Australian Cycling Team named for Perth UCI Track World Cup

AusCycling has named an ARA Australian Cycling Team squad of 18 to race in Perth, Western Australia from March 6–8 at the first UCI Track World Cup of 2026.

Olympic team pursuit gold medallist Conor Leahy is one of four West Australian members in the squad set to race at the SpeedDome.

He’ll compete alongside resurgent veteran Kristine Perkins, Perth product Sophie Watts, and newcomer Liliya Tatarinoff − recently moved from New South Wales − to make up a strong list of hometown heroes.

Joining Leahy in the men’s endurance squad are two of his fellow silver medallists from last year’s UCI Track World Championships in the team pursuit: James Moriarty and Liam Walsh. Tasmanian Josh Duffy also returns to the line-up.

Tom Cornish rounds out the quintet, one year after coming across from the sprint program. The Sydneysider’s transition has been made in rapid time, as shown by an impressive Austral Wheelrace week in December and an Oceania scratch race title last week in New Zealand.

Claudia Marcks, Maeve Plouffe and Keira Will also collected Oceania titles a week ago, with all three involved in the winning team pursuit squad. They’ll link up with Alyssa Polites and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden for Perth.

Will was the standout bunch race performer for Australia at the Oceania Track Championships, winning titles in the scratch race and points race.

The men’s sprint unit will be spearheaded by Leigh Hoffman, who took his individual racing to a new level at the most recent World Championships, winning three medals. The South Australian was in assertive form during Oceanias, winning the sprint and keirin.

Starter Ryan Elliott will continue his duties out of the gate, as will Danny Barber at the rear of the team sprint train and young talent Tayte Ryan will race at his first Track World Cup.

Alessia McCaig raced to a confidence-building win in the Oceania keirin title, beating two-time Olympic gold medallist Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand). The 22-year-old will be aiming for more success in Perth as the women’s sprint lynchpin alongside Perkins, Tatarinoff and Watts.

Endurance Men
• Tom Cornish (Southern Cross Cycling Club/NSW)
• Josh Duffy (Launceston City CC/TAS)
• Conor Leahy (Peel District Cycling Club/WA)
• James Moriarty (Balmoral Cycling Club/QLD)
• Liam Walsh (Balmoral Cycling Club/QLD)

Endurance Women
• Claudia Marcks (Canberra Cycling Club/ACT)
• Maeve Plouffe (Port Adelaide Cycling Club/SA)
• Alyssa Polites (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club/VIC)
• Keira Will (Lidcombe Auburn Cycling Club/NSW)
• Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils Cycling Club/TAS)

Sprint Men
• Danny Barber (Dubbo Cycling Club/NSW)
• Ryan Elliott (Balmoral Cycling Club/QLD)
• Leigh Hoffman (Whyalla Cycling Club/SA)
• Tayte Ryan (Port Adelaide Cycling Club/SA)

Sprint Women
• Alessia McCaig (Bendigo and District Cycling Club/VIC)
• Kristine Perkins (Track Cycling WA/WA)
• Liliya Tatarinoff (Track Cycling WA/WA)
• Sophie Watts (Balmoral Cycling Club/QLD)