The Australian Olympic road cycling team has decided to train in Surrey to prepare for the London 2012 Games.

The announcement means local cyclists will experience the thrill of sharing their roads with some of the world's best riders as the athletes prepare for the Olympic road cycle races and time trial events which will both take place in Surrey.

Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: "We've been working hard behind the scenes to sell Surrey as the best place for Olympic teams to base themselves in the run up to and during the Games, so I'm delighted a team with as strong a sporting pedigree as Australia has decided to train their athletes here. I'm sure Surrey will give them a welcome they will never forget and I hope their presence will encourage even more people to take up the sport."

Nick Green, Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team, said: "It is vital that our athletes acclimatise in the lead up to the Games and we appreciate the people of Surrey allowing our road cyclists to train there before the competition. There is great rivalry between Team GB and Australia in cycling but we're sure the people of Surrey will support our cyclists as they prepare to go for gold at the Games."

The Australian cyclists and their entourage will initially train in Surrey this summer when athletes will take part in the London - Surrey Cycle Classic, an elite test race on Sunday 14 August, forming part of the 2012 Games preparations. The team will then return in the summer of 2012 when they will base themselves in the county to prepare for the Olympic Games.

Surrey County Council is doing everything possible to bring Olympic athletes to the county. Antigua and Barbuda along with the Cayman Islands have already decided to train here as well as the Croatian Paralympic team. The county council is also advanced talks with a number of other nations.

Each Olympic and Paralympic organising committee has £25,000 to spend on their training for the Games which will benefit the local economy.

The Australian Olympic Committee has asked for the exact location of their training camp not to be revealed for security reasons. To find out more about Surrey's involvement in the Olympic and Paralympic Games visit www.gosurrey.info.

Public sector organisations in the county have formed the Surrey 2012 group. This consists of Surrey County Council and the district and borough councils of Guildford, Woking, Mole Valley, Elmbridge and Reigate and Banstead, as well as Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, the National Trust and Natural England. The group's aim is to help ensure the Olympic cycling events are a success.