

The cycling road competition will be held on Saturday 27 July, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August 2023. The individual time trial event will start from Invalides and finish on the Pont Alexandre III Bridge. The road race event will start from Pont d’Iéna bridge (opposite the Eiffel Tower) and finish at Trocadéro.

This news item originally published by the Australian Olympic Committee.

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Main image: AusCycling