IT is less than a month to Victoria’s biggest week of cycling – the Road Cycling National Road Championships. In anticipation of this event, The Courier will publish a rundown of the championship events – criterium, time trial and road race – in the lead-up. Who better to unravel cycling’s joys and mysteries than the “voice of cycling” Phil Liggett. Today he focuses on the criterium, which will be the first of the big events in January.
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The first event of the Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships, the criterium, is the best of the races for anyone new to cycling.
A criterium is effectively cycling’s answer to Twenty20 cricket, although it’s been around a lot longer.
These races are hugely popular in Europe after the Tour de France, with the stars of the Tour paid large appearance fees.
They’re a chance for spectators to see the sport’s biggest names at close quarters, rather than the traditional momentary glimpse as they whiz by in the Tour.
The criterium will be held in the heart of Ballarat, up and down Sturt Street, so you can see the riders the whole time.
And if you can get a spot at one of the restaurants or cafes to watch the race while eating dinner it’s even better.
The racing is fast and dangerous.
In 2014 the Drapac team, Australia’s second biggest team, had all its riders at the front of the race with a lap to go. But a small mistake by the first rider around the top corner saw the whole team hit the deck.
From being in a winning position they were left licking their wounds, watching the race ride away.
Despite the Drapac team crashing on the top corner, it’s going down Sturt Street, to the bottom of the course, where things can get really hairy.
This is where the photographers set-up camp early in the race, and they know where the drama unfolds.
But with the green and gold jersey of Australian champion up for grabs the crashes can happen anywhere. We saw this in the women’s race in 2014, with a big pile up on the home straight.
Hopefully all the drama comes from the racing in 2015 rather than the falls.
On Wednesday, January 7, it all starts with the Under-23 men.
These are the young rising stars of Australian cycling and the contenders dream of following in the footsteps of the great Robbie McEwen, as criteriums are normally won by sprinters.
In 2014 Caleb Ewan won the Under-23 and will make his debut in the elite men’s race in 2015 and, despite being the youngest in the race, he’ll start the favourite.
Caleb is an enormous talent, he also won the Under-23 road race in 2014, and I expect him to be keeping Australians up late at night in July during the Tour de France in a few years.
The women’s race will see Sarah Roy aim to defend her title with former winner Kimberly Wells out to claim her title back.
Dr Wells is impressive. She’s a medical doctor but is pursuing her dreams on the bike.
Clearly she followed the advice of parents around the world of “get something behind you to fall back on”.
What also makes these races so popular in Europe is the carnival atmosphere that comes with them. And in 2015, at the conclusion of the elite men’s race, there’ll be live music near the Golden City Hotel to add to the party atmosphere.
It will be a great night out.
CRITERIUM
Where: Sturt Street
WHEN: Wednesday, January 7
• 4.30pm: under-23 men (33km on 1.1km circuit)
• 5.30pm: elite and under-23 women (33km)
• 7pm: elite men (44km)
