Cycling Australia expects an influx of 800 riders for the four-day event on October 2-5.

The championships were last in Ballarat in 2011.

They have been based in Goulburn in New South Wales for the past two years.

Although the event has been on the radar for Ballarat since late last year, Cycling Australia and Ballarat Regional Tourism only yesterday confirmed Ballarat as the new venue.

Getting the nationals back further reinforces the city as Australia’s home of road cycling.

The masters will launch another big road cycling event for Ballarat.

This will lead into the National Road Series women’s event Tour of the Goldfields on October 17-19 and the national road championships in January.

They complement domestic feature road races, the Fred Icke Classic at Creswick and Melbourne to Ballarat Classic.

Cyclists aged 30 years and over are eligible to ride in the masters championships.

There will be 18 categories across disciplines – time trial, criterium and road racing. 

Event organiser and Cycling Victoria general manager Kip Kaufmann said with cycling so enthusiastically supported by Ballarat Regional Tourism, the City of Ballarat and general community, it was a pleasure to be returning to Ballarat with the masters.

BRT chief executive officer George Sossi said the championships would be taken to the next level with riders testing themselves against benchmarks set in the Cycling Australia Road National Championships on courses such as Buninyong.

“Ballarat is privileged to be able to offer cyclists such a challenging and picturesque course. 

“After the major success of this year’s nationals, we were expecting the masters to soon return to Ballarat. 

“The cycling community understands that Ballarat knows cycling, is able to stage a hassle-free, competitor friendly event and we always turn on a crowd,” Sossi said. 

Courses and detailed event logistics are expected to be announced in the next two weeks.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au