ST George Cycling Club has the uncanny knack of producing world champions and Olympians.
Club president and smart judge Phill Bates said the next one could be Ashlee Ankudinoff.
He has seen enough cyclists over the years to make a fair assessment. Ankudinoff, 24, of Menai, is the rider Bates believes is the one.
Ankudinoff is savouring victory after winning a gold medal for Australia in the women’s 10 kilometre scratch race at the recent Oceania Track Championships in Adelaide.
She battled illness forcing her to withdraw from the omnium, one of her pet events.
‘‘I got a virus and wasn’t well,’’ Ankudinoff said.
But that did not stop her from winning the gold medal and saying she was on track for more international success.
‘‘Ashlee is one of the most versatile cyclists in the world and she is exceptionally good at all levels of cycling,’’ Bates said.
‘‘Ashlee certainly has the potential to be an Olympian and is a big chance for 2016 Rio Games.’’
The young rider who trains fulltime in Adelaide has been in golden form.
In September, Ankudinoff competed at the Avanti BikeNZ Classic in New Zealand, winning all six rounds of the omnium event.
Before cycling, she competed in a variety of sports including hockey for Sutherland and was a member at Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club.
She dabbled in triathlons and it was in this sport she gained encouragement to start cycling.
Ankudinoff said it was not until she was 16 that she became serious about two-wheel events.
In 2008, she had a victory in the individual pursuit at the UCI Junior Track World Championships.
Two years later she won gold in the teams pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships.
With the Australian women's track cycling team continuing to be such a hotly contested team, Ankudinoff said the fierce competition was motivating.
"It is quite a healthy rivalry that we have among the Australian girls at the moment," Ankudinoff said.
"It helps push me to get back to that top spot where I was in 2010."
Next stop for Ankudinoff is London where she will compete at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in December.
Do you think Ashlee Ankudinoff wll be able to make it all the way to the Rio Olympics?