WAIS Trio Selected for Commonwealth Games Cycling Team

WAIS athletes Luke Durbridge, Scott Sunderland and Melissa Hoskins have been named in Cycling Australia’s 41-strong squad for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Durbridge – a bronze medallist in the men’s road time trial at the 2010 Delhi Games – will again race the clock in Glasgow, potentially less than a week after completing a gruelling Tour de France campaign if, as expected, he is selected by Orica GreenEDGE for the 2014 event.

A broken collarbone suffered at the recent Giro d’Italia had put his selection prospects in some doubt, but following successful surgery the 23 year-old is now firmly back in frame for the tour and Commonwealth Games double.

Former track sprint cycling world champion Scott Sunderland has earned selection in the Australian team, albeit in the men’s track endurance squad.

The 2012 team sprint World Champion made the switch to endurance cycling, post London Olympics after he and the Australian men’s sprint team finished fourth. The Busselton born cyclist will put his hand up for a spot in the men’s team pursuit squad at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, whilst it is not out of the question, he will look to defend his 2010 Commonwealth Games title in the men’s kilo (1km time trial) which could result in a track athlete combining sprint and endurance events.

Melissa Hoskins will line up most likely in the women’s 25km scratch race on the track for Australia, but will also contest the women’s road race, after being selected in both disciplines.

Hoskins won a bronze medal at this year’s track world championships in Columbia as a member of the women’s team pursuit that defeated Poland for third place. The Glasgow track program, doesn’t feature the women’s team pursuit. Fellow WAIS athlete and teams pursuit world championship medallist, Isabella King, opted out of Commonwealth Games selection despite being name in the long team, to focus attention on her Medicine studies at the University of WA.

CEO of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association Perry Crosswhite said he expected a similarly successful campaign to Delhi, despite the increase in competition.

“The success of our cycling team in Delhi was phenomenal and made a significant contribution to our medal tally,” Crosswhite said. “We realise the competition will be tougher inScotland, but this is a strong team and we expect it will do well.”