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World Number one Rebecca McConnell highlights squad for the UCI MTB World Championships in France
Jul 18, 2022
Twenty-seven riders have been named to the Australian team to compete at the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Les Gets, France, from 24-28 August.
Nine riders were selected in the elite men and women downhill, while 17 athletes have been chosen to contest the cross-country Olympic and short track events in Junior, Under 23 and Elite. One rider will be competing in E-MTB.
Headlining the cross-country team is current XCO Elite Women’s world number one Rebecca McConnell and four-time Olympian Daniel McConnell.
Rebecca McConnell has been in peak form this season, having claimed four World Cup wins, three in XCO and one in XCC.
At last year’s World Championships, she finished in the top 10.
Cameron Ivory will join Daniel McConnell in the elite men’s field; McConnell will be competing at his 13th World Championships.
In the Under 23 men’s team, Commonwealth Games debutant Sam Fox joins former junior World Champion Cameron Wright, along with Domenic Paolilli and Tom Cheesman.
Fox achieved a career-high sixth place finish at the recent under 23 World Cup in Lenzerheide.
For the Under 23 women, Zoe Cuthbert, who already has three top 10 finishes at World Cups this year, will be joined by Katherine Hosking, Holly Lubcke and Isabella Flint.
Meanwhile, six junior athletes will be making their XCO World Championships debut in France.
Joshua Carlson lines up for his second World Championships in the E-MTB, after he finished 11th last year.
Three-time World Championships medalist Troy Brosnan will lead the downhill team.
Brosnan will be competing at his 10th World Championships. The South Australian claimed bronze last year, with silver in 2019 and a third in 2014.
Current National Champion Connor Fearon will compete at his seventh World Championships along with Victorian Dean Lucas, who will line up at his sixth.
Kye A’Hern, a junior world champion in 2019, has been selected for his third elite team along with Jackson Frew, while Luke Meier-Smith makes his second appearance.
Tasmanian Daniel Booker is the only debutant in the men’s field.
For the downhill women, 2022 National Champion Ellie Smith and Cassie Voysey will make their elite World Championships debut.
Sian A’Hern was selected to compete but has withdrawn from the team.
The junior downhill team was announced in June, ten athletes will join the team in France.
Australian National Team – 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
Downhill Individual (DHI)
Elite Men
- Troy Brosnan (SA)
- Connor Fearon (SA)
- Luke Meier-Smith (NSW)
- Kye A’Hern (ACT)
- Dean Lucas (VIC)
- Daniel Booker (TAS)
- Jackson Frew (ACT)
Elite Women
- Ellie Smith (NSW)
- Cassie Voysey (NSW)
Olympic Cross-Country (XCO)
Elite Men
- Daniel McConnell (ACT)
- Cameron Ivory (SA)
Elite Women
- Rebecca McConnell (ACT)
U23 Men
- Sam Fox (TAS)
- Cameron Wright (QLD)
- Domenic Paolilli (VIC)
- Tom Cheesman (TAS)
U23 Women
- Zoe Cuthbert (ACT)
- Katherine Hosking (NSW)
- Holly Lubcke (QLD)
- Isabella Flint (TAS)
U19 Men*
- Joel Dodds (QLD)
- Jack Ward (VIC)
- Riley Corke (VIC)
- Cohen Jessen (VIC)
(*subject to final confirmation of quotas from the UCI)
U19 Women
- Ruby Dobson (VIC)
- Hayley Oakes (NSW)
E-Mountain Bike (E-MTB)
Elite Men
- Joshua Carlson (NSW)
2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
Wednesday, August 24 – Sunday, August 28
Les Gets, France
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