AusCycling has unveiled its new-look team ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Matthew Glaetzer and Rohan Dennis are heading to Birmingham, with hopes to make up for last year’s Olympic disappointment.

Liz Walsh

3 min read

June 16, 2022 - 12:17PM

‘Pure joy' for cycling gold medallist Porter

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The new-look Australian Cycling team will hope to put last year’s disappointing Olympic campaign behind it when it heads to Birmingham next month for the Commonwealth Games.

On Thursday, AusCycling unveiled its 34-athlete team, which includes 23 new faces making their Games debut.

The team is headlined by sprint star Caleb Ewan who will compete in his fourth Tour de France from July 1 before heading to the United Kingdom for the Games.

Other stars include three members who will make their third Commonwealth Games appearances: Adelaide’s track sprinter Matthew Glaetzer and road cyclist Rohan Dennis, and Canberra mountain biker Daniel McConnell.

Matthew Glaetzer of the Mens Track Cycling Sprint team will make his third Commonwealth Games appearance. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty

Rohan Dennis took home bronze in the Men's Individual time trial at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Picture: Tim de Waele / Getty

But the team is without Tokyo Olympian and former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alex Porter.

Porter was at the centre of a cycling controversy during last year’s Olympics, when the handlebars on his bike broke mid-race during Australia’s qualifying heat in the men’s team pursuit, seeing him crash headfirst onto the track.

Earlier this year, Porter was issued an official apology from AusCycling after an independent report found a faulty part on his handlebars had not been adequately tested or checked during use.

Olympic track cyclist Alex Porter recently proposed to girlfriend Haylee Tisher. Picture: Keryn Stevens

AusCycling’s performance manager Jesse Korf confirmed that from the Tokyo men’s pursuit team, only Luke Plapp had indicated he would be available for selection consideration for the Commonwealth Games.

“Given the performance of the Men’s Team Pursuit riders in the most recent Nation’s Cup in Milton (gold), we are excited about this fresh line-up and the opportunity for some very talented riders to contest their first major Games,” Korf said.

The handlebar incident was part of a less-than-pleasing Olympic campaign for the Australian track cycling team, which took home only a bronze medal from Tokyo; Australia’s worst track result since 1980.

Glaetzer, 29, said the track team was looking forward to a good campaign at the Games.

“We’ve had a review (into the Olympic performance) and we’ve come back stronger,” he said.

“And we want a united front to do our best for Australia.

“We’ve got a great team.

“It is a young team and that’s exciting, it brings its own energy and potential and we’re all confident in our ability.”

Fourteen of the 34 Australian team members at the 2022 Australian Cycling Commonwealth Games Squad Announcement. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty

Australia’s cyclists were dominant at the Gold Coast Games in 2018, claiming 14 golds from 23 medals won overall in 26 events.

But Games debutant and endurance track cyclist Josh Duffy said England would prove formidable opponents on their home soil.

“New Zealand is going to be pretty strong, we know they’re good and they’re sending a pretty stacked squad,” he said.

“England looks like they’re going to be strong as well, so it’s going to be an exciting competition it’s going to be pretty tight margins.”

For debutant Kristina Clonan, Birmingham presents an opportunity for redemption after missing out on Tokyo selection as an endurance racer and so turned to sprinting.

“(Missing out on the Olympics) definitely made me hungry,” she said.

“It can go either way, you can get disheartened … it is a process to get through, a bit of a grieving process, but I’ve been able to come back in, change disciplines and it has been exciting.

“It is exciting to be a part of a team that is new and rebuilding into Birmingham and then to Paris (Olympics in 2024).

“I think the Tokyo Olympics was definitely a big learning curve, we learned a lot from it, we learned a lot about our prep.

“So we’re excited to be able to try new prep and try new things and then really refine that leading into Paris.”

Kristina Clonan sees Birmingham as an opportunity for redemption after missing out on Tokyo selection. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty

Endurance track cyclist Josh Duffy said England would prove formidable opponents on their home soil. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty

Para track cyclist Beau Wootton said making the Australian team was an honour.

“It was always a dream that I’ve dreamt to do, and to be able to come out here and represent Australia, it’s just unreal.”

Glaetzer – who could become just the fourth Australian track rider to win three consecutive gold medals in the same Games event – hinted this could be his last Commonwealth Games appearance.

“It’s pretty special to be able to go to my third Games, it’s not often that you get to go to a team in general and to do it again and again, and for this to be my third – and potentially final time – is exciting,” he said.

The Commonwealth Games cycling events start from July 29.

The full Australian Cycling team:

Georgia Baker

Grace Brown

Brodie Chapman

Kristina Clonan

Tom Cornish

Zoe Cuthbert

Rohan Dennis

Josh Duffy

Sophie Edwards

Caleb Ewan