Meyer and Welsford Headline Strong WA Track Team

Western Australia has sent a talent-laden squad to compete at the 2017 Australian Track Cycling Championships in Brisbane starting on Thursday, highlighted by the world champion duo of Cam Meyer and Sam Welsford.

Meyer’s return to the boards at the brand new Anna Meares Velodrome represents one of the key points of interest for the week ahead, with the six-time track world champion set to challenge for selection on the 2017 Australian World Championship team whilst also providing a mentor role for WA’s next generation of emerging talent.

Welsford joins Meyer in action for WA in Brisbane, with the Rio Olympian set to wear the rainbow jersey in the team pursuit as a current world champion.

Meyer who claimed his six world titles among a 10 medal haul between 2009 and 2012 will contest the points race, scratch race, individual and team pursuit in Brisbane and believes his preparation will hold him in good stead.

“My return to international track racing at the end of last year went far better then expected. To win a World Cup gold medal, podium in the London 6 Day and then cap it off with an Australian Madison title, I was really happy,” Meyer said.

“I’m looking forward to more racing and challenges on the track ahead.”

The former Tour Down Under and Herald Sun Tour winner has spent much of 2017 so far on the road, racing as part of the national team.

“It has been a busy and hectic summer of racing on the road. I was really happy with my form and performances.

“It will be interesting to see how quickly I can transition back to the track but I feel my fitness is there so I hope to perform well through the next block of racing.”

While it may be his first nationals in seven years, Meyer is looking forward to testing himself against a new generation of riders.

“We have a huge depth of talent in Australia currently and this will be very important moving forward into a new Olympic cycle.

“I’m looking forward to racing these guys at the National Championships and I know they will be very tough competition.”

Meyer is perhaps best known for his success in the points race with three world titles and Commonwealth Games gold in his keeping. It is in this event that he is placing particular importance in Brisbane.

“My goals for the National Track Championships are to win the points race and be competitive in all my events across the week.

“It has been seven years since I pulled on the WA colours so I’m really looking forward to representing my state and aim for some medals.”

Having represented Australia at the last two UCI Junior Track World Championships Tahlay Christie is looking forward to continuing her development in the elite ranks having made the step up at the Oceania Championships in December.

“Transitioning from an under 19 to senior was incredibly intimidating. I knew that I would get hit pretty hard with the reality that I was this little fish in an enormous ocean, but I was pretty up for the challenge,” Christie explained.

“I got knocked down pretty hard at Oceanias, and in the present moment it hurt, but I just wanted to keep trying my best and be as tactical as I could be.

“I value those upfront experiences I had at Oceanias, they’ve helped me to prepare with little fear of making mistakes and to work harder to become stronger and faster.”

The opportunity to represent Western Australia against the rest of the nation is something Christie relishes having been a national champion through under 15, 17 and 19 categories.

“I love the competitive vibe throughout the pits between the states at Nationals, always gets me fired up,” she said.

“I’m super excited about getting to support my team and see their successes, be it little accomplishments or huge victories.

“It’ll be great to see what we can do on the new track in Brisbane. I’m looking forward to going out there and doing my best, and then reflecting and looking to improve next time.

For Christie who will line up in the sprint, keirin, 500m TT and team sprint in her Elite Track Nationals debut, she is focusing on development rather than eyeing specific results.

“As a much younger junior (u15s to u17s) I focused a lot on outcome goals, but over the years I feel it’s more important to move towards goals you can control.

“Instead of going on placings which is basically out of my control, I’ve chosen to focus on being skilful and to execute the movements I’ve been practicing at home.

“The training I’ve put into preparing for Nationals leads to me hopefully accomplishing the process and performance goals I’ve set.”

WA will also be a state to watch in the junior ranks with Junior World Championship medallist and dual Oceania Champion Jade Haines in action in the endurance events.

In the sprint discipline Kye Bonser who swept the sprint events at the Oceania Championships will be looking to add national gold to his name.

2017 Team Western Australia

Elite Men

• Michael Freiberg

• Stephen Hall

• Cameron Meyer

• Sam Welsford

• Benjamin Young

• Luke Zaccaria

Elite Women

• Tahlay Christie

• Rebecca Wheadon

JW19

• Rebecca Blake

• Jade Haines

• Rihana Pezaj

JM19

• Kye Bonser

• Luke Howse

• Julian Krohn

• Conor Leahy

• Tyler Lindorff

• Matt Richardson

• Kieran Scott

• Craig Wiggins

-CyclingAus