100 days until Australian cycling’s best return to Ballarat

Following an amazing week of world-class cycling at the UCI Road World Championships, Australian sports fans won’t have long to wait to see our best cyclists back in action on home soil. Today marks 100 days until the 2023 Federation University Road National Championships light up the streets of Ballarat and surrounds over five action-packed days.

The Road National Championships (RoadNats) is Australia’s most prestigious road cycling event, where our best cyclists compete for the coveted title of National Champion across the time trial, criterium, and road race disciplines.

This will be the 17th consecutive year in which the event has been hosted in Ballarat, with the support of City of Ballarat and Visit Victoria.

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said "the Road Nationals are an amazing opportunity for Australian cycling fans to see our current and emerging stars in action."

"2022 has been an exceptional year for Australian cycling," Fechner said.

"Our road riders have had outstanding results on the world stage, spearheaded by Jai (Hindley) with his Giro d’Italia victory, and a hugely successful Commonwealth Games campaign with Georgia Baker, Grace Brown and Rohan Dennis all winning gold medals on the road.

"We’ve just had the world’s best cyclists in Australia for the UCI Road World Championships and the home crowd support for our Aussie athletes was incredible.

Alexandra Manly at the front of the elite women's race during #RoadNats22. Picture: Con Chronis

"It really lifted the team to some outstanding results, culminating with Michael Matthews’ stunning podium finish in the elite men’s road race.

"We can’t wait to see many of these riders race just as fiercely for 2023 national titles in Ballarat in three months."

More than 100 national champions will be crowned across elite, para-cycling, under-23, under-19, intellectually impaired and deaf categories. The event also features a Gran Fondo, giving amateur cyclists the chance to tackle the iconic Mt Buninyong climb head on.

Club events will also be held either side of the main race weekend, with club, state, and individual rivalries to be played out.

• Visit the website for full details and event schedule

Pictures: Con Chronis