Olympians Connor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn set to compete at Tasmanian Christmas Carnival series

Fresh off a record-breaking performance at the Olympics, two Australian cyclists have been locked in for the Tasmanian Christmas Carnival series.

Gold medallists (from L) Australia's Sam Welsford, Australia's Kelland O'Brien, Australia's Conor Leahy and Australia's Oliver Bleddyn pose on the podium of the men's track cycling team pursuit event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, south-west of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

The first big names have been locked in for the cycling events at this year’s Tasmanian Christmas Carnival with Olympic champions Connor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn set to compete next month.

Half of the Australian team pursuit gold medal quartet that claimed gold in Paris, Leahy and Bleddyn have been locked in for five of the eight dates on the carnival calendar with a sixth also possible.

The duo will start their campaign at The Gilmore Cycling Classic criterium in Launceston on Boxing Day before heading south to Hobart on December 27th for the Bikes and Spikes.

They’ll then return to Launceston for the Cycling Carnival on the 28th, Devonport on the 29th and Burnie on the 31st with a likely appearance also at the Ulverstone Criterium on the 30th.

Leahy and Bleddyn made history as members of the Australian team in Paris after defeating reigning Olympic champions Italy in the heats of the men’s team pursuit.

Australia's Kelland O'Brien, Australia's Conor Leahy, Australia's Sam Welsford and Australia's Oliver Bleddyn compete in the men's track cycling team pursuit final for gold of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, south-west of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Shattering the world record by almost two seconds, they went on to defeat Great Britain in a nail biting final that saw both teams locked together within a fraction of a second before the Aussies surged to the win.

Set to add much needed firepower to the event, the Olympians will however face stiff competition from a number of seasoned campaigners.

Carnival regulars Graeme Frislie, Kurth Eather, James Moriarty, New Zealand’s Marshall Erwood are all set to compete and will be out to ensure the Olympic Champions don’t have it all their way.

Local talent Dalton Stretton and world champion Lauren Perry will also compete with more names set to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Tasmanian Christmas Carnival series kicks off in Rosebery on December 21st.