West Australian cycling star Conor Leahy is set for an emotional homecoming this week, trading the velodrome boards for Perth's bitumen at the Westbridge Funds Road National Championships.
From Olympic Gold to Home Crowd Roars
The Secret Harbour product, who clinched a coveted gold medal in the team pursuit at the Paris Olympics, ranks competing in front of a local audience among his career's greatest thrills. "It was incredible. I could hear my name being shouted out every time I climbed into Kings Park," Leahy recalled of last year's event. "It's just so cool when everyone in the crowd knows who you are and they're backing you in."
Now racing for team Brennan after a switch from Ccache Bodywrap, the track specialist will contest all three elite men's events: the time-trial, criterium, and road race.
A Gruelling Schedule on Home Roads
The action kicks off with the elite time-trials on Thursday, featuring a challenging circuit around Bold Park, Oceanic Drive, and the West Coast Highway. Leahy is optimistic the Perth course will suit him better than previous nationals held in Ballarat, Victoria.
"I'm excited to see how I can go on this course and if it favours someone like me a bit more," he said, though he's managing expectations. "If I can land somewhere in the top five, I would be really really stoked."
The fast-paced criterium around Northbridge follows on Friday, before the pinnacle 177km road race on Sunday. The gruelling race will loop a 13.6km circuit taking in King's Park, the Swan River, and the CBD. Leahy showed his grit here last year, leading the breakaway with fellow WA rider and eventual winner Luke Durbridge before fading in the final laps.
Building Towards LA 2028 Defence
Beyond this week's nationals, Leahy's calendar is packed. He will race in the 10-week ProVelo series before returning to the track for the UCI Track World Cup in Perth from March 6-8. His focus then shifts to this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
However, every pedal stroke is part of a longer journey. The 26-year-old has his sights firmly set on defending his team pursuit title at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
"Everything I do now, every decision I make... all are made with the end goal of LA in mind," Leahy stated. "It's still a couple years away but it's coming up quick... Just to be there will be great and if we can try back it up and get a good result again then that would be incredible."
For now, the immediate goal is clear: harness the energy of a home crowd and make his mark on the roads of Perth.
