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Aussies ready for Road Worlds as Grace Brown takes final aim at rainbows
Sep 20, 2024
Over the next nine days, Switzerland will be the centre of the cycling world as the best road cyclists and para-cyclists vie for the rainbow jerseys of world champion.
The ARA Australian Cycling Team brings a 30-rider squad ready to give their all at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich.
Olympic gold medallist Grace Brown will target the individual time trial with a dream of finishing her career in the rainbow bands, having twice finished with the silver medal. Vuelta runner-up Ben O’Connor and GP Québec winner Michael Matthews will hope to convert their recent success in the elite men’s races.
Double Paralympic champion Lauren Parker has sights on defending her H3 time trial world title, while fellow Paris Games medallist Alana Forster will also be returning to action for the first time since the Paralympics (noting Emily Petricola and Meg Lemon have withdrawn from the event since their selection).
Lauren Parker is aiming for another year in rainbows. (Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)
Australia has made two three late changes to the squad. Due to illness, Callum Scotson will be replaced by Chris Hamilton in the elite men’s road race. Hamish McKenzie has been forced to withdraw from the under-23 men’s time trial after a crash in training.
[Update, 22 September: Harry Sweeny will replace Jack Haig in the elite men's road race.]
Swiss organisers have put together a challenging road race: the city circuit centres on the Zürichbergstrasse (1.1km, 8%), whose maximum gradients of 15% will likely be crucial. The elite time trials feature undulating terrain that will put climbing and pacing skills to the test.
This year’s Worlds runs from September 21−29 and brings together the para-cycling and non-para events in the individual time trial, team time trial and road race.
What they said
Grace Brown, two-time silver Worlds medallist, said: “This UCI Road World Championships in Zurich is a special and significant event for me. I'm coming into the ITT as Olympic champion with high expectations to go after the rainbow jersey as well.
“It's been a long year and especially a busy few months, but I'm feeling relaxed and ready to give my best this coming week in Switzerland. On top of this, it will also be my last World Championships, since I've announced the end of my elite racing career at the conclusion of this season. For this reason, I'm looking forward to making really special memories with the Australian team.
Zurich will be Brown's last competitive appearance for Australia. (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
“In the road race, I will be joined by a really strong climbing team to tackle the punchy circuit around Zurich. We're excited to support Neve Bradbury after a really impressive season and many WorldTour podium results. We've also got great faith in Spratty, who has twice come away with a medal at the World Championships. Backing those two up, we know the talent of Sarah Gigante could deliver a crazy performance on a course like this.
“Brodie Chapman and Ruby Roseman-Gannon will join me in the mixed TT relay and then in the road race as strong support riders, who are also capable of taking the race into their own hands. We may not be the race favourites, but with a cunning race strategy, we plan to be there in the fight for the win.”
How to watch
Australian fans can watch the 2024 UCI Road World Championships live on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand, which will broadcast the elite individual time trials and road races, plus the under-23 men’s road race.
ARA Australian Cycling Team
Brodie Chapman returns for her sixth Worlds. (Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)
Elite & Under-23 Women
- Neve Bradbury* − RR
- Grace Brown − RR, ITT, TTT
- Isabelle Carnes* − ITT
- Brodie Chapman − RR, ITT, TTT
- Sarah Gigante − RR
- Ruby Roseman-Gannon − RR, TTT
- Amanda Spratt − RR
*Eligible for under-23 competition.
Elite Men
Jack Haig − RR- Chris Hamilton − RR
- Jai Hindley − RR
- Michael Matthews − RR, TTT
- Ben O’Connor − RR, TTT
- Nick Schultz − RR
- Michael Storer − RR
- Harry Sweeny - RR
- Jay Vine − RR, ITT, TTT
Para-cycling
- Tahlia Clayton-Goodie (C2)
- Carol Cooke (T2)
- Alana Forster (C5)
- Emma Mickle (C3)
- Lauren Parker (H3)
Jay Vine will ride his first race since winning the KOM jersey at La Vuelta. (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
Under-23 Men
- Fergus Browning − RR
- Patrick Eddy − ITT
- Alastair Mackellar − RR
- Luke Tuckwell − RR
Under-19 Women
- Lauren Bates − RR, ITT
- Emily Dixon − RR, ITT
Under-19 Men
- Alex Eaves − RR, ITT
- Max Goold − RR
- Will Heath − RR
- Wil Holmes − RR, ITT
Schedule
Individual Time Trials
Sunday, 22 September
Women C4-5 Individual Time Trial (29.9km)
10:00am CEST / 6:00pm AEST
Women Elite Individual Time Trial (29.9km)
12:00pm CEST / 8:00pm AEST
Men Elite Individual Time Trial (46.1km)
2:45pm CEST / 10:45pm AEST
Monday, 23 September
Men Junior Individual Time Trial (24.9km)
9:15am CEST / 5:15pm AEST
Men Under-23 Individual Time Trial (29.9km)
2:45pm CEST / 10:45pm AEST
Tuesday, 24 September
Women Junior Individual Time Trial (18.8km)
8:30am CEST / 4:30pm AEST
Women C1-3 Individual Time Trial (18.8km)
11:00am CEST / 7:00pm AEST
Women H3-5 Individual Time Trial (18.8km)
11:00am CEST / 7:00pm AEST
Women T1-2 Individual Time Trial (11.3km)
4:00pm CEST / 12:00am AEST
Team Time Trial
Wednesday, 25 September
Mixed Relay Team Time Trial (53.7km)
2:00pm CEST / 10:00pm AEST
Road Races
Thursday, 26 September
Women H1-5 Road Race (38km)
9:00am CEST / 5:00pm AEST
Women Junior Road Race (73.6km)
10:00am CEST / 6:00pm AEST
Men Junior Road Race (127.2km)
2:15pm CEST / 10:15pm AEST
Friday, 27 September
Women T1-2 Road Race (31.8km)
11:00am CEST / 7:00pm AEST
Men Under-23 Road Race (173.6km)
12:45pm CEST / 8:45pm AEST
Saturday, 28 September
Women C1-3 Road Race (56.5km)
10:45am CEST / 6:45pm AEST
Women C4-5 Road Race (70.2km)
10:45am CEST / 6:45pm AEST
Women Elite Road Race (154.1km)
12:45pm CEST / 8:45pm AEST
Sunday, 29 September
Men Elite Road Race (273.9km)
10:30am CEST / 6:30pm AEST
Feature photo: Thomas Maheux / SWpix.com