WAIS Cyclists Complete ITS Adelaide Campaign

Members of the WAIS cycling program have completed a busy week of racing in Adelaide, with the International Track Series culminating on Sunday.

Adelaide’s Super-drome hosted a series of events over five days, mixing senior and U19 events, with a special ANZAC Cup – for Australian and New Zealand U19 athletes, which was followed by a senior UCI recognised track event over the weekend.

The format boasted Olympic and World Champions – highlighted by legendary cyclist Anna Meares, but also provided a strong element of generation next, with a developing group of internationals impressing on the boards.

The International Track Series omnium racing provided a particular highlight, with WAIS athletes Ellisa Wundersitz and Sam Welsford both contesting strongly.

Wundersitz posted a fifth place finish in the women’s omnium, recording a consistent string of results to accrue 139 points.

Victory was claimed by reigning world champion Annette Edmondson, who was in a class of her own, netting 206 points for gold. China’s Luo Xiaoling (167) and New Zealand’s Lauren Ellis (165) rounded out the podium.

“It was quite surreal to be able to wear the rainbow bands and look up into the stands and see people you know,” said Edmondson who was competing in her home town.

In the men’s omnium, Welsford secured sixth position in another quality field that included 2012 world champion Glenn O’Shea and rising Australian talent Tirian McManus.

Welsford earned 148 points, which included a win in the elimination race, whilst gold went to Korean Sanghoon Park (190) with McManus (173) and O’Shea (161) claiming the minor medals.

WAIS cyclist Jade Haines took third place in the U19 women’s keirin final, which also featured WAIS teammate Tahlay Christie in sixth place.

Haines also managed a fourth place finish in the elimination race, with fellow WAIS scholarship holder Niken Jefferies in sixth.

In the ANZAC Cup earlier in the week, WAIS athlete Alex Rendell was part of a composite men’s team pursuit squad that won gold in the U19 event.

Jefferies was fourth in the elimination race and fifth in the scratch, Kye Bonser (WAIS) was fourth in the men’s keirin, with Haines fifth in the women’s.

The International Track Series (ITS) Adelaide was a five-day UCI Category 1 track cycling event held at the Adelaide Super-Drome. ITS featured 170 cyclists from 12 countries battling for valuable qualification points for the 2016 UCI Track World Championships and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.