Preview of the NRS finale: 2024 Tour of Gippsland

It’s the end of an era for the AusCycling National Road Series: this week’s Tour of Gippsland marks not just the conclusion of the 2024 NRS season, but also the last NRS race before the ProVelo Super League takes its place in 2025.

Running over four stages from Wednesday to Friday, here’s what to know about the 2024 Tour of Gippsland.

The courses

This year’s Tour employs largely the same format as 2023, but with the order of stages swapped around.

The first two days will take place exclusively on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, whose 4.45-kilometre long track typically hosts bikes of the motorised variety. The circuit has one categorised climb and, while fast, can reward attacking racing: last year, breakaways prevailed on a stage each of the men’s and women’s races.

The Phillip Island GP Circuit hosts three of four stages. (Con Chronis)

Stage 1 is a road race in the anti-clockwise (that is, normal) direction, with the NRS women tackling 75km and the men 102km.

Thursday’s double-header begins with an 8.9-kilometre individual time trial over two clockwise (that is, reverse) laps. That’s followed in the afternoon by a shorter Stage 3 road race in the clockwise direction: 70km for women, 80km for men.

For Stage 4, the Tour of Gippsland moves to the north-east corner of Phillip Island, where it will finish with a criterium in Rhyll. It’s a flat, 1.4-kilometre street circuit with three corners and one sweeping bend to make up an approximate rectangle.

The riders

2023 champions Tristan Saunders and Emily Watts won’t return this year, but there’s still plenty of firepower on the start list. The honour roll boasts current and former pros in Josie Talbot, Sam Welsford and Nathan Haas, so watch for up-and-coming talent to shine through.

NRS Women

The women’s race is headlined by Oceania road champion and NRS leader Katelyn Nicholson (Team BridgeLane), who made her breakthrough at last year’s Tour when she won the time trial. After winning the Sapphire Tour in April, Nicholson will be the favourite to conquer another stage race and seal the overall title.

Nicholson’s Team BridgeLane should comfortably close out the NRS team competition as they return with previous stage winner Keely Bennett and emerging sprinter Lillee Pollock.

Katelyn Nicholson will be the favourite to win the Tour and the NRS overall. (Bear Liange & Mat Gilfedder)

ARA Skip Capital will bring the challenge with Lucie Fityus for the sprints and Warrnambool winner Lucinda Stewart, who recently signed a contract with the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team.

A strong Western Australian contingent is making the cross-continental journey. Look out for Tour de Brisbane winner Isla Carr (WAIS), under-23 Oceania time trial champion Sophia Sammons (Cycling Development Foundation) and Savannah Coupland (Cycling Development Foundation), who is enjoying a solid season.

Adelaide’s Summer Nordmeyer (Butterfields Racing) is also in the mix for a top-five result, while Belinda Bailey (Hydraplay) will be a factor in the sprints, as she proved with her stage win at the Sapphire Tour.

NRS Men

In the men’s race, CCACHE x Par Küp will aim to close out their magnificent season on a high.

They currently lock out the NRS individual podium with Alastair Christie-Johnston and Graeme Frislie tied in first place, while Grafton to Inverell winner Bentley Niquet-Olden sits in third.

The question is, who will be their protected rider? If the time trial decides the pecking order, Christie-Johnston should normally be favoured here.

The men’s Team Bridgelane and ARA Skip Capital squads are notable by their absence, so victory in the team standings by CCACHE x Par Küp is all but assured.

Christie-Johnston, Frislie and Niquet-Olden (centre) lead the NRS standings. (Auriol Carruthers)

Cycling Development Foundation bring a full contingent that includes Brendon Green and Matthew May, both capable of solid results.

Criterion Racing could look to Oliver Sims for a stage result: the 18-year-old has spent his winter in Italy picking up several podiums on their local circuit.

Likewise, for Van D’am Racing p/b Butterfields, Jack Dohler is their best chance of a result, having placed sixth at the Tour de Brisbane.

Out of the individual riders, Craig Wiggins (Road Cycling Academy) packs a great sprint. Jordan Villani (Giant Australia) is capable of a strong time trial – he’s finished as high as fourth in the national championships and second at Oceanias. Cameron Fraser (Blackshaw Racing) is also a top-10 contender.

How to follow the race

AusCycling will have daily highlights of the Tour of Gippsland on YouTube.

SBS will broadcast a half-hour highlights package on Saturday, October 12.

You can follow the Tour of Gippsland account on Facebook and Instagram.