The keys to Tassie’s cycling production line as state champs loom

A Tasmanian Institute of Sport cycling coach and former world champ has detailed the key reasons behind the state’s continued strong production line before this weekend’s state track titles.

Hobart's Jonas Shelverton won three gold medals at last year’s state track cycling championships in Launceston. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Resources, location and quality over quantity.

These are some of the key ingredients Tasmanian Institute of Sport cycling coach Matthew Gilmore help the state consistently produce cyclists capable of producing at the elite level.

The next crop of potential track stars will be on display when the state track championships are held at Launceston’s Silverdome on Saturday.

The likes of Georgia Baker and Josh Duffy are now being followed by the likes of junior time trial world champion Felicity Wilson-Haffenden and fellow world championships medallist Hamish McKenzie as high end talents from the Apple Isle.

Gilmore, a former world championships gold medallist, said Tasmania’s small population helps ensure potential elite talents don’t slip through the cracks.

He added the current elite riders’ willingness to inspire the next generation is another factor behind the state’s impressive production line.

Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holders recently joined members of AusCycling-Tasmania’s Track Development Academy for a workshop, which officials plan to evolve into a long term collaboration.

“I hate using this terminology but it’s monkey see, monkey do. You can’t underestimate that in development,” Gilmore said.

“We’ve been really fortunate to have the likes of Georgia Baker and Josh Duffy also train in this environment, and that’s been really beneficial for our younger scholarship athletes.

“I’ve always said we’re well resourced, we’ve got brilliant roads to train on, we’ve got a world-class facility here at the velodrome (Silverdome) we have good access to.

“They’re the key ingredients, but also our athletes who have gone before these younger ones are inspiring the next generation, and showing that you can do it from a small state.”

“We don’t miss many athletes either, because it is a small cohort. We can identify them quite early on and work with them.”

Tasmania’s strength was reflected at the Road Nationals at Ballarat earlier this month.

Burnie’s Alex Eaves and Mersey Valley Devonport’s Vinnie Manion finished second and sixth respectively in the junior time trial, McKenzie was second in the under-23 time trial, and Eaves fifth in junior men’s road race.

The strength of Tasmania’s women was evident in the elite time trial, with four cyclists finishing in the top ten.

SLaunceston’s Hamish McKenzie won silver in the junior men’s time trial at the 2022 world championships in Wollongton. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

“A lot of our scholarship athletes have been on exactly the same journey (as academy riders) recently,” Gilmore said.

“We’re encouraging them to be mentors and role models for these younger athletes as well, which is really important.

“You learn a lot from your peers and the beauty of these sessions is the younger athletes can see how it’s done.”

Tasmania’s 2022 road race champion Nicole Frain told The Mercury before the recently-completed Tour Down Under of some of the reasons behind their success.

“TIS (Tasmanian Institute of Sport) support us as much as they can and it’s harder once we go to our European teams,” she said.

“But leading up to that point and when we are home we get a lot of support. Also the way we train, there’s a lot of strong men and because we have to ride with those guys all the time it really lifts us.”

Gilmore said Wilson-Haffenden in particular had thrived from testing herself against the leading boys.

“Felicity has definitely benefited from that,” he said.

“Unfortunately we don’t have two or three Felicity’s coming through at the same time, so she’s up against these boys and it’s certainly elevated her progression.”

Tasmanian track state championship racing begins from 10am Saturday.