Tomic hopeful for track worlds slot

By Greg Johnson in Sydney, Australia

Australia's Josephine Tomic is hopeful she'll make the final cut for this year's senior Track World Championships squad after missing out on last year's event in Manchester, England. She is one of 10 riders on Cycling Australia's 'long list' for the Poland event, with the final positions being decided at a team camp in Adelaide over the coming two weeks.

"It means a lot to be given this chance to race in my first senior worlds," said Tomic to Cyclingnews. "I really wanted to go last year and was very disappointed when they decided not to send a team pursuit team; however, I used that as motivation and I am very, very determined to go to Poland and have a successful worlds."

She will target the individual pursuit and teams pursuit for this year's worlds. Tomic, from Western Australia, also hopes to be in contention for the omnium; however, the selection will depend on her form.

"I have had some ups and downs since the junior worlds and have found the step up into seniors quite challenging. But I have made some big steps this year which have given me confidence and I think things are really going to start flowing from here."

While it's possible two women from Cycling Australia's long list will miss out on this year's event, Tomic is determined to make the cut. She added victory at the recent Australian National Track Championships in the pursuit, teams pursuit and omnium to the Oceania Track Championships pursuit title she claimed in November.

"I am quite confident of making worlds. ... My training times in the last few weeks are much better than they were pre-national championships, so I am really happy with that.

"I think all things being well that I will have great form and be ready to go at the World Championships."