World Omnium Champion, Michael Freiberg will be one of Australia’s headline cyclists at this week’s UCI World Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Acting as one step along the way to qualification for the London Olympics, the Kazakhstan leg is the first in the World Cup series that also includes rounds in Cali, Colombia (December 1-3), Beijing, China (January 20-22) and at London’s Olympic velodrome from February 17-19.
“The World Cup Series provides an opportunity for us to identify and prepare athletes for the London Olympic Games,” said Cycling Australia’s National Performance Director, Kevin Tabotta.
“But we need to be prudent in our approach so that we not only qualify the maximum places for the Games but we ensure we put our athletes in the best possible position to win medals in London.
“That means riders might not contest all their specialty events at a World Cup round they attend.”
Following the World Cups, the best cyclists in the world will descend on Melbourne in April for the UCI Track World Championships.
It is here where Freiberg will look to defend the World Title he won in the Netherlands earlier this year.