Kent Selected for World Cup Series Opener

WAIS-AIS cyclist Sarah Kent has been selected to contest the opening round of the UCI Track World Cup Series being staged in Astana, Kazakhstan from 4 to 6 November.

Kent – a 2010 Track World Champion – will be joined in the Australian squad, by dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Scott Sunderland (AIS-WAIS), who is riding for the Jayco-AIS team.

“The World Cup Series provides an opportunity for us to identify and prepare athletes for the London Olympic Games,” said Cycling Australia’s National Performance Director, Kevin Tabotta. “But we need to be prudent in our approach so that we not only qualify the maximum places for the Games but we ensure we put our athletes in the best possible position to win medals in London.

“That means riders might not contest all their specialty events at a World Cup round they attend.”

The series includes rounds in Colombia (1-3 December) and China (20-22 January) with the fourth and final round being staged at the London Olympic Games velodrome from 17 to 19 February. The final round is also the official London Prepares track cycling test event.

After the World Cup Series the world’s greatest will head to Melbourne to contest the 2012 UCI Track World Championships with the Australian Cyclones hoping for a full house of supporters when they take on the world at home.

“We’re excited to be heading into this final phase on the road to London but the focus of everyone involved in the track program, from cyclists to coaches and support staff, is to concentrate on the process and details to make sure we leave nothing to chance.”

-Cycling Australia