One last time round at RoadNats

STREETSCAPES across the City of Ballarat will be the stage for the Federation University Road National Championships’ elite cycling action for one more summer.

For the 18th year in a row, the RoadNats criteriums, road races, and time trials will be held in Ballarat, Buninyong, and Mount Helen from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 January 2024, before they head to another host city in 2025.

AusCycling’s executive general manager of commercial and marketing Kate Patterson said the plan is to give a “big send-off” to the event which has become a community tradition.

“We couldn’t put on this event without such strong local backing,” she said. “The last RoadNats in Ballarat will be all about thanking the community for their support over many years, which has been really special.

“We want to celebrate the 18 years. We hope everyone comes out to watch the crits on the Friday night and heads out to the mountain on Sunday.”

Ms Patterson said the long-time support of the City of Ballarat, Federation University, and the State Government has helped grow the “iconic” event, and its popularity across the country.

“It’s Australia’s premier domestic cycling competition, and such an integral part of the summer of cycling,” she said.

“Some of our greatest champions have competed and won in Ballarat. The riders love coming here, and so do the fans, many of which come up from Melbourne.”

FedUni director of global and engagement Daniel Moloney said the institution’s partnership with AusCycling is a valued one.

“It’s exciting to have the sprint and road races going through the university,” he said.

“It’s a shame it won’t continue beyond the coming event because it’s been such a great partnership for us, and for our sports science faculty to link in with local and national elite cyclists as part of the program.

“We’ve noticed people have come to us with an interest in studying sports science because of our partnership with the RoadNats.”

For six years, Ballarat Sports Medicine sport and exercise physician Dr Greg Harris has been a key part of RoadNats programming.

Spectators probably wouldn’t recognise him, but he’s always right in the heart of the action as race doctor.

“I coordinate the medical coverage for each of the events, and the time trials, crits and road races are all quite different,” he said.

“In conjunction with event organisers GTR, who provide emergency response vehicles and that set-up, we provide the local medical support doctors at the events, and in the car for the road events.

“If anyone happens to get injured, we can coordinate the local medical response as needed.

“I’m a cyclist as well, so being in the race doctor’s car in the convoy, especially coming into the last lap, is the highlight of my year.”

The party on the mountain, which was big before the pandemic, will be fully revived for the 2024 Sunday program.

“We’ve got our partner, The Western Hotel, setting up a bar,” Ms Patterson said.

“There will be a big screen, live music, retired professional cyclist Mitch Docker will be our MC, and other sponsors will have displays.”

One of the cyclists set to be cheered on by spectators up the mountain is local para-athlete Alana Forster.

She is registered to tackle the TT road race, but is aiming to qualify for the elite road race instead.

“It’s going to be a bittersweet event,” she said. “But it makes me proud to be a local to have the road race in Buninyong.

“It’s nice being able to showcase your city and the people in it. What makes Ballarat special is the community that’s here. It’s also nice to inspire the next generation of kids on bikes.

“This will be one last hurrah, with the town and the community putting on a good show, and the riders will too.”

It’s a possibility that the RoadNats may return to the City of Ballarat within three years.