Nat Bromhead
The Santos Festival of Cycling has announced the names of the WorldTour riders who will be in attendance, with a stellar line up of athletes joining the ride.
Pro riders will take to the start line as guest riders on local and national teams including 2020 Santos Tour Down Under winner and INEOS Grenadiers rider Richie Porte, EF Education-NIPPO’s James Whelan and Team Jumbo Visma rider, Chris Harper.
Porte and Whelan are headlining for Team Garmin-Australia, the national squad announced for the week-long Festival of Cycling, while Harper will make a guest appearance on National Road Series team Cervelo-Tonsley Village’s roster for the Festival of Cycling.
Team BikeExchange will have a men’s and women’s team competing in the four-day road race with an impressive roster that includes 2011 Santos Tour Down Under Winner and Australian Champion Cameron Meyer, Australian National Time Trial Champion Luke Durbridge, Alex Edmondson, Damien Howson, Lucas Hamilton and Kaden Groves, while Jess Allen, Grace Brown, Lucy Kennedy, Sarah Roy and Alex Manly (guest rider) will be riding in their women’s team.
Lauretta Hanson of Trek-Segafredo is joined by Neve Bradbury (Canyon-SRAM) and Sarah Gigante (Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank) for Team Garmin-Australia and bring a raft of experience and strength to the Santos Festival of Cycling Peloton. Bradbury commences her WorldTour career this year after her recent win in the 2020 Zwift Academy netted her a professional contract with Canyon-SRAM.
Former Australian Road Champion, Sarah Gigante, recently came away from the inaugural eSports World Championships with a silver medal and rounds out the WorldTour contingent for the national squad.
Stuart O’Grady Pleased With Lineup
“It’s been pretty incredible to have riders from these teams racing. The cycling community has really rallied this past year, and we are fortunate that we have a number of WorldTour riders based in Australia that we have been able to navigate to race.” said Stuart O’Grady Men’s Race Director.
“Lauretta, Sarah and Neve all began their racing careers here in Australia, which is a credit to the teams that developed and supported them during their early days as domestic riders.” added Kimberley Conte, Women’s Race Director.
“All 3 are helping to lead a generation of strong female athletes and are mentors to our younger riders across Australia. We are honoured to be hosting them at the Santos Festival of Cycling.”
Men’s WorldTour Riders for the Santos Festival of Cycling
Richie Porte (Team Ineos)
James Whelan (EF Education)
Cam Meyer (Team Bike Exchange)
Luke Durbridge (Team BikeExchange)
Alex Edmondson (Team BikeExchange)
Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange)
Lucas Hamilton (Team BikeExchange)
Damien Howson (Team BikeExchange)
Lucas Hamilton (Team BikeExchange)
Taj Jones (Israel Cycling Academy)
Alistair Mackellar (Israel Cycling Academy)
Chris Harper (Team Jumbo Visma)
Women’s WorldTour Riders for the Santos Festival of Cycling
Lauretta Hanson (Trek-Segafredo)
Neve Bradbury (Canyon SRAM)
Sarah Gigante (Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank)
Grace Brown (Team BikeExchange)
Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange)
Alex Manly (Team BikeExchange)
Australian Track Representatives: 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling
Australia’s track stars and Olympic hopefuls will light up the Adelaide Super-Drome on Tuesday 19 January to kick off the week-long cycling extravaganza in South Australia.
The track event, in partnership with AusCycling, will see Perth’s four-time title world track holder Sam Welsford joined by Leigh Howard, Alex Porter and Kell O’Brien with whom he won the 2019 World Title Winning Team Pursuit.
Sprinters Matt Glaetzer and Nathan Hart will round out a solid seven-man squad who have all been selected for the Tokyo Olympics this year.
Stuart O’Grady said incorporating disciplines such as track to the calendar for 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling was really exciting.
“There is some sensational track talent here in South Australia, in both the men’s and women’s leagues and I’m thrilled to be able to welcome rising stars as well as some very highly accomplished riders,” he said.
“We are so fortunate to have a world class facility in the Adelaide Super-Drome and this event will be the perfect curtain raiser to the Santos Festival of Cycling” he added.
The men’s endurance squad is coached by Tim Decker who commented, “It’s great to have the quality of athletes here to compete in the Santos Festival of Cycling Track event. During the event there will be multiple World Champions and Olympic medalists in most of the events, therefore the quality of racing will be fantastic to watch.”
The women’s endurance squad is headlined by Australia’s only four-time world champion in the track endurance ranks, Ashlee Ankudinoff, and features Team Garmin-Australia track and road sensations Annette Edmondson, Maeve Plouffe and Georgia Baker as well as Team BikeExchange’s guest rider Alexandra Manly.“
There is something really special about Adelaide summers and track racing. Going back many years they have set the backdrop to incredible nights of exciting racing steeped in tradition.” Women’s Race Director Kimberley Conte said.
“The heat, the speed and rush of the wind as athletes race past all combine to make an incredible atmosphere. Do yourself a favour, when you are in the stands, go to the apex of the turn and look straight down from the railing and feel your heart racing as the riders speed past. I promise you won’t be disappointed!”
Australian Track Representatives: 2021 Santos Festival of Cycling
Men
Matt Glaetzer
Nathan Hart
Sam Welsford
Kell O’Brien
Leigh Howard
Luke Plapp
Alex Porter
Women
Ashlee Ankudinoff
Georgia Baker
Annette Edmondson
Maeve Plouffe
Alexandra Manly
Tickets for the Adelaide Track League are selling fast and available at www.adelaidetrackleague.com
Tuesday 19 January 2021
Adelaide Super-Drome
State Sports Park, 50 Anna Meares Way, Gepps Cross SA 5094
Tickets: $10
