Tokyo Olympics 2021: Aussie Road Cycling Squads Announced

The road team is headlined by two-time individual time trial world champion Rohan Dennis and dual World Championship medallist Amanda Spratt who return for their third Games. Richie Porte and Cameron Meyer, have been selected for a second Games.
 
Grace Brown, Sarah Gigante, Tiffany Cromwell and Jack Haig will make their Olympic debut.
 
Track endurance rider Alexandra Manly will also make her Olympic debut after being selected to the team.

Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Ian Chesterman welcomed the selections.
 
“Congratulations to all the cyclists selected today for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo,” Mr Chesterman said.
 
“The Team includes a vast array of experience and success at the highest levels, which will prove invaluable as they take on the best in the world in Tokyo.
 
“The road cyclists are all currently training and racing in challenging conditions around the world, and today’s selection is testament to the incredible effort and determination they have shown throughout their riding careers.
 
“While it’s a great day for the athletes, it’s also a day of celebration for the families, friends, supporters, teammates and coaches who have helped them achieve their Tokyo Olympic milestone. Thank you to AusCycling and all of the sport institutes who have helped train and develop these athletes to help bring the athletes to the level they are at today.

 

“You don’t take for granted to be selected for the team in a country like Australia as it has so many worthy guys to choose from, so to just make the team, it’s a big honour,” he said.
 
“I think it’s going to be a fantastic Games; I look forward to just getting there and racing. I think it’s a fantastic course, it’s going to be hard, but we can aim to be up there for the podium.

 

20-year-old Victorian Sarah Gigante has been selected to ride her maiden Olympic Games.
 
“It just feels so surreal to be named a member in my first Australian Olympic Team,” said Gigante, who has claimed three national road titles in three years (2019 road, 2020 and 2021 time trial).

 

“Going to the Olympics is one of those things I always dreamed of…but it always seemed like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – something I hoped really existed but certainly something very far away and a bit of a fantasy!”

 

 Amanda Spratt is heading to her third Olympic Games.
 
“We’ve got a really great team for Tokyo,” Spratt said. “We’ve got a great road Captain in Tiffany Cromwell, we’ve seen what Grace has been doing over in Europe and that youth of Sarah Gigante we’ve got a strong and well-rounded team that will really suit this course.”
 
“It’s such an honour to be selected for my third Olympic Games. That’s been over a 10-year period, as well, it’s something I’ve never complacent about. I’m really looking forward to being able to use what I’ve learned from those and really go there and performing Tokyo with a great team.”

 

With thanks to AusCycling.