12/03/2026
Well known as a great storyteller, and with four world titles and countless Australian championships to his name, it’s hardly breaking news that Jim Veal will be heading to the 2026 Masters Track Nationals next week with hopes of adding a few more green‑and‑gold jerseys to his wardrobe.
One story Jim loves to tell is how he won his first world championship at Dunc Gray Velodrome back in 2009, “after knocking back a couple of schooners for lunch at the Handlebar Tavern”. But Jim also knows how much luck plays its part in track cycling, and how close he came to missing this year’s trip to Brisbane altogether.
Just weeks ago, Jim was caught up in a brutal crash at the NSW Masters Championships when he fell from the banking into the path of teammate and close friend Ryan Bates. Jim walked away bruised and unsure whether he’d even make it to Nationals — but the hardest thing to bear wasn’t his own injuries. It was watching Ryan suffer a season‑ending blow after months of preparation. Jim has carried that disappointment quietly, knowing exactly how much work Bates had put into 2026.
Still, in typical Jim Veal fashion, he got back on the bike. Those early sessions were not only visibly painful to watch but, at times, audibly painful too. Yet he pushed through, day by day, until, somehow, he’s not just recovered — he’s riding freer, sharper, and even faster than he was in 2025… maybe even faster than he was in 2009.