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Former world champions Ashlee Ankudinoff and Sarah Kent have missed selection in a strong Australian team for the London round of the track cycling World Cup.
The February 16-18 event, which ends the World Cup series, will be held on the Olympic velodrome and it is a major stepping stone for the Australian track squad ahead of the Games.
The Australian team features several reigning world champions, including Anna Meares, Kaarle McCulloch, Shane Perkins and men’s team pursuiters Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Luke Durbridge and Michael Hepburn.
“This will be our only opportunity to race on the Olympic velodrome and familiarise both athletes and staff with the environment ahead of the Games,” said Cycling Australia national performance director Kevin Tabotta.
“The World Cup will help sharpen our team focus, knowing that there is just over 180 days to go before the first event of the Olympic track program.
“It will also give us an idea of where the rest of the world is in terms of preparation for the upcoming world championships in Melbourne in April.”
Ankudinoff and Kent were among six members of the women’s track endurance squad who were vying for four spots on the London World Cup team.
Competition had been extremely tight and the selection process ended with the individual pursuit at last week’s track nationals, where Annette Edmondson sealed her berth by breaking the Australian all-comers’ record twice.
Melissa Hoskins and Amy Cure made the cut along with Josie Tomic, who combined with Ankudinoff and Kent to win the 2010 team pursuit world title.
The men’s team sprint lineup has also undergone a shakeup, with newly-crowned Australian sprint champion Alex Bird and Scott Sunderland included for London.
Beijing Olympian Dan Ellis and Jason Niblett, who rode in the event at last year’s world titles, did not make selection.
Another notable omission was Michael Freiberg, the reigning omnium world champion.
Selectors picked a squad of six for the men’s endurance events, with Glenn O’Shea and Alex Edmondson joining the four team pursuit world champions.
But only five of them will make the trip.
The other member of the team is former junior world champion Matthew Glaetzer, who rode an exceptional race on Sunday to win the Australian keirin title.
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