Cycling Australia said the crowd figure was 5062, which was up 10 per cent. 

The five-day event features the top level of cycling the country has to offer and attracted more than 30,000 people in total last year. 

Dubbed the voice of cycling, renowned commentator Phil Liggett said Ballarat had established itself as the cycling capital of Australia. 

“(The nationals) have been coming here non-stop for about 11-years and I’ve watched the city grow with it,” he said. “Here (Ballarat) has become the home of cycling and that’s very unusual because virtually every country except Australia always alternate the destination each year.”

He said Sturt Street offered not only a great atmosphere, but also provided a great stretch of road for racing. 

The nature of the criteriums also meant spectators had view of the cyclists the entire time, rather than a momentary glimpse as afforded in traditional racing.

“If the race is on a circuit like it is here then it means the spectators are not going to see the whole world flash by in three minutes and then it’s finished,” Mr Liggett said.

Mayor Samantha McIntosh said the event offered The City of Ballarat about 4.1 million dollars in economic return. 

“It’s a very important event for us as a city, we’ve had around 30,000 spectators in the past. We know it brings an array of people to Ballarat over a number of days,” she said.

“It’s also a very significant event for the cyclists. This is their opportunity to wear the green and gold and their opportunity to win a gold medal here in Ballarat and then to be able to present our city across the world.”

Mr Liggett was in town to commentate on the event. 

“You get the same feelings in your tummy that the cyclists get when they are on the start line waiting for the gun to go to start their race,” he said.

He was also enjoying being back in Ballarat.

“I get a chance to rendezvous with a lot of my friends in the stores and the restaurants and what amazes me is I only come here once a year and they all remember me.”