Intense rivalries, triumphant conquests, crushing lows: the Commonwealth Games can deliver the best that sport can offer.
Australia has been the dominant nation in track cycling over the history of the Games. Over the next four days, the 25 Aussie cyclists in Glasgow will be aiming to continue that proud tradition.
For Aussie sports fans, here are five major storylines you’ll want to keep an eye on this weekend!
Men’s Sprint: Leigh Hoffman leads new guard
Leigh Hoffman will lead a new-look squad in the men’s team sprint. Picture: SWPix.com
Since winning gold at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the team sprint, the fast men of Australia have seen a major revamp.
Olympic legend Matt Glaetzer has retired, Tom Cornish has moved to the endurance program, and Perth’s Matt Richardson (who has withdrawn from the Games due to injury) has switched his loyalties to England.
Now, Leigh Hoffman (26) leads a new-look squad of Ryan Elliot (22), Tayte Ryan (20) and Danny Barber (23); a quartet that could define Australian men’s sprinting for the best part of a decade.
“It’s been great, my progression over the last four years. Matthew Glaetzer, a great who came before me, has just retired. It’s pretty big shoes to fill. With Matthew Richardson leaving the team, Glaetzer retiring, Cornish moving to endurance, we’ve had to reset,” Hoffman said.
“But I’m really happy and confident where the team is with the younger boys. Ryan Elliot, Tayte Ryan, Danny Barber, we’ve got a fresh team but we’re all keen to get into it.
“Last time at Commies I was the young guy, and I had to step up. I’m hoping the same for these boys as well.”
Women’s Sprint: Queen Kristina fights back from injury 
Kristina Clonan at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where she won gold in the 500m Time Trial. Picture: Guy Swarbrick
Queensland’s Kristina Clonan won gold in Birmingham – blitzing Anna Meares’ Games record in the 500m Time Trial – but a debilitating back injury threatened to end her career last year.
She was unable to sleep, bend over, or even tie her shoelaces. She considered giving away her beloved sport, setting herself a deadline of making the Australian team for Glasgow.
After wrestling with doubt, a now pain-free Clonan has made good on her target. She’s lost none of her drive to perform for Australia alongside Liliya Tatarinoff, Molly McGill and Alessia McCaig.
“Coming home with a medal, with a gold medal would be even better,” Clonan said.
“We have a women’s team this time around. Leading into Paris [2024 Olympic Games] we didn’t have that opportunity, so, very excited to bring the girls together, and we’ll use this as the launchpad to LA.
“The first Comm Games I went to was in 2022 Birmingham, and I think for that Comm Games I probably had a little bit of entitlement around my position.
“Now there is so much pride in being on the team.”
Men’s Team Pursuit: Olympic champions build again 
Tom Cornish has switched from the sprint to endurance disciplines. Picture: Conan Shing
When Australia broke the world record and won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it was a new high watermark in the nation’s team pursuiting.
This week, Paris medallists Conor Leahy and Oliver Bleddyn are joined by newer faces in Blake Agnoletto and Tom Cornish – the latter having reshaped his career by switching from the sprint to endurance disciplines.
Queensland’s James Moriarty also returns from the Birmingham 2022 squad, where Australia won bronze.
These five will set out to prove that Paris was not a fluke, and that Australia remains the nation to beat on the boards.
“We’ve been here for a couple of weeks already, training in Wales. It’s been good to have the whole team together. The vibe’s really high and we’re really excited,” Leahy said.
“It’s massive. As Leigh [Hoffman] said, it’s kind of like the Ashes. I’ll be really excited to race England as well as NZ and Wales and Scotland.
“It’s a great test before the Olympics for us, so it sort of gives you a dress rehearsal to make sure everything’s going smoothly and hit those next two years running.”
Jess Gallagher & Jacqui Mengler-Mohr: a new partnership set to soar 
Jess Gallagher will be piloted by Jacqui Mengler-Mohr in their first Commonwealth Games together. Picture: SWPix
Para cyclist Jessica Gallagher (40) is one of Australia’s most accomplished athletes, full stop. The Victorian was the first Australian athlete to win medals at both a Summer and Winter Olympic or Paralympic Games, achieving success across alpine skiing, athletics and cycling.
This week, Gallagher returns to the Commonwealth Games as defending champion in both of her events: the Tandem B Sprint and the Tandem B 1000m Time Trial.
As a vision-impaired athlete, she’ll be piloted by Queensland’s Jacqui Mengler-Mohr (47) in their first Games together. The pair showed their combined strength by winning three medals at last year’s World Championships.
“It’s one thing to be able to have the experiences as an individual athlete, but they really are a lot more meaningful when you share them with people that you have that great connection with,” Gallagher said.
“At this stage in my career, there is excitement at knowing that there probably aren’t that many more of these left for me.
“I also am a lot more relaxed. That experience really allows you to go in understanding that there are lots of circumstances outside of your control that might impact your performance and as long as I deliver my best on the day, I’ll be happy with whatever result that might be.”
Felicity Wilson-Haffenden: COVID newcomer hits world stage 
Felicity Wilson-Haffenden is ready to make her Commonwealth Games debut for the Australian Cycling Team. Picture: SWPix
When the last Commonwealth Games were held, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden was barely starting to ride a bike.
The Tasmanian, a teenager at the time, only started cycling because she couldn’t play hockey during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the 21-year-old has truly bolted onto the cycling scene. From winning a junior world title in 2023, to becoming a national champion on the road in January 2026 – to now, a linchpin in Australia’s track endurance squad.
She’ll line up to make a huge impact in the timed events: the team pursuit and the individual pursuit.
“For the little girl who never dared to dream of it because she never believed it was for people like her,” Wilson-Haffenden wrote on social media this week.
“Wearing these colours with so much pride in the journey to get here. You can’t choose your circumstances, but you can always choose your next move.
“Full pursuit focus with TP Thursday followed by IP on Friday. Ready to keep challenging expectations.”
For everything you need to know, read our guide to track cycling at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.