CYCLING -TRACK: Four years ago, 18-year-old Alex Edmondson (SA) became one of Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic cyclists when he was selected to the team for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
However the ecstasy of selection turned to agony when Edmondson unfortunately didn't get a ride in Australia’s team pursuit campaign which ended with a silver medal behind Great Britain, who posted a new world record in the process.
“The 2012 Olympic Games was such a roller coaster of an experience for me,” said Edmondson, 22, who has used the disappointment as motivation for the 2016 Games. “For the last four years every time I have gotten on my bike its been thinking about this moment.
“I may have made the team but that is only half of the ultimate goal!”
Edmondson took another step toward his ultimate goal when he was named in the 2016 team alongside three-time Olympian Jack Bobridge (SA), dual representatives Michael Hepburn (QLD) and Glenn O’Shea (VIC/SA), plus debutants Callum Scotson (SA) and Samuel Welsford (WA).
“Its amazing! Ever since I can remember I have always dreamed to go to the Olympics so to be able to say I am a double Olympian really is super special to me,” said Edmondson, who was ecstatic to share his selection with his sister and London Olympic medallist Annette’s who was named in the women’s track team.
“What really tops it off is to be named in a team again along side my sister, that really is a dream come true. There are not many people who get this sort of opportunity!!”
In the four years since London, Edmondson has claimed two team pursuit world titles (2003-14) and the individual pursuit crown in 2014, plus team pursuit gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. he also bagged a number of national crowns on the track across the pursuit, omnium and scratch events.
And while he missed the 2016 World Championships due to commitments with his road team ORICA-BikeExchange (then ORICA-GreenEDGE) where he enjoyed a number of great results throughout 2016, Edmondson is confident ahead of his return to track competition.
“We are in a really good place at the moment. The boys managed to put down an amazing result at the World Championships in London to win the rainbow bands,” Edmondson told Cycling Australia from the team’s training camp in Mexico.
“That has given us a heap of confidence, but at the same time that’s only one box we need to tick of in the road to the big dance!”
“The team has a real mix of young, older (I better be careful what I say), experienced and not so experienced. I think we are in a really good place and everything is heading in the right direction.”
The ‘young’ cyclists to which twenty-two-year-old Edmondson refers are Olympic debutants Callum Scotson, 19, and Sam Welsford, 20, who formed part of Australia’s team pursuit world championship outfit in March.
Having been in their position four years ago, Edmondson is enjoying a leadership role in 2016.
“Its an interesting position for me to be in, to know exactly what they are going through and now being one of the more experienced and older guys, I have been able to give them small pointers here and there,” Edmondson explained. “Its just small things like trying to help with the nerves, what to expect and ways to try and keep it as normal as it can be. But they are both doing a great job and showing really promising signs.”
Edmondson and men’s track endurance have been in camp since late June, firstly taking part in a three-week training camp in Flagstaff Arizona. They are currently in Mexico – the site of their unofficial world record in 2015 – where they are finalising on track preparations before arriving in Rio on August 2.
“The camps have been going really well, we have been lucky to be blessed with awesome weather which has made training a lot more enjoyable and also easier,” said Edmondson.
“America was great, we managed to get some good volume in the legs and gel back together after a short break with everyone following different paths for the last couple of months.
“We are back on the Mexico track and we have managed to get in some really good session. We are seeing big improvements and all the boys are all in great shape!"
And while another Olympic team is in the pocket, and gold is in sight for Edmondson, he has revealed the moment belongs not just to him, but his whole family.
"It's made even more special because of the huge amount of support and love that Nettie and I have had from the first day we swung the leg over the bike till now, from our amazing parents,” he remarked. “They have always supported and done everything in their power to give Nettie and myself the best possible chance of succeeding in our dreams. This really is a huge moment for our whole family!
The men's team pursuit qualification begins on day one of the track competition - August 11 - with the first round and finals on August 12.
Amy McCann
Cycling Australia
