Matt Richardson, Conor Leahy and Luke Zaccaria to make Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham

Published On: 16 June 2022

WAIS cycling graduates Matt Richardson, Conor Leahy and Luke Zaccaria have been selected in the Australian Cycling Team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The three Western Australian athletes are part of a powerhouse 34-member Australian Team, that will contest track, road and Mountain Bike at the Games.

Richardson, a Tokyo Olympian, heads towards his first Commonwealth Games with flying form having recently claiming five medals from five events from the opening two rounds of the UCI Track Nations Cup. Including gold in Canada where he defeated the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist. He will be eyeing a haul of medals in the sprint events.

Rising star Conor Leahy will be lining up in the track endurance events with a focus on the individual and team pursuit. Earlier this year he broke a decade old Australian Record in the individual pursuit first at the Australian National Championships, before lowering it further at the Oceania Championships.

Zaccaria will serve as the pilot for visually impaired cyclist Beau Wootton in the tandem events, having previously represented Australia at the Para Track World Championships.

Commonwealth Games Australia Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM said the powerful cycling squad was one of the nation’s favourite teams.

“This team includes returning Commonwealth Games gold medallists and highly experienced Australian representatives, as well as a group of talented cyclists making their debut and ready to take on the Commonwealth’s best at the Birmingham Games.

“I know that they all will be working hard between now and the Games, ready to be bold, brave and brilliant in Birmingham. I wish them all the best for their preparations and competition, and hope they know we are all behind them.”

Track cycling made its debut at the second edition of the Games in 1934 in London and has been on the program at every Games since. Track cycling at Birmingham 2022 will be held at The Lee Valley Velopark which was built for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.