10 January 2012
Team UniSA-Australia announced
Team UniSA-Australia is shaping up as the team to watch for new Australian cycling talent this year with the bulk of the group aged under 25 and already achieving great results both on the road and the track.
The 2012 line-up includes SA rising star, Rohan Dennis; Queenslander, Jay McCarthy; Victorian, Steele Von Hoff; WA cyclist Lachlan Norris; NSW young sprinter, Thomas Palmer; and Tasmanians Will Clarke and Bernard Sulzberger.
University of South Australia’s Vice Chancellor,Professor Peter Høj, says he is delighted once again to be supporting opportunities for young, enthusiastic athletes to launch their careers at an international event.
“Each year Team UniSA-Australia rides with aggression and purpose,” he said, “and the event provides an excellent opportunity for cyclists to launch their international careers.
“This is a tough and highly competitive sport and the Santos Tour Down Under is now an important curtain-raiser for the international cycling calendar and consequently a real opportunity for riders to show their skill.
“As fans and supporters, we have been treated to many incredible performances from members of the national team over the years. While it is a development opportunity for young riders I think that competitors have learned not to underestimate Team UniSA-Australia.”
Highlights in 2011 for some of the Team UniSA-Australia riders include:
- Dennis – 1st in the team pursuit UCI Track World Championships (Denmark), 1st in the team pursuit UCI Track World Championships (Netherlands),1st in the team pursuit Cycling Australia Track National Championships and 1st in the individual pursuit overall standings for 2010/11 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics
- McCarthy – 4th in the GC under 23 International Thüringen Rundfahrt in Germany
- Von Hoff – 1st in stages 1,3,5,6 and 9 of the Tour of Gippsland, 3rd in the GC of the Mersey Valley Tour, 7th in the GC of the Tour of Wellington (NZ) and 1st in the Canberra Opening Criterium.
- Norris – 1st Short Track 2010/11 Jayco Australian MTB Series in the Mt Buller Round, 1st Cross Country 2010/11 Jayco Australian MTB Series in the Mt Buller Round
- Palmer – 1st Stage one Tour de Okinawa 2009-2011 (Japan), 3rd U23 National Championship, Road Criterium 2011 (Australia)
- Clarke – 5th National Road Championships (Australia),1st Wovertem (Belgium), Waasmunster-Ruiter (Belgium), Londerzeel-Sint Jozef (Belgium) and the GC Tour of the Southern Grampians, 1st in stages 1, 2 and 3 Tour of the Southern Grampians and 3rd General Classification Tour de Taiwan 2011 (Taiwan)
- Sulzberger – 1st in Stage 3 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic 2011 and 4th in the GC at this year’s Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.
“The University is proud once again to be associated with the Santos Tour Down Under in this our 12th year of sponsoring the event,” Prof Høj said.
“For us, the Santos Tour Down Under ticks all the right boxes – it’s about team work, it’s about individual performance and it’s about excellence but it’s also about participation not just for Australian professional cyclists but also for all the locals who are spectators and for those who ride in the Bupa Challenge Tour.
“This year I am particularly pleased to be a part of the Cancer Council’s Ride for Reason campaign to help raise more funds for vital cancer research during my Bupa Challenge Tour ride as part of the Governor’s 10.
“I hope many others will join us.”
Prof Høj says Adelaide offers one of the best cycling environments in the world.
“The fact that the pro cyclists know they can come here and ride in world-class environments such as the Adelaide Hills, in a city that welcomes them with great enthusiasm, makes the event a great success,” he said.
With just five days to go until the start of the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under, our stage preview videos are now available to view to give you a glimpse of this year’s race. Click here to view them.
Media contact
- Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
- Cycling Australia email media@cycling.org.au
