Track sprint star Matthew Glaetzer is eager for his first hit out on Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome, but is predicting a tough battle for the coveted green and gold jerseys when the 2017 Cycling Australia Track National Championship begin on March 2.
CYCLING -TRACK: Track sprint star Matthew Glaetzer is eager for his first hit out on Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome, but is predicting a tough battle for the coveted green and gold jerseys when the 2017 Cycling Australia Track National Championship begin on March 2.
More than 150 of the country's best track cyclists, including Australia's Olympic and Commonwealth Games heroes, will vie for 32 national titles across the four-day Championships which is being held at the 2018 Commonwealth Games velodrome. Schedule
Rio Olympians Matthew Glaetzer (SA), Sam Welsford (WA), Nathan Hart (ACT), Patrick Constable (SA), Amy Cure (TAS), Georgia Baker (TAS) and Steph Morton (SA) will all be in action, in addition to reigning world champions Alex Porter (SA) and Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) and six-time world champion Cam Meyer (WA). Tickets
Already an eight-time national champion at just 24, Glaetzer will be aiming to defend his sprint and team sprint titles in 2017, in addition to grabbing a second career keirin title after winning the event in 2012.
“My little internal challenge is certainly to get a fourth sprint title in a row, of course you always want to come out on top,” said Glaetzer, the only Australian male to defend their national sprint crown in more than two decades.
“But it won’t be easy, we have so much great young talent coming through, who will be pushing me all the way, that’s for sure.”
Glaetzer will be in action on Thursday’s opening day of competition in the team sprint, with the sprint to be held across day two and three. The keirin will be held on the fourth and final day of competition on Sunday.
Standing in Glaetzer’s way of adding to his glittering resume will be fellow Olympians and Cycling Australia High Performance Unit sprint team members Patrick Constable (SA), 21, and Nathan Hart (SA), 23, plus 2016 Olympic Games reserve Jacob Schmid (VIC), 23.
Others expected to push for the podium include keirin junior world champion Conor Rowley (VIC), 18, who enters the elite ranks in 2017, and rising star Thomas Clarke (SA), 21.
“It is always interesting going into a National Championships, as I train with some of the country’s best sprinters day in day out and then we have go head to head at Nationals,” Glaetzer said. “And I am the oldest at 24,” he laughed.
With the Championships the first elite major track cycling competition held at the 2018 Games venue, Glaetzer believes this will provide all Australian cyclists an advantage over their Commonwealth rivals ahead of the Games in April 2018.
“It definitely does give us a slight edge, each velodrome that is built in the world is done differently so it gives that nation a track advantage”, said the dual Olympian Glaetzer, who claimed gold in the keirin at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“Also the conditions play a part, the heat is something that we are used to, so there is a home ground advantage for sure.
“But in saying that, the elite athletes around the world are pretty darn good and it takes them a few track sessions to get used to the track."
More on #TrackNats
Australia's Olympic and Commonwealth Games heroes are set to shine at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome from March 2-5 at the 2017 Cycling Australia Track National Championships. Full Schedule
Rio Olympians Matthew Glaetzer (SA), Sam Welsford (WA), Nathan Hart (ACT), Patrick Constable (SA), Amy Cure (TAS), Georgia Baker (TAS) and Steph Morton (SA) will all be in action, in addition to reigning world champions Alex Porter (SA) and Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) and six-time world champion Cam Meyer (WA). Tickets
Day 1 - Thursday 2 March - the Championships open with a bang with the team events! Eight finals decided on the opening night of competition including the team pursuit and team sprint events. Afternoon session from 2pm, Night session from 630pm
Day 2 - Friday 3 March - Seven national champions will be crowned on day two with the opening rounds of the sprint competition for both men and women will get the crowd roaring. The purity of the individual pursuit will be on display with four finals on the program. Morning session from 11am, Night session from 600pm
Day 3 - Saturday 4 March - penultimate day of competition will see nine finals decided across the two sessions with the final rounds of the sprint set to explode! The elite men's time trial, women's points race and men's scratch will also be final not to be missed! Morning session from 11am, Night session from 600pm
Day 4 - Sunday 5 March - The Championships will conclude with eight finals, with the fast and the furious of the keirin set to set the track alight. The women's scratch race, under 19 Madison and men's points race will ensure all fans will be glued to their to seats right until the end! Morning session from 10am, Day session from 2:00pm
Rio Olympians Matthew Glaetzer (SA), Sam Welsford (WA), Nathan Hart (ACT), Patrick Constable (SA), Amy Cure (TAS), Georgia Baker (TAS) and Steph Morton (SA) will all be in action, in addition to reigning world champions Alex Porter (SA) and Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) and six-time world champion Cam Meyer (WA). Tickets
Already an eight-time national champion at just 24, Glaetzer will be aiming to defend his sprint and team sprint titles in 2017, in addition to grabbing a second career keirin title after winning the event in 2012.
