New national cycling champs on agenda

BALLARAT has been chosen to host the 2023 AusCycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships this August.

The event will be held at Victoria Park with the support of the City of Ballarat and the State Government’s Significant Sporting Events Program.

“We are thrilled to welcome the AusCycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships for what promises to be another spectacular event,” said mayor Cr Des Hudson.

“Attracting events like this enhances Ballarat’s reputation as a destination of choice for events on a national scale and adds a significant attraction to our events calendar in winter.”

As a national event, the championships will see some of the best riders in Australia compete and will attract national media as well as selectors for overseas races.

The competition also includes races for all abilities such as those who are wanting to try cycling for the first time.

There will also be a come and try aspect for local schools as part of an aim to get the community involved.

“Ballarat is certainly a great friend of cycling having thrown their support behind all disciplines across many years and this time it’s the cyclo-cross community that will get to experience the friendly and welcoming feel from the city when the National Championships come to town in August,” said AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner.

“We thank the City of Ballarat and the Victorian Government for getting behind the event and the athletes and can’t wait to see the racing over the two days of competition.”

The event is free to watch and will be held on the weekend of Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 August.

Cyclo-Cross is a combination of road cycling and cross-country riding where participants compete mainly off road but on modified road cycling bikes and started out as a winter alterative road racing.