Cycling Australia, the trading name of the Australian Cycling Federation Inc, is the national governing body for bicycle racing in Australia, and represents the interests of affiliated cycling clubs and State federations. In 2009 there were 19,575 members in affiliated clubs.[1]
Cycling Australia is a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Oceanian Cycling Confederation (OCC).
Under the direction of Charlie Walsh at the Australian Institute of Sport and national cycling coach from 1980 to 2001, Australia's international cycling performance ranking moved from between 20 and 30 in track cycling in the world, to the number one ranked nation in 1993 and 1994, and placed third at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
The national coaching team of Shayne Bannan, Martin Barras, Ian McKenzie and Neil Stephens built on this foundation to take Australia to the leading nation in track cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
To race in Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) events and events around the world, cyclists must have an international licence, which requires for them to be a member of one of UCI-affiliated national bodies, such as Cycling Australia.[2] To take part in Cycling Australia-organised events also requires association membership. There are over 200 affiliated cycling clubs around Australia. [3].
Australia also has a quickly growing community cycling culture where large events are organised that anyone with a bicycle can enter. These rides typically vary from 20km - 100km and raise money for charity, treadly[4] offers a large list of these events Australia wide.
There is a bicycle racing body in each Australian state and territory:[5]
| State/Territory | Federation |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Cycling Federation [1] |
| New South Wales | Cycling NSW [2] |
| Northern Territory | NT Cycling Federation [3] |
| Queensland | Cycling Queensland [4] |
| South Australia | SA Cycling Federation [5] |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian Cycling Federation [6] |
| Victoria | Cycling Victoria [7] |
| Western Australia | WA Cycling Federation [8] |