News
Subscribe
Geoff Stokers report of the 2026 Track Nationals
06 Apr 2026
2026 Track Nationals by Geoff Stoker
Hi everyone, hoping you are all doing well. I just got back from Queensland and racing Australian Nationals in Brisbane last week. If you just want to see the results go to the bottom there’s a summary, if not enjoy the read.
As you all might remember each track is slightly different so I was in Brisbane a couple of days before racing. Now the national sprint squad does all their training in Brisbane I have noticed how much cleaner the track is now.
We are still trying to work it out but there were quite a few riders missing this year. A couple of theories were going around but the most popular one was the uncertainty of fuel and making sure you could get back home. I wasn’t missing anyone. I lined up for my first event the 500m time trial in the back straight being seeded number two with the current World Champion Garry Mandy in the front straight. Countdown and out of the start gate nice and clean. After watching the national team train the day before I adopted a couple of tricks they use. Coming forward while out of the seat for the secondary part of the start from say 100m to 180m allows you to get to a higher cadence say for me around 130 rpm. Good transition into the seat, great line around the bottom of the track which is the shortest distance. Felt strong all the way to the finish. Looked up to the scoreboard nice number 1, gold medal number one, sprint tomorrow.
Just trying to work out a few things I am going through this year. Because of the conditions we race in being quite warm and indoor keeping my body temperature down has been quite a challenge. So we are experimenting with ice packs maybe next stage is a cooling vest I just hope we get it worked out before Worlds in London. Again lined up for the sprint with both Garry Mandy and current World Champion Gerard O’Connell. I was second last to roll off to qualify. All went nearly to plan clocking an 11.14 second 200m (average speed 64.6kph) I was a bit surprised by O’Connell qualifying straight after me and clocking 11.10 just 0.04 of a second faster than me to grab the number one seed.
This meant I would race Garry Mandy in the semi-finals if I was to get into the ride off for the gold. Sprint races are just about always best of three races. First race I got past Mandy with 400m to go and held the bottom of the track with stacks of speed on to hold him off to win the first match. This where I have been a bit challenged this year. A short break between rides and my temperature being still a bit high I didn’t recover as well as normal. When the speed was needed in the second and third rides it just wasn’t there so Garry Mandy was off to race O’Connell for the gold and I was racing for the bronze. Brett Stewart from the Central Coast Cycling Club was who I had to race for the bronze which I won in two straight rides. I just had to stay positive, I had a Keirin to race tomorrow.
I was focussed on staying relaxed for the Keirin dealing with 6 riders all having different plans with the 1 goal. Get to the finish line first. I felt pretty good warming up and stretching. The day was a bit cooler and it was a bit earlier in the day as well, just hoping the draw for starts position works out well. I drew for position first and got number two position, just hope I get Mandy or O’Connell in number one. O’Connell draws, shoot number three, right on my wheel. Mandy draws number five so he will have to move a bit early but can see all the riders from there. Queensland rider Richard Watson drew position one I was just hoping he would have a fair bit of speed in his legs after the motorbike pulls off. I was incredibly calm. Motorbike is there gun fires and we are away. First three laps are paced by the motor and no-one moved anywhere. Up to speed and the motor exits the bottom of the track, Richard Watson puts the hammer down but so does O’Connell and Mandy. I was patient. O’Connell passes me with Mandy glued to his wheel down the back straight. I decide this isn’t good for me so I move Mandy out of the way and take O’Connell’s wheel. Mandy decides he would like to be on O’Connell’s wheel so moves up and leans on me to get me out of the way. I wasn’t moving and held him two wide into two laps to go. I should just let you all know this is happening at around 60kph. So O’Connell leading with me on his wheel, Mandy just a bit behind me and sitting a little wide as we come into the last lap to get the bell. Mandy puts the power on and passes me around the bend and into the back straight. Mandy passes O’Connell and I set my sites on getting around O’Connell and Mandy. I got past O’Connell down the back straight and had my sights set on Mandy around the final bend. Powered on and I came alongside into the final straight to get over him comfortably on the line to win title number 2.
Quick summary
Time Trial – National Champion
Sprint – Bronze Medal
Keirin – National Champion