Australian Cycling Team back on track as Olympic countdown continues

Australian Cycling Team athletes in action at the 2021 AusCycling Madison National Championships in Adelaide (Saturday 27 February) with less than 150 days until the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Australian Cycling Team athletes will continue their countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the track in Adelaide this Saturday when they contest the 2021 AusCycling Madison National Championships.

The Madison is one of only six track cycling disciplines on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games program, with the women's event set for its Olympic debut. The event features two-riders teams looking to secure points throughout the race, including exciting changeovers between the pairings completed by a hand-sling.

With just five months until the Games, and after a 2020 season that offered little racing opportunities, Australia's athletes are eager to hit the track after a summer on the road at the Santos Festival and Cycling and the AusCycling Road National Championships.

Dual reigning Madison national champion Kelland O'Brien (VIC) will be gunning for a third straight crown and will partner with two-time champion Cameron Meyer (WA). Just three weeks ago, the pair produced an epic battle in the men’s road race where Meyer edged O'Brien on the line to claim the crown.

(I am) super excited to be swinging the leg back over the track bike next weekend!" said O'Brien. "Having put in a perfect summer on the road with some good results at the road nationals, I'm looking forward to putting that form on the track!

The Championships, the first elite AusCycling Nationals for 2021, was relocated from O'Brien's hometown of Melbourne to the Adelaide Super-Drome due to the recent COVID-19 situation in Victoria.

"Although it is always a good event at Melbourne Arena, I'm quite excited about racing in Adelaide! Change of scenery, and I think the different track will create a different race,” O’Brien added.

"This weekend will be one the last track races before the Olympics, so obviously, there's a bit of natural pressure to get some good sensations out there! We (athletes) love that feeling, though!"

Key teams to watch include Samuel Welsford, who paired with O'Brien to claim the 2020 title - and three-time world champion Leigh Howard (VIC), plus the young gun pairing of Luke Plapp (VIC) and Jensen Plowright (VIC).

After success at the Road Nationals, followed by event cancellations due to the Victorian lockdown, Annette Edmondson (SA) is eager to take the Madison Nationals with both hands.

"It is all about switching back on and changing the mindset and making the most of the opportunity," said Edmondson, a two-time national champion in the event, including the inaugural Championships in 2014.

Every event we get is a blessing, as we know things could be cancelled at any minute. Unfortunately, with the lockdowns in Victoria recently, it cancelled a few events, so we are fortunate they have been able to move the Madison Nationals.

Edmondson, an Olympic medalist, three-time world, and seventeen-time national champion on the track, added a maiden road title to her resume earlier this month after winning the elite women's criterium at the Road National Championships.

Very satisfied to get the win in the criterium at Nationals, have had my eye on that one for a long time," Edmondson said." "I have always felt I could do well in it if I had a good run. It was nice to have an opportunity to focus on something different than just the track. I really wanted to win, and that hunger, drive and motivation paid off.

In the Madison, Edmondson will reunite with Georgia Baker (TAS), with the duo winning Track World Cup in December 2019 the last time they teamed up in a Madison.

"Super excited to race the Madison Nationals. Our pairing worked well the last time we raced, and we were feeling good at training last week together,” added Edmondson. "I am excited to line up against a strong field. A lot of the women are going well, and the bar has been lifted in women's bunch racing over the last few years. I so am expecting a solid and hard race!"

2019-20 World Cup Madison gold medalist Alexandra Manly (SA) will pair with Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), while Maeve Plouffe (SA) and Lauren Perry (TAS) will be another team to watch.

The evening's Adelaide Track League racing schedule will also feature finals of the 2021 AusCycling Track Sprint Championships – South Australia, plus Junior, A-Grade and Support races.

Spectator tickets are available online now with kids under 15 free, while General Admission tickets are just $15!

EVENT DETAILS

2021 AusCycling Madison National Championships

As part of the Adelaide Track League
Saturday 27 February
Doors open at 5pm, Racing starts at 5:30, Women's Madison approx 7pm, Men’s Madison approx 9pm.
Adelaide Super-Drome
Adelaide Track League home: https://www.adelaidetrackleague.com/
Adelaide Track League – National Madison Championships spectator Ticket Link
Adelaide Track League – National Madison Championships Facebook event

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