Cyclesport Victoria

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The Victorian team which will contest the 2007 Australian Track Championships, Mon 5 - Sun 11 February, at the Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney has been announced and it will field some of the biggest names in Australian track cycling.

The Elite Mens field is lined with Australian stars with 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Sean Finning (Castlemaine CC);  former Junior World Champion & Junior IP World Record holder Michael Ford (Carnegie Caulfield CC); 2004 Austral Wheelrace winner Zak Dempster (Bendigo CC); 2006 Australian Track Championships Points Race Silver medallist Richard England (Blackburn CC) and team debutant Kyle Marwood (Bendigo CC) are expected to make up the Endurance part of the team.

Former Junior World Champions Mark French (St Kilda CC), Shane Perkins (Carnegie Caulfield CC) and Jason Niblett (Horsham CC) and 2006 World Track Championships team member & 2005 Australian Keirin Champion Joel Leonard (Footscray CC) are likely  compete in the Sprint side of the program.

The Elite Women's team is headlined by 2005 World Pursuit Champion and Olympic Silver medallist Katie Mactier (Carnegie Caulfield CC) and 2006 Junior Female Track Cyclist of the Year and 2006 Australian Track Championships 'Champion of Champions' Tess Downing (Carnegie Caulfield).  Silver medallist from the 2006 Nationals, Jessica Berry (Bendigo CC) receives her 5th straight selection, whilst Apryl Eppinger (Carnegie Caulfield CC) returns after year away from the championships.  Monique Hanley (Blackburn CC) will make her debut in the blue following a strong season in which she claimed all Country Track Titles and 2 State titles.

In the JM19 field, 5 time medallist from last year National Titles Leigh Howard (Geelong CC) will be tough to beat in the Endurance events following his 3 golds in the Victorian state Championships.  2006 JM17 Australian Scratch Champion Jamie Crass (Bendigo CC) and multiple junior National medallists Trevor Griffiths (Shepparton CC), Glenn O'Shea (Bendigo CC) and Ben Sanders (Carnegie Caulfield CC) make their debut in the Senior Track Team.  Converted speed skater Toby Dite (Hawthorn CC) and Scott Sittampalam (Blackburn CC) make their overall debuts, whilst 2006 Melbourne Cup on Wheels Champion James Langedyk (Geelong CC) and Anthony Rix (Bendigo CC) return.

The JW19 field will see Lisa Friend (Carnegie Caulfield CC) in her second senior side, with Lauren Hooper (Bendigo CC) - multiple junior team member and Esther Pugh-Uren (Bendigo CC) and Laine Hammond (Northcote CC) - both dual gold medallists at last weekend Victorian State championships - make their debut.

In the AWD field, 2-time 2006 World Track Champion and World Record holder Michael Gallagher (Carn. Caulfield) CC will contest the LC1 field, with Martin Vcelka (Blackburn CC) LC2; Glenn Jarvis (Albury-Wodonga CC) LC3 and Michael Eaddy (Carnegie Caulfield CC) LC4 also competing.