Elite Australian female cyclist Rachel Neylan was today announced the fifth annual Amy Gillett Foundation and Cycling Australia-AIS High Performance Program sports scholarship recipient.

Currently in Italy training with the Australian Institute of Sport, Neylan – identified two years ago by the National Talent Identification Programme – was overwhelmed by the news.

“Receiving the Amy Gillett Foundation sports scholarship is a huge honour, especially at the ‘ripe’ sports age of 28! It places me in the league of some remarkable female athletes to have benefited from this. I relish the challenge of living up to expectations and standards of their collective legacy, and the opportunities it now provides me with the AIS.

“It also allows me to become an official Ambassador for an organisation that is very relevant to my sport and the safety of all those who cycle. I am passionate about riding but equally passionate about road safety for all users.  I look forward to spreading the Amy Gillett Foundation message at home and abroad,” said Neylan.

In honour of Amy Gillett, the scholarship not only lauds sporting talent, but broader developments such as career background and community participation.

A certified Sports Physiotherapist, Neylan took a leap of faith in 2007 and left her career in Sydney to assume full time training in Adelaide. Her progress has been astounding, culminating in fourth placement at this year’s 2010 National Road Championships.

CEO of the Amy Gillett Foundation, Tony Fox, is delighted by the choice of this year’s recipient.

“It is very exciting to realise that Rachel is in the infancy of her cycling career – her potential is exceptional and is fuelled by an impressive drive and ambition. The Amy Gillett Foundation Scholarship is an opportunity to take some of the other pressures off Rachel and enable her to not only realise goals across the next 12 months, but to provide her with a sound base to really further her career. She is a responsible, intelligent and engaging individual – a wonderful mouthpiece for our organisation,” said Fox.

In Italy for the next coming months, Neylan’s short and long term objectives include 2010 European podium finish in a UCI race, selection in World Championships and Commonwealth Games team 2010 onward, professional European based contract 2011 onward and Olympic Games 2012 and 2016.

Scholarship support includes:

• A position to race internationally with the AIS women’s team
• Financial assistance with travel, accommodation and expenses while competing overseas with the team, courtesy of Cycling Adventures.
• A Bianchi road bike for training and competition, Bouwmeester race wheels, Oakley eyewear
• Assistance with entry fees and insurance when competing nationally and internationally
• Oversight of training by national coaches
• Access to AIS clinical services during training camps at the AIS