Olympic medallists and one of the Tasmania’s finest headline the Australian cycling contingent for the upcoming Christmas Carnivals series.
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West Australian Sam Welsford, Annette Edmondson and Kaarle McCulloch on Thursday were confirmed as participants.
Welsford is returning to Tassie as a world champion and Rio Games silver medallist in the team pursuit.
National high performance coach Tim Decker regards him as “the next big thing” in Aussie track cycling.
But the star quality does not end there, with Edmondson and McCulloch both bronze medallists in London.
South Australian Edmondson is a regular visitor, while McCulloch, from New South Wales, is back after a four-year break.
Tasmanian Rio Olympian Georgia Baker joins the Coast’s Macey Stewart as home-state hopes.
Tour Down Under winner Valentina Scandolara will also compete.
Welsford, McCulloch and Baker will started Oceania Track Championships in strong form on Wednesday night in Melbourne.
Welsford and Baker picked up gold in the team pursuit and points race, while McCulloch defended her 500 metre time trial crown.
Baker will contest the Westbury twilight criterium on Boxing Day and the Latrobe and Launceston track carnivals on December 27 and 28.
Stewart, who confirmed her carnivals appearance to Fairfax Media last month, will also be at Westbury, Latrobe and Launceston.
West Pine’s Amy Cure will be an absentee as she will be spending Christmas overseas.
Dutch all-rounder Winanda Spoor, winner of the 2016 world women’s motor pace championship, will make her third appearance at the carnivals in the motor pace race at the Launceston carnival.
More than 40 women from eight countries will contest the criteriums and track meetings at the carnivals.
Long-time Cycling Tasmania handicapper Lloyd Pilgrim believed the depth of the female entry is outstanding.
“This is the best line-up of women I have seen in my time as the carnivals’ handicapper,” he said.
“There’s better numbers and the quality is tremendous.”
Sydney’s 2015 Burnie Wheelrace winner Nick Yallouris, who competed at the Rio Paralympics as a tandem guide will return.
South Australia’s Patrick Constable, a member of the Aussie three-man sprint team which narrowly missed a bronze medal in Rio, will also compete. More than 80 male cyclists will race at this year’s carnivals series.