The AIS Women's Team Diary 2006

The 2006 AIS women's squad in Italy
Photo: © AIS

Cyclingnews has been pleased to publish a diary contributed by the members of the Australian Institute of Sport's Women's team as they conduct their European campaign. On Monday, July 18, 2005, everything changed. In the light of the tragic event that took the life of Amy Gillett and put her five team-mates in hospital, the AIS women's road cycling programme was suspended.

But this year the AIS women are back. While surviving members of last year's team - Louise Yaxley, Katie Brown and Lorian Graham recover from injuries sustained in the accident last July, another generation of young women will endeavour to make a mark on the international stage.

Alexis Rhodes makes a return to racing following her remarkable recovery from life-threatening injuries sustained in last July's crash, being joined by Amanda Spratt, Hannah Banks, Candice Sullivan, Jenny Macpherson and Sally Cowman as they fly the Aussie flag in Europe.

Also see: Index to 2005 race reports and entries

Tributes to the memory of Amy Gillett from around the world: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Latest entry: Bizarre fashion in Cento by Josie Loane

2006 entries

• Bizarre fashion in Cento by Josie Loane
• Laughing through the pain of the Giro by Jenny Macpherson
• AIS chicks living it up in Italy by Jenny Macpherson
• No ham and cheese by Amanda Spratt
• Right in the swing by Sally Cowman and Candice Sullivan

• Back in Italy by Jenny Macpherson

2005 entries

Castilla y Leon Feminina

• Surviving Castilla y Leon Feminina by Louise Yaxley

GP Wallonnie and Flèche Wallonne - CDM, Belgium, April 17 and 20, 2005

• Pretty solid in Belgium by Amy Gillet

2004 entries

Women's Olympic Road Race, Athens, August 15, 2004

• A long time coming by Olivia Gollan

Int. Thüringen-Rundfahrt der Frauen - 2.9.1, Germany, July 20-25, 2004

• Hard day at the office by Olivia Gollan
• Keep those jerseys comin' by Olivia Gollan

Giro d'Italia Femminile, Italy, July 2-11, 2004

• Wood wins the day at the Giro d'Italia Femminile by Olivia Gollan

• A big black hole of pain at the Giro del Trentino Femminile by Olivia Gollan

Tour de L'Aude Feminin, France, May 14-23, 2004

• Ljungskog's day, but Nurnberger a class act at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan
• Nurnberger triumphant - team effort of the year at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan
• T-Mobile TT blitz; Onya Kimbo! at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan
• Castelnaudary is beginning to haunt me... at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan
• Fighting it out in the saddle at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan
• A tough day, even in the bunch at the Tour de l'Aude by Sara Carrigan
• Lunch, followed by a hors categorie climb at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan

Other 2004 entries

• Team Aus gets cheesy by Lorian Graham
• Italian culture, Aussie-style by Lorian Graham
• Destroyed in Switzerland at the Souvenir Magali Pache by Sara Carrigan (May 2)
• ANZAC biscuits at the GP Liberazione Donne by Sara Carrigan (April 25)
• Tactics-aHuy at Fleche Wallonne by Sara Carrigan
• Welcome to Flanders - Ronde van Vlaanderen World Cup, by Oenone Wood
• What a day - Castilla y Leon World Cup, by Olivia Gollan
• Absolute carnage - Vuelta Castilla y Leon Stage 3, by Olivia Gollan
• Chilled in Spain - Vuelta Castilla y Leon Stages 1-2
• More than rookies now - Back in Italy and defending the World Cup jersey, by Olivia Gollan

2003 entries

World Road Championships, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, October 7/12, 2003

• Part one - A disappointing day at the elite women's TT by Olivia Gollan

Giro della Romagna Donne - 2.9.1, Italy, September 28, 2003

• Giro della Romagna Donne part 2 by Olivia Gollan
• Romping in Romagna by Olivia Gollan

Giro della Toscana Internazionale Femminile - 2.9.1, Italy, September 16-21, 2003

• The prologue and stage 1 by Olivia Gollan
• Stages 2, 3a & 3b by Olivia Gollan

Trophee d'Or Féminin, France, France, August 27-31, 2003

• A win - and World's on the horizon by Olivia Gollan

World track championships, Germany, July 30-August 3, 2003

• We're ready - By Katie Mactier and Alison Wright

Giro d'Italia Femminile, Italy, July 4-13, 2003

• Part two: The quest for pink - Stages 2-4 by Olivia Gollan
• Part one: Pink Balloons - Prologue & stage 1 by Olivia Gollan

Other 2003 entries

• June 1: My first European podium at the Memorial Pasquale de Carlo by Emily Williams
• June 8: Beating the summer heat at Trofeo Riviera della Versilia by Oenone Wood
• May 27: Tour de l'Aude round-up by Olivia Gollan
• May 19: Hard days, rain and hills at the Tour de l'Aude by Olivia Gollan
• April 27: Tour de Berne - Euro first blood by Olivia Gollan
• April 23: Fleche Wallonne - Stomping on the Huy by Oenone Wood
• April 20: Amstel Gold - Good legs and a great team by Olivia Gollan