“My little internal challenge is certainly to get a fourth sprint title in a row, of course you always want to come out on top,” said Glaetzer, the only Australian male to defend their national sprint crown in more than two decades.
“But it won’t be easy, we have so much great young talent coming through, who will be pushing me all the way, that’s for sure.”
Glaetzer will be in action on Thursday’s opening day of competition in the team sprint, with the sprint to be held across day two and three. The keirin will be held on the fourth and final day of competition on Sunday.
Standing in Glaetzer’s way of adding to his glittering resume will be fellow Olympians and Cycling Australia High Performance Unit sprint team members Patrick Constable (SA), 21, and Nathan Hart (SA), 23, plus 2016 Olympic Games reserve Jacob Schmid (VIC), 23.
Others expected to push for the podium include keirin junior world champion Conor Rowley (VIC), 18, who enters the elite ranks in 2017, and rising star Thomas Clarke (SA), 21.
“It is always interesting going into a National Championships, as I train with some of the country’s best sprinters day in day out and then we have go head to head at Nationals,” Glaetzer said. “And I am the oldest at 24,” he laughed.
With the Championships the first elite major track cycling competition held at the 2018 Games venue, Glaetzer believes this will provide all Australian cyclists an advantage over their Commonwealth rivals ahead of the Games in April 2018.
“It definitely does give us a slight edge, each velodrome that is built in the world is done differently so it gives that nation a track advantage”, said the dual Olympian Glaetzer, who claimed gold in the keirin at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“Also the conditions play a part, the heat is something that we are used to, so there is a home ground advantage for sure.
“But in saying that, the elite athletes around the world are pretty darn good and it takes them a few track sessions to get used to the track."
More on #TrackNats
Australia's Olympic and Commonwealth Games heroes are set to shine at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome from March 2-5 at the 2017 Cycling Australia Track National Championships. Full Schedule
Rio Olympians Matthew Glaetzer (SA), Sam Welsford (WA), Nathan Hart (ACT), Patrick Constable (SA), Amy Cure (TAS), Georgia Baker (TAS) and Steph Morton (SA) will all be in action, in addition to reigning world champions Alex Porter (SA) and Rebecca Wiasak (ACT) and six-time world champion Cam Meyer (WA). Tickets
Day 1 - Thursday 2 March - the Championships open with a bang with the team events! Eight finals decided on the opening night of competition including the team pursuit and team sprint events. Afternoon session from 2pm, Night session from 630pm
Day 2 - Friday 3 March - Seven national champions will be crowned on day two with the opening rounds of the sprint competition for both men and women will get the crowd roaring. The purity of the individual pursuit will be on display with four finals on the program. Morning session from 11am, Night session from 600pm
Day 3 - Saturday 4 March - penultimate day of competition will see nine finals decided across the two sessions with the final rounds of the sprint set to explode! The elite men's time trial, women's points race and men's scratch will also be final not to be missed! Morning session from 11am, Night session from 600pm
Day 4 - Sunday 5 March - The Championships will conclude with eight finals, with the fast and the furious of the keirin set to set the track alight. The women's scratch race, under 19 Madison and men's points race will ensure all fans will be glued to their to seats right until the end! Morning session from 10am, Day session from 2:00pm
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