Elite female cyclists battle the elements in futuristic wind tunnel

Amber Halliday - Photograph by Neil Bennett

On the 20^th March the Amy Gillett Foundation announced former Olympic rower turned cycling sensation Amber Halliday as its 2009 Cycling Scholarship recipient.

The announcement took place at the Monash University Wind Tunnel training facility, the largest in the southern hemisphere, in the presence of Australia’s most talented elite female cyclists – including the incumbent scholarship recipient, Carlee Taylor. They underwent gruelling training in the Wind Tunnel before the announcement was made. Following the wind training, Amber’s plans for the upcoming twelve months include a UCI Time Trial and Stage Race and the Tour of Chongming Island to be held in China in April 2009.

The wind tunnel has also been used in training preparation for other cyclists, including Cadel Evans, who spent time using the facility in August 2008 in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

For more information on the Amy Gillett Foundation, please refer to www.amygillett.org.au/ and for further details on the Australian Sports Commission, please refer to www.ausport.gov.au/