A team of 13 has earned selection to the ARA Australian Cycling Team for the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from October 16–19.
In a major change to the program, this year’s World Championships introduces the sprint and elimination race and removes the individual pursuit for C- classified riders. B (tandem) riders will continue racing the individual pursuit.
Paralympic gold medallist Korey Boddington is set for his second attempt at a world title, 18 months after winning silver in the men’s C4 1000m time trial and bronze in the mixed C1-5 team sprint bronze.
The introduction of individual sprint world titles is right in Boddington’s wheelhouse. The 29-year-old set a new flying 200-metre world record in his category at the 2025 Oceania Track Championships in February.
Korey Boddington won kilo silver at the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. (CBC)
Boddington’s team sprint teammates from 2024, Gordon Allan and Michael Shippley, are saddling up again in 2025 after both also winning individual medals last year.
ARA Australian Cycling Team veteran Emily Petricola has her eyes firmly planted on more gold medals in the bunch races, having twice been a winner of the women’s C4 scratch race title.
In the tandem class, perennial medal threat Jess Gallagher will be joined by her new pilot, Jacqui Mengler-Mohr.
The pair delivered early signs of podium-level speed at the 2025 AusCycling Track National Championships in March.
Paralympians Kane Perris and pilot Luke Zaccaria will travel to Brazil full of motivation to factor in the men’s tandem podium battles, specifically the 1000m time trial and sprint.
Jacqui Mengler-Mohr, Jess Gallagher, Luke Zaccaria and Kane Perris racing in the mixed tandem team sprint at the 2025 Oceania Track Cycling Championships. (Mat Gilfedder)
This quartet will have confidence in a genuine gold medal opportunity in the mixed tandem team sprint, reinforced by the blistering time they recorded at TrackNats.
Victoria’s Tara Neyland will make her maiden appearance at a Para-cycling Track Worlds, earning selection a month after being elevated to the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships team.
Neyland was a revelation at TrackNats, winning women’s C4 national championships in the scratch race and 1000m time trial, setting a new national record in the process. She looms as an exciting prospect in Rio.
Tahlia Clayton-Goodie is fast becoming a mainstay of the ARA Australian Cycling Team. She will compete in C1 for the first time at a Para-cycling Track Worlds after a reclassification earlier this year.
Rounding out the squad is 2023 C5 scratch race world champion Alana Forster; fellow 2023 medallist Erin Rowell; and Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco, who will return to the international stage with excitement for the new event format, specifically the longer 1000m time trial and bunch races.
Erin Rowell powers out of the gate at the 2025 Oceania Track Cycling Championships. (Mat Gilfedder)
AusCycling’s Head Coach of Para-cycling, Sheila Galloway, said she is incredibly proud of the team selected for this year’s Para-cycling Track World Championships.
“It brings together Paralympic and world champions, world record holders and medallists, alongside athletes ready to make their mark across LA 2028 medal events including sprint, bunch and team races,” Galloway said.
“I know each rider will take great pride in wearing the green and gold and showcasing the strength of Australian para-cycling on the world stage.”
ARA Australian Cycling Team – 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships
Women
- Tahlia Clayton-Goodie – C1 (Geelong and Surf Coast Cycling Club/VIC)
- Alana Forster – C5 (Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club/VIC)
- Jess Gallagher (St Kilda Cycling Club/VIC) and Jacqui Mengler-Mohr (Balmoral Cycling Club/QLD) [pilot] – B
- Paige Greco – C3 (Lifecycle Cycling Club/QLD)
- Tara Neyland – C4 (Brunswick Cycling Club/VIC)
- Emily Petricola – C4 (St Kilda Cycling Club/VIC)
- Erin Rowell – C4 (Geelong Cycling Club/VIC)
Men
- Gordon Allan – C2 (Parklife Cycling Club/NSW)
- Korey Boddington – C4 (University of Queensland Cycling Club/QLD)
- Kane Perris (Track Cycling WA/WA) and Luke Zaccaria (Track Cycling WA/WA) [pilot] – B
- Michael Shippley – C4 (Balmoral Cycling Club/QLD)
Feature picture: CBC