Commonwealth Games 2018: Australian cyclists ready to renew hostilities with England

TWO years after heartbreak in Rio — where the women crashed in training just days before competition and the men broke the world record but lost a thrilling final to Great Britain, records and rivalries are expected.

WORLD and national records could fall at the Anna Meares Velodrome today when Australia’s men’s and women’s team pursuit squads renew hostilities with the Poms in cycling’s ‘Ashes on wheels’.

Two years after their heartbreak in Rio — where the women crashed in training just days before competition and the men broke the world record but lost a thrilling final to Great Britain — teams are predicting super-fast times on a slick new track and in hot, humid conditions.

Amy Cure and Annette Edmondson were both involved in the high-speed crash which dashed their medal hopes in Rio and say while it has motivated them going forward they are not looking back.

A member of the Australian cycling team trains in preparation for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

“Obviously you learn things from every race but it’s sport and crashes do happen, so if we were to think about that every time we got on a bike we wouldn’t get much further,” Cure said.

“Every race is a new opportunity and we’re more looking forward at what’s to come than looking back at what can happen.

“We’re all riding together really well and we’re doing times that we haven’t done before, so we’re looking forward to getting into it and seeing what we can do.”

Edmondson was bullish about what the Aussie quartet can do on the track in the 4km race against the clock. Their Australian record is 4mins 13 secs which was also the world record in 2013.

“We’re hoping to do an Aussie record, so that’s one of the goals,” Edmondson said.

“We’re going really fast at training so we’ll keep our heads on our shoulders and not think about anyone else, just focus on ourselves.

Annette Edmondson of Australia powers through to win the sprint finish in Melbourne

“It (racing) will be interesting because obviously GB is normally together as a team, but we have got some strong squads from England and Wales especially and Canada who have been in a camp in New Zealand.”

The men were pipped for gold in Rio but go into the Commonwealth Games as defending champions after their win in Glasgow four years ago.

Australian cyclist Annette Edmondson and teammate Amy Cure

When asked at the team launch whether GB’s world record of 3:50.2 could fall in Brisbane this week, Decker said “anything is possible” but he wouldn’t publicly declare the time Australia is targeting.

“I think it’s (world record) possible but everything would have to come together very well,” Decker said.

“The boys are moving well but more important than time is executing and trying to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, because if they can pull that off it will be theirs for the rest of their lives.

“Rio is done and dusted, we’ve moved on, our culture has improved and our riders are different. There are some familiar faces and some new ones as well.”

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Australian cyclists ready to renew hostilities with England