Wagga Wagga to host Junior & Masters National Championships in 2025

Wagga Wagga will welcome hundreds of amateur cyclists, including the next generation of Australian racing stars, when the AusCycling Junior & Masters Road National Championships arrive next spring.

The nation’s brightest youth and masters-aged road cyclists will compete across four days from September 18−21.

The annual event brings together cyclists from across the nation to compete for the coveted title of Australian champion. Racing will be held across three disciplines: the individual time trial, road race, and criterium.

The championships will also feature a community bike festival on Sunday, September 21 at the Wagga Wagga Multisport Cycling Complex, where the criteriums will be held. Locals of all ages and abilities will be invited to bring their own bikes and join in the festivities.

The championships bring hundreds of cyclists from around Australia. (Photo: James Raison)

The junior championships, for under-15 and under-17 riders, will showcase Australia’s future cycling talents. Past winners include Giro d’Italia champion Jai Hindley, Tour de France sprinter Caleb Ewan, and Wagga Wagga’s Cameron Scott, who has just completed his first season as a professional cyclist.

The last three editions of the championships were held in South Australia, Victoria and Wollongong.

Jeff Corbett, AusCycling’s Head of Events (Road and Esport), said: “We are excited to bring the AusCycling Junior & Masters Road National Championships to Wagga Wagga, a major regional centre with a rich cycling heritage and outstanding bike-riding facilities.

“These championships are a prestigious event for Australian road cycling. In particular, they will showcase the young riders whom we hope will compete on the world stage in coming years, including at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

The event is the pinnacle of masters road cycling in Australia. (Photo: James Raison)

“We are looking forward to partnering with the City of Wagga Wagga and the local community to deliver an outstanding event for the nation’s best amateur cyclists.”

It will be the third time in four years Council has partnered with AusCycling to host a championship-level cycling event at the state-of-the-art complex at Pomingalarna Reserve.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout is thrilled the city will be able once again to showcase a facility purpose-built for these types of activities to competitors from across the nation, as well as from this region.

“It will be exciting opportunity for local cycling fans and the broader community to see some potential stars of the future and the masters-aged riders in action, and they can also hit the track themselves with the community bike festival,” Cr Tout said.

Pomingalarna Reserve hosted the last two AusCycling Marathon National Championships.

“It’s also great news for the local tourism and hospitality industries of Wagga Wagga and surrounds, with the competitors, along with their families and supporters, expected to provide significant benefits to the local economy through visitor spending.”

The championships will use the entire Pomingalarna precinct, including the criterium track, BMX track, velodrome and parts of the mountain bike trail.

AusCycling and Wagga Wagga City Council are asking for volunteers to pencil in the dates to help deliver a successful event.

The courses for the road races and time trials will be announced next year.

Feature photo: James Raison