By Josh Davies

A sold-out Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome awaits Australia’s 25-strong cycling team at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Scottish loud house looms as a mouth-watering prospect for numerous battles years in the making across the final four days of competition in Glasgow.

Overview

Among the 25-strong Australian Cycling Team is a strong mix of rising talents and established international stars, all eager to make their mark.

Six gold medallists from Birmingham 2022 return, headlined by three-time gold medallist Georgia Baker (TAS).

The remaining golden quintet returning for another Games are Kristina Clonan (QLD), Leigh Hoffman (SA), Sophie Edwards (SA) and Jessica Gallagher (VIC), who will be piloted by 47-year-old debutant Jacqui Mengler-Mohr (QLD).

Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallists Tayte Ryan (SA) and Liliya Tatarinoff (NSW) are the youngest members of the team and two of the 14 debutants set to shine on the boards.

Ones to watch 

Australia

All four of Australia’s team sprint and team pursuit line-ups have the potential to sweep the opening night of racing in Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – setting the stage for an all-time Commonwealth Games night for the Australian Cycling Team.

Individually, it’s men’s sprint anchor Hoffman who carries the most anticipation into Glasgow.

In the past two years, the 26-year-old from the steel city of Whyalla has become Australia’s leading sprint man and will be eyeing off the prospect of a one-on-one clash with former Australian turned Englishman Matthew Richardson.

International

Welshwoman Emma Finucane is Great Britain’s darling of the sprint world and carries multi-faceted gold medal threats into Glasgow.

New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews is another superstar fighting for sprint success. At her best, the reigning sprint and keirin Olympic champion can dominate.

Legendary vision impaired Para cyclist Neil Fachie has one last chapter in his storied career yet to be written at his home track in Glasgow. The 42-year-old five-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist is dreaming of a fairytale finish in men’s B tandem, but after effectively retiring two years ago, it will be no easy feat for the Scottish icon and his pilot Pete Mitchell to extend their revered medal record.

Sport Format

If you’re looking for speed combined with aerodynamic engineering on a Formula 1 level – then you’ve come to the right place.

Track cycling races at the premier level are typically conducted in an indoor timber velodrome that is 250 metres in length with steeply banked curves. 

Riders compete against each other as individuals or in teams, or race alone against the clock. Short-distance events are a test of a sprinter’s ability, while energy-sapping endurance races such as the points race can be up to 40km.

Para cycling events at the Commonwealth Games have been held for vision impaired athletes – B – on tandem bicycles with a sighted teammate since Glasgow 2014.

The sighted teammate, known as a ‘pilot’, controls the tandem from the front position, with the vision impaired athlete seated directly behind them. 

Teamwork is essential because each cyclist must pedal with the same rhythm and co-ordinate physically for the turns.

Para cycling events for C-categorised athletes will be held for the first time at this Games. C-categories are for conventional bikes, with adaptations if necessary.

Men’s C events will be held for C1-3 categories, while women’s C events will feature C4-5 athletes. Results are determined by a factored system that combines differing C categories in an event bracket into one unified time range.

Competition Schedule

Cycling will take place from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August at Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and comprises 26 medal events.

Day 1

• Men’s Team Pursuit
• Women’s Team Pursuit
• Men’s Team Sprint
• Women’s Team Sprint
• Women’s B Tandem Sprint
• Women’s C4-5 Individual Pursuit

Session 1: 10am (7pm AEST)
Session 2: 4pm (1am AEST)

Day 2

• Men’s C1-3 1km Time Trial
• Women’s Individual Pursuit
• Men’s Keirin
• Women’s Scratch Race
• Men’s Elimination Race
• Women’s Sprint
• Men’s Individual Pursuit

Session 1: 10am (7pm AEST)
Session 2: 4pm (1am AEST)

Day 3

• Men’s Sprint
• Women’s Points Race
• Men’s Scratch Race
• Women’s Keirin
• Women’s 1km Time Trial
• Women’s B Tandem 1km Time Trial

Session 1: 10am (7pm AEST)
Session 2: 3pm (12am AEST)

Day 4

• Men’s 1km Time Trial
• Women’s Elimination Race
• Men’s C1-3 Individual Pursuit
• Women’s Keirin
• Women’s C4-5 1km Time Trial
• Men’s Points Race

Session 1: 9am (6pm AEST)
Session 2: 3pm (12am AEST)

Fast Facts

• Cycling debuted as a Commonwealth Games sport at the 1934 British Empire Games. It has appeared in every edition since.
• Australia has led the cycling medal table 16 times and sits first atop the all-time medal table on 251 medals (121 gold, 73 silver and 57 bronze).
• Para cycling C events join the Commonwealth Games program for the first time in Glasgow.
• Georgia Baker is Australia’s most experienced and decorated member of the cycling team. The Tasmanian will compete at her third consecutive Games and won three gold medals at Birmingham 2022.