Cyclists from Australia to Vanuatu could have locations from Yorkshire to Tokyo in their sights among Evandale and Railton this weekend. The ancestral home of penny farthing racing will again level the time trials on Friday earlier than an undulating North-West circuit awaits the road races over the weekend. A three- to 12-month commitment to host the Oceania Road Championships has reached its halfway point, with more than 150 riders contesting 12 titles. Six reigning champions return to chase more gold, and Oceania Cycling Confederation president Tracey Gaudry predicts “first-rate performances” from elite and aspiring athletes from Australia.
New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tahiti are under 19 and in the elite categories. While many athletes might compete in their first international event, the more seasoned aim to represent their country at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire and secure qualifying points for the 2020 Olympic Games in September Japan. “The championships are the fruits of the 2019 UCI Oceania Tour, with UCI status and points, presenting a critical opportunity for athletes within the Oceania vicinity to compete in opposition to some of the arena’s nice on-home soil,” Gaudry stated.
Elite champions Sharlotte Lucas (New Zealand) and Chris Harper (Australia) return to guard their titles. In contrast, Australia’s underneath-19 time trial champions Anya Louw and Luke Plapp and avenue race winner Sarah Gigante all step up to the below-23 ranks as New Zealand’s beneath-23 time trial champion Jake Marryatt actions into the elite class. Australian champions Michael Freiberg and Sarah Gigante will be seeking to add the Oceania titles to their Palmares, as will New Zealand champion Georgia Christie, who claimed bronze within the below-23 category last year. Tasmania will again be nicely represented on domestic soil, with all riders keen to increase the country’s incredible document on the event after Louw gained the remaining year trial a year after Madeleine Fasnacht claimed avenue race gold and time trial bronze.
“It became the primary race I had won on a country-wide or Oceania degree, which also secured my choice to represent Australia at the junior road world championships. “It is so first-rate for my home state as a way to keep a UCI continental championship. I live 15 minutes from the road route, and I can confidently say that there are no higher roads in the United States of America to host a difficult race that brings out first-class riders of all classes. “Instead of setting stress on myself these 12 months, my goals are to truly race as difficult as possible and revel in the revel in.” The championships are the last occasion of the 2019 UCI Oceania Tour, which blanketed the Gravel and Tar Classic, New Zealand Cycle Classic, and Herald Sun Tour.
