Categorisation

Athletes have won a medal at an Olympic or Paralympic Games, World Championships or agreed event in the previous 24 months and deemed capable against the sport-specific matrix of winning a medal at the next Olympic or Paralympic Games.  

Athletes have placed 4^th to 8^th at the most recent Benchmark Event (Olympic Games, World Championships) or, by exception an approved equivalent alternative (i.e. an objective, data-verified performance or World Ranking) and deemed capable to progress to  Podium  level, targeting a medal at the next Olympic Games.  

Athletes have placed 4^th to 6^th at the most recent Benchmark Event (Paralympic Games, World Championships) and deemed capable to progress to Podium level, targeting a medal at the next Paralympic Games. 

Athletes will have achieved agreed international competition benchmarks which reliably indicate their future potential for podium success.

Athletes must be assessed against the sport-specific matrix as being capable to progress to  Podium  level at the next Pinnacle Event Cycle (i.e. BNE2032 Olympic or Paralympic Games). 

Athletes have progressed through a reliable national talent confirmation phase and, where there is capacity, are supported within a dedicated State Institute/Academy of Sport (High Performance Network- HPN) cycling program.   

Athletes must be assessed against the sport-specific matrix as being capable to progress to  Podium Potential  level, generally within a 2-year window from when an athlete moves up from Emerging.  

Athletes have been identified by the HPN via a valid and reliable identification profiling method (agreed in advanced and with future podium potential characteristics identified; and are going through a set, time-limited talent confirmation period). Emerging primarily relates to U19 athletes.  

Emerging and Developing (April/May)

• Athletes or their Coaches directly contact a HPN Coach to express their interest in being categorised.  
• The HPN Coach then determines if the athlete has met the standards, nominates both new and existing athletes for consideration, and prepares all necessary data for consideration.  

Podium Potential, Podium Ready, and Podium (October/November) 

• The HPN Coach initiates discussions with the National Coach regarding potential athletes for these categories. 
• The National Coach nominates new and existing athletes, and AusCycling Performance Scientists prepare data and results for all nominated athletes.

The categorisation panel evaluates each nominated athlete based on a comprehensive set of criteria. 

• Current performance competition results (primary data) 
• Performance trends and history (secondary data) 
• Headroom sScores (Emerging and Developing Olympic / Developing Paralympic) 
• Physiological capabilities or other factors (secondary data)  
• Exceptional cCircumstances (if required)  

Once the categorisation panel has made its recommendations, these are submitted to the ASC for final approval. The ASC will confirm or decline the categorisation recommendations.  

Once categorisations have been approved by the ASC, the National Coaches and HPN is are notified of the outcome. 

Athletes are notified of their categorisation status verbally (if contactable) and in writing by either AusCycling Performance or their HPN Coach.  

AusCycling publicly announces athlete categorisations in May/June and Nov/Dec each year.