The return of Sarah Gigante headlines an ARA Australian Cycling Team that will be targeting results across the board in Montréal at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships.
Despite notable absences, the Australian team will have a clear ambition to chase a strong result in the mixed relay team time trial, an event it has won for the last two years.
The Elite and Under-23 selections, announced today by AusCycling, also reflect Australia’s aims to be competitive across all categories in the individual time trials and road races.
Elite Women
After a season forestalled by injury, Sarah Gigante will make her long-awaited return to Australian colours in the elite women’s road race. The Victorian climber will line up alongside the experienced Georgia Baker, Lauretta Hanson and Amanda Spratt, whose 13th Worlds will be her last before she retires at the end of this year.
Hanson will also compete in the individual time trial.
Montréal will mark Amanda Spratt's final UCI World Championships.
AusCycling’s Head Coach of Endurance, Conor Taylor, said the return of Sarah Gigante was an exciting prospect given the demanding parcours.
“Although Sarah has had very few race days this year, she’s proven her exceptional ability to overcome adversity. Last year, after returning from a long spell away from racing, she was immediately competitive, winning stages at the Giro d’Italia and fighting for the Tour de France podium.
“We know that a fit and healthy Sarah can be extremely competitive on a tough World Championship course like the one in Montréal.”
Taylor acknowledged the absence of Brodie Chapman, who declined her selection for personal reasons.
“I’ve spoken with Brodie and understand and fully support her reasons not to compete this year,” Taylor said. “She has been a strong and experienced performer for us at the World Championships, so her presence will be missed.”
Elite Men
Two former road race medallists return to the team in Ben O’Connor (2024) and Michael Matthews (2015, 2017, 2022). They’ll be joined by experienced climbers Jai Hindley, Jack Haig and Michael Storer, alongside 22-year-old debutant Luke Tuckwell, who has impressed selectors in his first professional season.
Olympic team pursuit gold medallist Conor Leahy will compete in the individual time trial as the Oceania champion and could also contribute to the mixed relay team on a course well matched to his capabilities.
Michael Matthews will start his 14th elite road race at a World Championships.
Absent from these UCI World Championships will be 2025 individual time trial medallist Jay Vine, who will be unable to compete due to illness.
“The loss of Jay is of course a blow to the team, but of course, his health comes first and we wish him the best with his recovery,” Taylor said.
“Jay’s absence, however, presents a great opportunity for another rider to contribute towards what’s historically been an extremely competitive mixed relay team.”
Queensland’s Sebastian Berwick was also selected, but has withdrawn due to an illness that has affected his preparations for the road race.
Under-23 Women
An exciting squad has been named to compete for rainbow jerseys in the under-23 women’s events – which, for the second year in history, will include a separate road race.
The team includes elite national champions Mackenzie Coupland and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden, who finished just off the podium in last year’s individual time trial in Kigali.
Mackenzie Coupland, the elite road race national champion, will contest the under-23 events.
Sophia Sammons, who is the under-23 Australian and Oceania individual time trial champion, and winner of the ProVeloSuper League, has earned her UCI World Championship debut.
The team for the road race is rounded out by Talia Appleton – Australia’s top finisher last year in Rwanda – the Oceania road race champion Tully Schweitzer, and Victoria’s Emily Dixon.
Under-23 Men
In the under-23 men’s category, Cameron Rogers and Jack Ward have been selected on the back of superb performances in the European spring classics, including top results in the under-23 Gent-Wevelgem and Liège-Bastogne-Liège respectively.
Under-23 time trial national champion Wil Holmes also earns selection alongside Q Tour winner Oliver Sims, who has impressed this year on the Italian racing scene.
Under-23 Oceania champions Will Heffernan and Thomas Waites complete the squad for the road race and individual time trial respectively. Jackson Medway was also selected, but declined his position.
Australia has won the team time trial mixed relay for two years running.
The 23 riders join the nine junior men and women previously announced for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships – including Connor Wright, who recently won the junior world title in cross-country mountain bike.
“A strong result in the team time trial is certainly a major objective for this Australian squad. There will likely be a couple of debutants in the relay line-up in Montréal with a mix of elite and under-23 representation, which is exciting,” Taylor said.
“Despite the key absences, we believe we have a squad ready for the demands of these World Championships and that the selections reflect a genuine ambition to win medals across the time trials and road races.”
The ARA Australian Cycling Team was selected in accordance with AusCycling’s selection policies.
Australian fans will be able to watch the 2026 UCI Road World Championships on Stan Sport, beginning with the elite individual time trials on September 20.
ARA Australian Cycling Team | 2026 UCI Road World Championships
Elite Women
- Georgia Baker (Northern Districts CC / TAS)
- Sarah Gigante (Brunswick CC / VIC)
- Lauretta Hanson (Macedon Ranges CC / VIC)*
- Amanda Spratt (Penrith CC / NSW)
Elite Men
- Jack Haig (Sunshine Coast CC / QLD)
- Jai Hindley (Midland CC / WA)
- Michael Matthews (Vikings CC / ACT)
- Ben O’Connor (Peel District CC / WA)
- Michael Storer (Darwin CC / WA)
- Luke Tuckwell (Bathurst CC / NSW)
- Conor Leahy (Peel District CC / WA)†
Under-23 Women
- Talia Appleton (Mansfield Mt Buller CC / VIC)
- Mackenzie Coupland (Midland CC / WA)*
- Emily Dixon (Mornington CC / VIC)
- Sophia Sammons (South Perth Rouleurs / WA)*
- Tully Schweitzer (Hamilton Wheelers CC / QLD)
- Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils CC / TAS)*
Under-23 Men
- Will Heffernan (Randwick CC / NSW)
- Wil Holmes (Norwood CC / SA)*
- Cameron Rogers (Canberra CC / ACT)*
- Oliver Sims (Mersey MTB Club / TAS)
- Jack Ward (Blackburn CC / VIC)
- Thomas Waites (Balmoral CC / QLD)†
Junior Women
- Chloe Bowen (University of Queensland CC / QLD)*
- Annie Kleywegt (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils / TAS)
- Megan Moore (Balmoral CC / QLD)*
- Neve Parslow (Hamilton Wheelers CC / QLD)*
Junior Men
- Benjamin Coates (Manly Warringah CC / NSW)
- Alistair Forsyth (Ballarat Sebastopol CC / VIC)*
- Ollie Jirovec (Brunswick CC / VIC)*
- Lachlan Stewart (Alpine CC / VIC)*
- Connor Wright (South West CC / WA)
*Road Race and Individual Time Trial
†Individual Time Trial
Photos: SWpix.com