REIGNING Australian national road cycling time trial champion Luke Durbridge has escaped serious injury in a fall in Ballarat on the eve of his title defence.
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Durbridge took a tumble when hit a pot hole in Sturt Street in Ballarat this afternoon.
The 21-year-old told The Courier that he was thrown over his handlebars, but was "okay".
Durbridge and Orica GreenEDGE teammate Michael Matthews were riding east back to their accommodation after a photographic shoot with The Courier at the Arch of Victory.
Durbridge initially wrote on twitter: "Hit an epic hole in the ground then down on my arse. Puncture and broken saddle and some skin."
Durbridge is the favourite to go back-to-back in the time-trial.
Matthews is making his debut for GreenEDGE.
The Mars Cycling Australia National Road Championships begin tomorrow with time trials, which start and finish in Wendouree Parade next to Lake Wendouree, and and take in an out-and-back circuit on the Avenue of Honour to Burrumbeet.