ARA Australian Cycling Team named for UCI Road World Championships

Sixteen of Australia’s most outstanding cyclists have been selected to race for rainbow jerseys at the 2024 UCI Road World Championships in Zurich.

With six grand tour podiums and eight elite world championship medals between them, the line-ups announced today by the AusCycling National Selection Panel will be capable and confident on the challenging Swiss parcours.

Women

Olympic time trial champion Grace Brown will head to Zurich in pursuit of an elusive world title. A silver medallist at the past two world championships, Brown will aim for a set of rainbow bands that would complete a stellar palmarès before her retirement.

She will be joined in the road race and time trial by Brodie Chapman, who has secured podium results in four of the five ITTs she has raced this year. It will be Chapman’s sixth Worlds appearance, but her first in the time trial.

The most experienced member of women’s team is two-time medallist Amanda Spratt, who will be contesting her 12th elite world championships.

They will be joined by four riders on Worlds debut. Neve Bradbury has been selected in a breakthrough season that has included a stage win and third overall at the Giro d’Italia Women.

Australian road champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon will also contest her first elite world championships alongside Brunswick clubmate and former national champion Sarah Gigante.

Completing the women’s squad is Oceania ITT champion Isabelle Carnes, who last represented Australia as a junior in Wollongong two years ago, where she earned a top-10 result. The 20-year-old Queenslander will race the time trial only.

Men

In the men’s team, Michael Matthews will return for his 12th world championships at elite level. The Canberran has won three career medals in the road race, plus one in the mixed relay team time trial.

Alongside him will be three of Australia’s most prolific climbers: Jai Hindley, winner of the 2022 Giro d’Italia; Jack Haig, who has podiumed at the Vuelta a España; and Ben O’Connor, who has finished fourth overall at the Giro and the Tour de France.

Nick Schultz has also been selected for his fifth world championships alongside three debutants. Michael Storer, two-time stage winner and former king of the mountains at La Vuelta; Chris Harper [Update, 6 September: Jay Vine has replaced Harper after the latter withdrew for medical reasons], and Callum Scotson will all pull on green and gold at an elite Worlds for the first time.

Finally, pending his recovery from injuries sustained during the Olympic Games, Lucas Plapp has been selected for the individual time trial, an event he has medalled in at under-23 and under-19 level. [Update, 22 August: Jay Vine has replaced Plapp after the latter withdrew for medical reasons].

Jesse Korf, convenor of the National Selection Panel, said, “We are very excited about the group of elite athletes who will represent the ARA Australian Cycling Team this September. The courses in Zurich are challenging with a considerable amount of climbing. The riders we’ve selected have the characteristics to perform well on this kind of parcours.

“Australian road cycling has had a lot to celebrate this year. We look forward to seeing Grace Brown contest her first, and likely last, world championships since winning the Olympic gold medal. At the other end of the scale, it’s fantastic to have young debutants on board such as Isabelle Carnes and Neve Bradbury, whom we hope will make a big impact at their first elite world championships.

“Our team is filled with climbing talent including multiple grand tour podiums, plus the experience of a rider like Michael Matthews, who has proven time and time again his ability to deliver results at this level.”

The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships will be held in Zurich, Switzerland from 21–29 September.

The elite athletes announced today will join the para-cycling, under-23 men and under-19 riders previously announced by AusCycling.

 Women Elite Road Race

• Neve Bradbury* (22, St Kilda CC, VIC)
• Grace Brown (32, St Kilda CC, VIC)
• Brodie Chapman (33, University of Queensland CC, QLD)
• Sarah Gigante (23, Brunswick CC, VIC)
• Ruby Roseman-Gannon (25, Brunswick CC, VIC)
• Amanda Spratt (36, Penrith CC, NSW)

 Women Elite Individual Time Trial

• Grace Brown (32, St Kilda CC, VIC)
• Brodie Chapman (33, University of Queensland CC, QLD)
• Isabelle Carnes* (20, Balmoral CC, QLD)

 *Eligible for under-23 competition.

 Men Elite Road Race

• Jack Haig (30, Bendigo & District CC, VIC)
• Chris Harper (29, Norwood CC, SA)
• Jai Hindley (28, Midland CC, WA)
• Michael Matthews (33, Vikings CC, ACT)
• Ben O’Connor (28, Peel District CC, WA)
• Nick Schultz (29, Sunshine Coast CC, QLD)
• Callum Scotson (27, Port Adelaide CC, SA)
• Michael Storer (27, Midland CC, WA)
• Jay Vine (28, Canberra CC, ACT)

 Men Elite Individual Time Trial

• Lucas Plapp (23, Brunswick CC, VIC)
• Jay Vine (28, Canberra CC, ACT)

Photos: SWpix.com