CYCLING Australia’s revamped Road Nationals schedule will feature live music, a beer garden and rides for kids, to bring more people to the opening criterium races.
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The entertainment will run from before the opening Under-23 races in the afternoon to late in the night, following the Elite Men’s criterium.
Local band No Strings Attached will play on a stage outside the Golden City Hotel, and guitarist Jake Bridges said the band members would
their own “spin” on the occasion.
Matthew Keenan, from Cycling Australia, said the organisation was trying to bring more people to the opening event of the National Championships.
“(The criterium) is cycling’s answer to Twenty20 (cricket).
“People can be in the centre of Ballarat, grab a bite to eat and watch the whole race,” he said.
Golden City Hotel will set up a beer garden at the top of the course, at the Lyons Street intersection. It will have a DJ from 4pm to accompany the big screens showing the racing.
Between the women’s and the men’s races, just-retired AFL players Luke Ball and Brock McLean will race around the circuit to raise awareness for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute fundraising ride, the Ballarat Cycle Classic.
AT A GLANCE
What: Road National Championships 2015: Criterium
When: January 7, racing starts at 4.30pm. Entertainment from 4pm, No Strings Attached from 8.30pm.
Where: Ballarat CBD. Beer garden corner of Sturt and Lyons streets.
