An impressive Australian cycling contingent is in snowy Minsk, Belarus for the 2013 UCI Track World Championships which will be held from 20 to 24 February.

Conspicuous in their absence are Olympic medallists Anna Meares (training break), Shane Perkins (shoulder surgery) and Jack Bobridge and Rohan Dennis who are concentrating fully on their road careers.

But the squad still boasts four reigning elite World Champions, nine London 2012 Olympians and a wealth of new talent eager to impress on the world stage.

“This is the first major step in the rebuilding process for the track program and this World Championships is the beginning of the journey to Rio 2016,” Cycling Australia National Performance Director, Kevin Tabotta said.

“The post Olympic Games year provides an ideal opportunity for emerging talent to challenge for a place in the elite high performance program and future Cyclones teams”

Travelling from her home-town of Adelaide where it was 34 degrees, London Olympic omnium bronze medallist Annette Edmondson said the Australians are acclimatising well to Minsk’s negative three degrees.

“It’s been really exciting because a lot of us haven’t seen snow for a very long time- and definitely not this much snow… It’s been quite special,” she said.

Rest assured, the velodrome is heated and the Australians are hoping to produce some lightening fast times on the boards of Belarus.

“I’m just hoping to go out there and ride a couple of PBs and hopefully make some finals.

“I’m hoping that the vibe of the World Championships can help me lift a little bit more,” Edmondson said of improving on her impressive national times.

Michael Hepburn was also raring to go just months on from his debut Olympic Games.

“We’ve got a good group of guys together here,” the Olympic team pursuit silver medallist told Cycling Central.

“It’s a little bit different group to the past few years but I think the team is in good hands for the next few years.”

Despite their relative youth, many of the Australians have experience beyond their years.

Among them is exciting prospect Stephanie Morton who will ride alongside Kaarle McCulloch in the sprint events in Meares’ absence.

Morton was the pilot for Felicity Johnson at the 2012 Paralympic Games and won gold in the tandem time trial to add to her two 2012 Para-Cycling World Titles.

SBS will broadcast the Championships live across SBS ONE and CyclingCentral online > www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral

2013 UCI Track World Championships - Cyclones Australian Squad

Sprint Group

The eight sprint events are team sprint, sprint, keirin and time trial for both men and women.

• Kaarle MCCULLOCH (Gymea Bay, NSW 20.01.1988) 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal (team sprint)
• Stephanie MORTON (Moana, SA 28.11.1990) 2012 Paralympic Champion (tandem time trial)
• Mitchell BULLEN (Armidale, NSW 06.12.1991)
• Matthew GLAETZER (Paradise, SA, 24.08.1992) 2012 team sprint world champion
• Scott SUNDERLAND (Waneroo, WA 16.03.1988) 2012 team sprint world champion
• Andrew TAYLOR (Dubbo, NSW 24.07.1985)

Endurance Group

The eleven endurance events are men's and women's team pursuit, individual pursuit, scratch race, points race and omnium plus the Madison for men.

• Ashlee ANKUDINOFF (Menai, NSW, 20.08.1990)
• Amy CURE (Penguin, TAS 31.12.1992)
• Annette EDMONDSON (Stirling, SA, 12.12.1991) 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal (omnium)
• Luke DAVISON (South Coogee, NSW 08.05.1990)
• Melissa HOSKINS (Lesmurdie, WA, 24.02.1991)
• Alexander EDMONDSON (Stirling, SA 22.12.1993) 
• Michael HEPBURN (Brookfield, QLD 17.08.1991)  2012 individual pursuit world champion & Olympic Games silver medal team pursuit
• Alexander MORGAN (Mitcham, VIC 18.07.1994)  2012 team pursuit junior world champion
• Glenn O'SHEA (Ridleyton, SA [formerly VIC] 14.06.1989) 2012 omnium world champion & Olympic Games silver medal team pursuit