A PARADE of Olympians will be the highlight of a revamped Launceston Carnival next month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Launceston City Cycling Club will recognise the 10 cyclists who represented their countries at the London Olympic Games.
The 10 cyclists will be be introduced to the crowd and ride a parade lap at the Silverdome on Friday, December 28.
Representing Australia will be former world junior champion Amy Cure, of Penguin, Glenn O'Shea, Kaarle McCulloch and Annette and Alex Edmondson, of Adelaide.
Other Olympians are Simon Van Velthooven and Shane Archbold, from New Zealand, and Malaysian trio Aziz Awang, Josiah Ng and Fatehah Mustapa.
Cycling co-ordinator Rick Martin said it was a good gesture by the LCCC to publicly acknowledge the riders.
``On the night we'll also have three world champions in action,'' he said.
``Kenny De Ketele, from Belgium, is the world madison champion, O'Shea holds the world omnium title and Georgia Baker, from Launceston, is a world junior champion.''
The Launceston carnival has been revamped this year and will feature an evening only session.
The action will get under way at 5.30pm with the Launceston Wheel for men and women the main drawcard.
Martin said the results from last weekend's world cup round in Glasgow was an exciting portent for the Tasmanian Christmas carnivals.
``Apart from Amy and Glenn winning silver medals in their events, Tristan Marguet, from Switzerland, won the gold medal in the scratch race and De Ketele took a bronze medal in the teams pursuit,'' he said.
The majority of the international cyclists contracted to ride in Tasmania at the carnivals are involved in the Ghent six-day race which started in Belgium overnight.
O'Shea has delayed his trip home to Australia and has teamed with local star Iljo Keisse and they make a formidable pair.
Franco Marvulli and Marguet will ride for Switzerland while Austrian Andreas Mueller will partner Max Stahr, from Germany.
De Ketele will ride with his world champion partner, Gijs van Hoecke, to make another strong team for Belgium.