Australian Team for 2008 UCI MTB World Championships

[Squidly Didly]

Cycling Australia is pleased to announce the Australian team to contest the 2008 UCI MTB World Championships being staged from 17 to 22 June in Val di Sole, Italy.

(DH - Downhill, XC - Cross Country, 4X - Four Cross)

Elite Men

* Bryn Atkinson (Wentworth Falls, NSW 09.12.1982) DH
* Amiel Cavalier (Keiraville, NSW 24.03.87) DH
* Ben Cory (Fadden, ACT 19.01.1983) DH
* Leigh Darrell (Evatt, ACT 15.05.1987) 4X
* Mitchell Delfs (Gracetown, WA 25.07.1989) DH
* Cody Eichorn (Douglas Park, NSW 13.04.1988) 4X
* Jared Graves (Toowoomba, QLD 16.12.82) 4X
* Sam Hill (Glen Forrest, WA 21.07.85) DH (reigning World Champion)
* Randall Huntington (Bulimba, QLD 01.09.1970) 4X
* Chris Jongewaard (Para Hills, SA 18.07.79) XC
* Chris Kovarik (Deception Bay, QLD 01.03.78) DH
* Alex Lloyd 4X (St Claire, NSW 22.08.1983)
* Daniel McConnell (Bruthen, VIC 09.08.85) XC
* Nathan Mummery (Brighton East, VIC - 13.03.1989) Trials
* Jared Rando (Ainslie, ACT 22.06.81) DH
* Nathan Rennie (Merrimac, QLD 31.05.81) DH
* Terry Scarr (Raby, NSW 22.10.1983) 4X
* Sid Taberlay (Blackmans Bay, TAS 22.01.80) XC
* Thomas Twentyman 4X (Eagle Vale, WA 28.12.1983)

U23 Men

* Lachlan Norris (Barkers Creek, VIC 21.01.82) XC
* Paul Van Der Ploeg (Tawonga South, VIC 09.11.1989) XC

Elite Women

* Caroline Buchanan (Kambah, ACT 24.10.90) 4X & DH Jnr
* Dellys Franke-Starr (Smith's Gully, VIC 02.10.1976) XC
* Sarsha Huntington DH & 4X (Bulimba, QLD 22.08.1983)
* Emma McNaughton DH (New Lambton, NSW 30.01.1983)
* Claire Whiteman DH (Conder, ACT 05.09.1978)

Junior Men

* Peter Braunsteins (Kew, VIC 24.02.1990) XC
* Charlton Durie (Bowral, NSW 10.05.1990) XC
* Luke Fetch (Bittern, VIC 06.07.1990) XC
* Robbie Hucker (Bendigo, VIC 13.03.1990) XC
* Daniel Johnston (Alice Spring, NT 25.09.1990) XC
* Tamryn Murrell (Mudgeeraba, QLD 21.07.1991) DH
* Shaun O'Connor (Barrengarry, NSW 13.07.1991) DH
* Tom Patton (Belrose, NSW 14.11.1990) DH
* Dylan Prohm (Helensburgh, NSW 05.06.1990) DH
* Matthew Vincent (Red Hill, ACT 10.07.1991) DH
* Rhys Willemse (Chambers Flat, QLD 11.09.1991) DH

Junior Women

* Rebecca Henderson (Monash, ACT 27.09.1991) XC

Cycling Australia website www.cycling.org.au

For further information (media only) please contact:
Gennie Sheer, Sheer Rhetoric - Communications Director, Cycling Australia
Tel: +61 (0) 418 863 533
Email: gennie@compuserve.com

[leitch]

Little Rhys? Wtf? What's going on...? :confused:

[BLAKE-2234]

i know they must have felt bad or something?

they left today heading for LA

[Dumbellina]

Why doesn't CA post their home addresses too, so all the theives know where and when to break in! At least their best bikes will be overseas.

[declan!]

Wtf........

[Dumbellina]

Wtf........

Tell the world you're not home, and lo and behold some theiving shit has taken advantage of it...

Great work and good luck to the riders, good work CA (names and states should have been enough, not too many Nathan Rennies in Qld vying for elite DH spots, I'd think)

[tupper]

No Rischbeith?

Alot of young guys.

Anyone else notice that the first half of Junior Men is all XC and second DH?

