Today, AusCycling announced that six riders have been selected for the 2024 Cross Country Marathon (XCM) Mountain Bike World Championship in Snowshoe, USA. The AusCycling National Selection Panel today confirmed the riders who will compete at the championships in September.
The team consists of 3 men and 3 women, one of the larger teams fielded in the XCM World Championships bu Australia. Six-time marathon national champion Brendan Johnston will contest his second World Championships – however current women’s XCM National Champion Courtney Sherwell was omitted from the team. Sherwell has suggested on social media that she was not informed about the selection criteria or the application period. There may be an appeal in place, and there is time to amend the team before the race on September 22.
Beyond Jonhston, Tali Lane Welsh and Joel Green will contest the elite men’s race. Both rider will also be heading to their second World Championships. While all three are seasoned bike racers, having one World Championship under their belt is still useful experience before attending for a second event.
Welsh finished 47th at last year’s race in Scotland, in this year he won the prestigious Otway Odyssey in Forrest, Victoria. Green snarred a top-10 at the Marathon National Championships in May and returns to the international stage after a top 60 in Scotland in 2023.
The women’s National XCM Team sees three time XCM National Champion Peta Mullens contest her first XCM World Championship, along with Izzy Flint (silver at XCM Nationals) and XCM Champs bronze medalist Ella Bloor. While this may be Mullens’ first XCM World Championships, she is one of Australia’s most experienced off-road racers, and has a very handy 21st position at the 2016 XCO World Championships under her belt. She’s not a racer to be phased by racing on the largest stage.
Elite Men
Brendan Johnston (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
Tali Lane Welsh (Bendigo & District Cycling Club)
Joel Green (Seymour Broadford Cycling Club)
Elite Women
Izzy Flint (Launceston Mountain Bike Club)
Peta Mullens (Bendigo & District Cycling Club)
Ella Bloor (Canberra Cycling Club)
However, while we celebrate the success of all six riders who have been named to the Australian XCM Worlds team, those not selected are also of note. There has been a lot of feedback to AusCycling over the past few years about selection criteria used, the processes and the communication. While a panel of experts has been consulted so the criteria could allow for discretionary selections and automatic qualification for current national champions – it appears the ommission of Courtney Sherwell, and other top riders who have applied.
Without know who applied and who didn’t bother, it is difficult to know what needs to change. But it seems that opportunities to excel are being missed.