‘Incredible’: Wrapping up Road Nationals for another year

After five days of racing in Ballarat, the 2023 Federation University Road National Championships have been hailed as “incredible” after featuring the strongest field in recent memory.

According to the City of Ballarat, more than 10,000 spectators lined the streets of Buninyong to watch Lucas Plapp defend his title in a thrilling finale of the elite men’s road race, and see Brodie Chapman solo to her maiden national championship.

This year’s Road Nationals began with a thrilling evening of criteriums in downtown Ballarat.

Team Jayco AlUla made the best possible start to their season, controlling both elite races with their star-studded squads. Amber Pate and Kelland O’Brien finished off the job to take the titles.

The ‘Super Sunday’ of road racing attracted a world-class field to Buninyong, including the likes of Caleb Ewan, Michael Matthews, Amanda Spratt and Grace Brown.

Brodie Chapman's solo victory was probably the most popular result of the week. (Photo: Con Chronis)

The elite races concluded with time trials on Tuesday afternoon. Brown claimed her third career title, while Jay Vine announced himself as a contender for the grand tours by beating Plapp, O’Brien and Luke Durbridge to the men’s time trial championship.

“It’s been a fantastic few days,” said Kipp Kaufmann, AusCycling’s Executive General Manager of Sport. “Ballarat’s turned on some perfect weather, given us great venues, and we couldn’t have asked for more over the last five days.

“It’s been incredible. I think we’ve seen everything this week. Amazing athletes at all levels: from our under-19 riders; our para-cycling riders who are now on their way towards Paris; our elite and under-23 riders; and club and community riders all around.”

Forty-one titles were awarded in the national championships for para-cyclists, cyclists with intellectual impairments, transplant recipients and deaf cyclists. Darren Hicks (C2), Grant Allen (H4), Kaitlynn Schurmann (C1) and Cameron Marshall (athletes with intellectual impairment) were among the victors.

Champions in another inclusive edition of Road Nationals (Photo: Josh Chadwick)

As usual, the week also saw Australia’s emerging talents make their mark.

In the under-23 criterium, Graeme Frislie defended his title with an authoritative sprint in Ballarat. On Saturday, Alastair MacKellar produced a furious final lap to win the under-23 men’s road race in Buninyong. He followed that with an equally dominant victory in the under-23 time trial.

Lucinda Stewart and Isabelle Carnes stepped up to the under-23 level just as they left the junior age category: as national champions. Stewart won the criterium and Carnes took the time trial, while Ella Simpson took the road race title by finishing ninth overall in the combined road race.

In the junior events, former hockey player Felicity Wilson-Haffenden announced her arrival in the sport of cycling, winning the road race and time trial in dominant fashion. It was an astounding debut for the new women’s Team Bridgelane, which secured five medals across the week.

The under-19 men’s races saw Wil Holmes, Josh Cranage and Oscar Chamberlain take a title each, with these three filling the time trial podium to confirm that they were the strongest of the event.

The next generation of Australian cycling took their chances to shine at Road Nationals. (Photo: Zac Williams)

The club team criteriums, gran fondo, club teams time trials and masters time trials provided ample opportunities for club riders to challenge themselves on closed roads.

Ballarat has hosted the event for the last 17 years, but hosting rights for 2024 and beyond have not yet been confirmed.

“We have a really special partnership with the City of Ballarat, Federation University and Visit Victoria,” Kaufmann said.

“We’re working collaboratively to continue to host the championships in Ballarat, and we’ll continue those conversations over the coming weeks.”

Feature photo: Zac Williams