In-form Olympians, Annette Edmondson and Glenn O’Shea, have mirrored their recent successes at Latrobe by taking out their respective Launceston Wheel races at the Silverdome last night.

South Australian fans were whipped into a frenzy as the pair easily claimed the second of the big Wheelraces on offer at this year’s Christmas/New Year Carnivals in Tasmania.

O’Shea had the daunting task of coming off the backmark in the Launceston feature race, and was given plenty of assistance from Belgium rider, Kenny de Ketele, and 2012 Melbourne Cup on Wheels winner, Jack Edwards from New South Wales.

In the final sprint home, the Omnium World Champion easily accounted for Malaysian Daud Fakruddin(90m) and plucky Ulverstone rider, Ben Price off 80 metres.

In the Ladies Wheelrace, London Olympic medalist, Annette Edmondson, had a rousing battle with the likes of Kaarle McCulloch, Amy Cure and Isabella King, and was able to beat fellow South Australian, Alexandra Manly and Launceston's Lauren Perry in the final run home.

Kaarle McCulloch claimed fourth place.

The Tasmanian Christmas/New Year carnivals got off to a scintillating start in Latrobe last night, with Olympians, Glenn O’Shea and Annette Edmondson taking out the major wheel races.

O’Shea joined a long and illustrious list of cycling stars who have won the Latrobe Wheel over its 116 year history.

H.R. Luck claimed first Latrobe honours back in 1896, coming off a very generous handicap of 420 yards to win what has become one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious cycling events.

Annette Edmondson, the 2012 National Pursuit Champion and Points Race Champion, grabbed a narrow win over Amy Cure who was hoping to add the Latrobe Wheel Race to her already impressive tally of four Carnival wins in Launceston (2006 and 2011), Devonport (2008) and Burnie in 2010.

Current World Omnium champion, Glen O’Shea appeared to be in a class of his own , and will be a continuous threat over the next few days.

The meeting was marred by two serious crashed in the U15 and U17 Wheelraces with two riders requiring hospitalization after breaking their collarbones.

Cycling Victoria is pleased to announce the 23-member Victorian track cycling team that will contest the 2013 Cycling Australia Track Cycling Championships in Sydney from 30 January to 2 February, 2013.

The Victorian Elite men's selection is headlined by 2011 UCI World Champion Shane Perkins (Carnegie-Caulfield CC).

He is joined by a breadth of talented youth including 2012 Junior World Championship representatives Alex Morgan (Blackburn CC), Jack Cummings (Carnegie Caulfield CC), Jacob Schmid (Carnegie Caulfield CC) and Emerson Harwood (Blackburn CC).

Also making the team are Jaron Gardiner (Ararat & District CC), Tyler Spurrell (Blackburn CC), Ben Abels (Brunswick CC) and Luke Parker who joins the Victorian squad for the first time as an elite rider.

The Elite Women's selections will 2012 Junior Worlds medallist Caitlin Ward (Blackburn CC), and Lauretta Hansen (Macedon Ranges CC) who has shown all around abilities in 2012 and will feature throughout the Championships.

An impressive Under 19 men’s endurance group features Time Trial National record holder Zac Shaw (Colac CC) included in a strong team.

Shaw will be joined by Mathew Ross (Carnegie Caulfied CC) who recently took silver at the U19 National Omnium Championships, Mitchell Barry (Blackburn CC) will join the team as a second year U19 alongside a formidable group of first year juniors including Jack Hickey (Carnegie Caulfield CC), Hugo Tolliday (Ballarat Sebastopol) and Jordan Stannus (Carnegie Caulfied CC).

Oceania U19 Kierin Champion Jay Castles (Shepparton CC) will be part of a strong sprint group including Braeden Dean (Bendigo CC), James Dann (Blackburn CC) and John Cochrane (Blackburn CC).

The U19 women will be reperesented by Emily Apolito and the Carnegie Caulfield duo of Ruby Greig-Hurtig and Grace Fryer.

THE 2013 VICTORIAN TRACK TEAM

Elite Women
Caitlin Ward (Blackburn Cycling Club)
Lauretta Hansen (Macedon Ranges Cycling Club)

U19 Women
Emily Apolito (Blackburn Cycling Club)
Ruby Greig-Hurtig (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)

Grace Fryer (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)

Elite Men
Shane Perkins (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
Tyler Spurrell (Blackburn Cycling Club)
Jaron Gardiner (Ararat & District Cycling Club)
Ben Abels (Brunswick Cycling Club)
Jacob Schmid (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
Emerson Harwood (Blackburn Cycling Club)
Jack Cummings (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
Alex Morgan (Blackburn Cycling Club)
Luke Parker (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)

U19 Men
Zac Shaw (Colac Cycling Club)
Mitch Barry (Blackburn Cycling Club)
Mathew Ross (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
Jack Hickey (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
Hugo Tolliday (Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club)
Jordan Stannus (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club)
Braden Dean (Bendigo & District Cycling Club)
Jay Castles (Shepparton Cycling Club)
James Dann (Blackburn Cycling Club)
John Cochrane (Blackburn Cycling Club)

Dunc Gray Velodrome will play host to a big month of track cycling in January with three weekends of high profile racing set to take place.

To get things underway in the second week (11th-13th)of the new year the NSW Junior Track Championships will see the best juniors from across the state battle it out for spots at the upcoming junior national championships.

Only a few short days after this some of the best juniors from not only Australia but New Zealand and Great Britain will make their way to Sydney for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

A breeding ground of many world champions including Anna Meares and Michael Hepburn; this competition will perhaps give us a glimpse of the next generation of Olympic athletes. This competition will commence on Thursday January 17th and conclude on Sunday the 20th. Spectators can enter this event for free should they wish to come and check out the action.

To round off the month the Elite & U19 Track National Championships will again take place at Dunc Gray Velodrome. The 4 day program of racing will commence on Wednesday January 30th and conclude on Saturday February 2nd. Featuring our very finest elite and Under 19 track cyclists; this is some track racing that is worth seeing.

Information on tickets and the program of racing will be available closer to the event so keep posted to the Cycling NSW website.