CYCLING: The Road to Rio for Australia's track cyclists takes a detour through Invercargill, New Zealand, for the 2016 Oceania Track Championships.
Two of the powerhouses of international track cycling, Australia and New Zealand, will reignite their friendly rivalry in a number of trans-Tasman battles across the four-day Championships which runs October 8-11.
At the 2015 World Championships in France in February, Australia finished with the most medals (11) and New Zealand in fourth as the two countries claimed a total five world titles and 15 medals.
The Championships signify the first hit out for Australia's track cyclists since May's International Track Series in Adelaide, with 56 of Australia's best track cyclists to compete in field of 157 riders over 35 events.
The Championships offers crucial qualifying points for both the 2016 World Championships and Rio Olympic Games, with the winner from each event to receive an automatic start in the event at the Worlds to be held in London in March.
Reigning keirin world champion Anna Meares leads the charge for Australia in the sprint events and is joined by three-time world champion Kaarle McCulloch, Commonwealth sprint champion Stephanie Morton and junior world championship medallist Caitlin Ward in the women's events.
"I am feeling good and excited to be back racing," said eleven-time world champion and dual Olympic gold medallist Meares. "It's been a long pre season, I have worked hard and I am happy with where I am at in relation to my plan and goals for Rio next year."
"My goals for Oceania are very simple - race hard and have fun," added Meares.
"Oceania's are an important event and Australia will be sending a very strong team both in men and women and sprint and endurance and as always it's a pleasure to be a part of the national team and national CA HPU program.
"I believe Stephanie (Morton) and Kaarle (McCulloch) will be in great form for the competition with Caitlin (Ward) also in the mix against some of the top Kiwi sprinters should make for some exciting racing."
Olympic medallist and former world champion Shane Perkins, Commonwealth Champion Matt Glaetzer headline the men's sprint team, joined by Peter Lewis, Jacob Schmid, Nathan Hart, and Mitch Bullen round out the men's team.
While rising sprint stars Rikki Belder, Patrick Constable and Braeden Dean will also feature in a sign of the strength of Australia's sprint talent.
A youthful endurance line-up includes former junior world champions Macey Stewart, Lauren Perry and Georgia Baker, and world cup team pursuit winner Elissa Wundersitz.
Recently crowned junior world champions in the team pursuit Rohan Wight and James Robinson join former world champion Alex Morgan, Commonwealth Champion Scott Sunderland, World Cup winners Sam Welsford, Jackson Law and Alex Porter, plus Nicholas Yallouris.
The New Zealand team including former world champions and four time medallists in the team sprint Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins. Former omnium world champion Aaron gate who recently won the national title in the discipline plus medallists Luke Mudgway and Cameron Karwowski will compete as will former Olympic medallist Hayden Roulston. In the women's events look for Nathan Hansen, Katie Schofield and Lauren Ellis.
CYCLING AUSTRALIA
