Cycling Australia today announced that it will, with regret, wind up the Mountainbike Cross Country (MTB XC) High Performance Program effective from 31 December 2009.

"This has been a very difficult decision to arrive at and one that has come after a considerable period of review," said Cycling Australia CEO, Graham Fredericks.

"The key reason for this decision is the stretched resources available for our High Performance Programs."

Cycling Australia's current level of funding has been rolled over for the past three years and this has meant Cycling Australia has had to absorb significant increases in the cost of international travel for competition, athlete training & preparation.

"Federal Government funding in 2009 was approximately $1million less than in 2008 and there is no indication this will change in the future," said Mr Fredericks. "As a result all High Performance programs have been stretched to maintain operations at a standard that is capable of continuing to produce medal results in Olympic events.

"Whilst we have attracted a welcomed increase in commercial sponsorship support in some areas there is no immediate prospect of further additional funding so we've had to reassess what we spend and where we spend it," he said.

"We are being very pragmatic about using the limited resources we have in targeting athletes and programs with very genuine medal prospects in London in 2012."

This assessment has led to the decision to focus Cycling Australia's current resources, both human and financial, towards programs with greater Olympic medal prospects.

"We would like to express our thanks to the Tasmanian Government who through the Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) has provided significant support enabling this program to continue over the past year," said Mr Fredericks.

"We would also like to thank the University of Tasmania, Felt, SRAM, Scody, Geax, Bell, Torq, Skins and Rockshox for their sponsorship of the program."

Cycling Australia will continue to work with the mountain bike community to develop and grow the MTB discipline with the hope that the program may return in the future.

To ease the impact of the decision Cycling Australia has put in place a transition plan which is as follows:

• Head Coach Neil Ross will remain in our High Performance network and potentially oversee training programs for MTB XC athletes. He will also be involved in additional duties to be confirmed in coming weeks.
• Three athletes have been identified to receive assistance from the Cycling Australia High Performance Program in 2010 (Rowena Fry, Gracie Elvin and Paul Van der Ploeg). Beyond 2010 an assessment will be made as to continued support.
• Cycling Australia will identify funding that can be directed towards a new staff position that will be able to administer and manage the Australian MTB team to contest World Championships each year. This will ensure aspiring athletes are still managed and assisted in their goals to represent Australia.
• Performances by Australian MTB riders at UCI World Cups and World Championships will qualify positions for the London 2012 Olympics. On current nation rankings we should qualify at least one male and one female athlete. Cycling Australia will continue to manage the Olympic Games selection process on behalf of the Australian Olympic Committee and it is intended Neil Ross will be the coach of the MTB athletes in London.
• The Dirt Roads to London talent identification program has been completed. In general terms it was a success for MTB XC having unearthed a number of talented athletes such as Rowena Fry from Tasmania, and it has also increased the female elite field at national level cross country events.

Cycling Australia