City’s cycle-centric as RoadNats return

THE Federation University Road National Championships have launched, with time trials rolling through Buninyong and over the mountain yesterday.

As club and all-abilities time trials continue today, Ballarat is gearing up for the National Criterium Champs events on Sturt Street tomorrow, Friday, 5 January, beginning with the 20-lap fixed-gear race at 12.30pm.

The club team crits start from 1.10pm, the under 19 women at 2.40pm, under 19 men at 3.15pm, and under 23 men at 3.55pm, before the under 23 and elite women, and elite men at 5pm and 6.30pm respectively.

Across the weekend, all the action returns to Buninyong with the Gran Fondo and road races, but mindful of COVID safety, Buninyong & District Community Association’s events and tourism representative Roger Permezel said you don’t need to be on site to join the fun.

“If you can’t get out to see the Road National Championships, SBS HD will be broadcasting nationally live on Sunday for seven-and-a-half-hours from the roads, mount and village of Buninyong, from 10am until 5.30pm,” he said.

“Australia’s elite male champion road-racer will be crowned. Earlier in the day, you’ll see the best of the under 23s and elite women vying for national glory.”

From 7.30am on Saturday, the all-abilities road races begin, before the under 19 women and men take off from Warrenheip Street at 9.40am and 9.50am, and the under 23 men get going at 1.20pm.

The five-lap Gran Fondo begins at 5.15pm. Twenty per cent of cyclists in each age-group qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.

The under 23 and elite women roll over the start line at 8.50am on Sunday, before the elite men at 12.30pm.

Mr Permezel said Buninyong and broader Ballarat enjoy hosting “hundreds of elite cyclists and their support teams” over a week each year.

“The event takes-over the roads around FedUni and the village. Activities like the red bikes and movie night provide opportunities for local residents and groups to celebrate the RoadNats and participate through creative pursuits,” he said.

“This year the school kids have also provided the choir to sing the national anthem, which will be seen around the course and on the national telecast.

“We hope that the revised schedule one month later becomes a fixture. It is more amenable to community involvement with local residents, schools, retailers and businesses, all back from the summer break and into regular village life.”