THE Cycling Australia Road National Championships road race will return to its original world-renowned course at Buninyong in January.
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Riders will exclusively take on a 10.2km circuit at the foot of Mt Buninyong.
A flatter 27.7km loop added this year, which extended to Yendon to reduce the impact on non-climbers, has been removed.
The elite men will tackle the Midlands Highway climb out of Buninyong 18 times – an increase of four.
Elite and under-23 women will race over 10 laps, and under-23 men 13 laps.
In another major change to the championships on January 8-12, the time trial will be at Burrumbeet for the first time.
The elite men will take in a circuit on Ercildoune, Black Bottom, Beaufort-Waubra, Flynns, Harrisons, Weatherboard-Learmonth and Burumbeet roads.
The elite and under-23 women’s, and under-23 men’s title will be decided over an out-and-back course in Ercildoune Road.
Burrumbeet is the third location in three years.
They were at Learmonth in 2012, and Lake Wendouree and the Avenue of Honour this year.
The criterium will remain unchanged in Sturt Street from Lyons Street to Lydiard Street on the Thursday night.
The nationals, which also feature criteriums, will be in Ballarat on January 8-12 – the eighth year in a row they have been in the city.
Cycling Australia’s new president Gerry Ryan is anticipating another “tremendous” championships.
“The MARS Cycling Australia Road National Championships is the pinnacle of the Australian road cycling calendar and we look forward to delivering yet another world-class event in conjunction with the City of Ballarat and MARS,” he said.
“The championships provide an unparalleled opportunity for Australian cycling fans to see the nation’s, and the world’s, best cyclists on home soil battling for the prestige of the green and gold jersey.
“I look forward to joining the thousands of cycling enthusiasts who will line the championships courses to cheer their cycling heroes,” Ryan said.
Cycling Australia Road National Championships
Wednesday, January 8
Time trial at Burrumbeet
10.30am: under-23 men
Noon: elite and under-23 women
2.30pm: elite men
Wednesday, January 9
Criterium in Sturt Street
4.30pm: under-23 men
5.30pm: elite and under-23 women
7pm: elite men
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11
Road race Buninyong
9am: under-23 men
1.30pm: elite and under-23 women
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12
Road race Buninyong
11.30am: elite men
