SQUADS ANNOUNCED FOR AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS

9 February 2026: For many young Australian track cyclists, being named in a state team for the 2026 AusCycling Track National Championships means much more than a line on a list. It is the promise of anticipation, nerves, rivalry and the first real taste of racing at a national stage.

The championships are set for 24–29 March 2026 at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane, with junior nationals following immediately after from 28 March to 1 April. These dates bookend a period every year that riders, coaches and families mark in their calendars long before selections are announced.

Across Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland, squads have now been confirmed — and each tells a slightly different story of local cycling culture.

Tasmania – a small but proud squad

Tasmania’s team is compact but full of riders whose season so far has been about putting in the work, month after month. Elite selections include Josh Duffy and Jonas Shelverton on the men’s side, and Lauren Perry alongside Felicity Wilson-Haffenden for the women. Young riders stepping up include U19 names like Angus Gullick, Caleb McKenzie and Max Woodroffe, and a handful of promising teenagers set to make their mark.

For Tasmanian athletes, TrackNats isn’t just a championship: it is a rare chance to see how they measure up against riders from bigger states — a moment to test limits and build confidence.

New South Wales – depth, diversity, opportunity

In New South Wales, the list reads like a who’s-coming in depth and breadth. Elite women such as Anna Dubier, Nicole Duncan and Keira Will will carry state colours, while riders like Danny Barber, Xavier Bland, Thomas Cornish and others anchor the men’s squad. The state’s junior ranks feature names like Elsie Apps and Emily Hines alongside a strong U17 contingent that includes Hugo Alcock, Will Sherringham and many more. Para cycling representation from Gordon Allan rounds out a group with real diversity.

It’s a team that blends riders pushing for senior breakthroughs with juniors who might only be just discovering their best events — and that mixture always brings a hint of unpredictability to the racing.

Queensland – a wide-ranging list and fresh faces

Queensland’s announcement is one of the most expansive. From elite women like Deneaka Blinco, Ella Liang and Molly McGill to a deep elite men’s group featuring Noah Blannin, Byron Davies, Ryan Elliott and more, there are plenty of names familiar to regular TrackNats followers. The U19 ranks include Milan Bradshaw, Grace Hunter and Oscar Schoff, while youth squads are filled with riders such as Wynter Bradshaw, Ethan Lee and Patrick Richardson.

Queensland’s selections reflect a programme that has grown steadily and now reaches into para and AWII categories, giving a broader range of riders a shot at national championship experience.

What it all means

Taken together, these squad announcements feel less like a series of bulletins and more like the first chapter of a shared story — riders reconnecting with goals after summer training, older athletes chasing consistency and younger ones just beginning to understand what nationals week truly feels like.

It’s early in the year, and much will happen between now and late March. Training camps, local races, selection decisions and the inevitable pre-championship butterflies in the stomach will all play their part.

But for now, the names are on the lists. And for every rider from Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland, that means the journey to Brisbane has officially begun — not with trophies or medals, but with hope, community and the unmistakable promise of competition.

This article is an independent summary of reporting originally published by Cycling Australia.

Original source:
Cycling NZ