[stevenw]

Little Rhys? Wtf? What's going on...? :confused:

Yeah its a bit of a shock eh? :D
Its a long story but to sum it up, the Aussie selectors changed their minds and phoned Rhys when he got off the plane in Switzerland. It worked out well in the end because it was going to be hard for Rhys to ride for NZ, as he had raced at the Oceania's using his Australian UCI License and UCI won't let a rider ride for two countries in one year.

Congrats to Sarsha and Randal. It's a shame that Adam Nicolson isn't in the 4X team as well.

[Simple]

Well Done Randal & Sarsha !!!

Shows what hard work and the drive to be the best you can be results in.

[big ral]

Its good to see all the dedicated 4X guys getting a shot, rather than having the DH guys doing both.

[demo man]

Congrats to all the riders - it's pretty tough making it onto the Aussie team!

Particular props to Benny C and Mitch Delfs though - stoked to see them on the team!

[chops]

how do you get into to the junior team and how old do you have to be

[declan!]

how do you get into to the junior team and how old do you have to be

You gotta race the National Series or National Champs
Its something like 104% of elites times...
Its under 19s so you gotta be over 16 years old, I think

[demo man]

how do you get into to the junior team and how old do you have to be

Basically, you have to excel at the highest possible level. You can see from the dates of birth in the list that the riders are 16/17/18 years old. It's Under 19s.

To get on the team you must be selected, but if you want to be on the team basically compete at all of the National level events and win. (The selection process is a lot more complicated than that - but that's the gist of it - only the very best riders get on the team. For more details check out Cycling Australia).

[Le Matelot]

Basically, you have to excel at the highest possible level. You can see from the dates of birth in the list that the riders are 16/17/18 years old. It's Under 19s.

To get on the team you must be selected, but if you want to be on the team basically compete at all of the National level events and win. (The selection process is a lot more complicated than that - but that's the gist of it - only the very best riders get on the team. For more details check out Cycling Australia).

You have to be aged 17 or 18 on 31 Dec 08 to qualify as a Junior (U19) for the 2008 World Champs. As Demo Man said, the selection criteris are on the CA website (but a bit hard to find) so I have attached the criteria for 2008 here - a general (preamble) document and the MTB specific (e-mtb) one.

You will see that not all national series races count (none counted for Elite and U23 for XC) and that some international races count.

Remember, this is how it was for 2008 - don't know how it will be for 2009.

[ronning]

yaeh 4 X has always been a controversial selection thingy.

Scarr Darrel & loyrd desere there spot.

was Tom Hubert eligeable?? That kid has got some snap and that's what you need these days in 4X especially at elite level.

Also Madill our national champ was left out even though he woulnt race it anyway ( cause of BMX commitments

[Sarsha]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the message. So stoked Steve that Rhys made. Don't worry Randy & I will look after him and Tamryn. We left yesterday and are in Hong Kong at the moment and about to fly to mainland China for the World BMX Champs. Will keep you all updated on how we go.

See ya's!!!

Sarsha

[noballz]

What is ChrisJ doing there? Isn't he supposed to be in jail (gaol for those still in the dark ages). Last I heard he was involved in a hit and run while DUI.

Also good to see Claire on the team. Good reward for winning the national series. I take it that Tracey isn't there because she didn't apply.

[ango93]

Thats crazy wtf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[noballz]

Thats crazy wtf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are referring the Chris's misdemeanor you can read all the gory details here http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21221111-5006009,00.html, or just google chris jongewaard hit run and there are enough hits to keep you going for a lifetime. For a good laugh read this http://stubbyholder.blogspot.com/2008/05/competitive-cyclings-poor-moral.html.

From what I can gather the trial will be held in December, which surprises me considering what is at stake and that he is pleading not guilty.

TBH I cannot see him making the Olympic team. Not after what happened with Nick Darcy. The only reason why there is no outrage over his selection to the world championships is because no one knows it exists let alone that it is even on.

[gilly101]

The only reason why there is no outrage over his selection to the world championships is because no one knows it exists let alone that it is even on.

...World Championships? what's that:rolleyes:... on another note... wow thats kinda nuts... did not know that....

Great to see Canberra representing this year! Ben Cory, Matty v, rando, caroline, claire and thats just the downhill! Good showing before next years championships! Stoked to see the youngsters in there as well!

[nickmann]

The elite men look like they have an awesome team. Good luck to them all:)

[GeoffRidesBikes]

No Joel Bain this year?