Welcome to The Courier’s day two coverage of the Cycling Australia Road National Championships.
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Hometown champion
6.15pm: Ballarat’s Nick White has just claimed victory in the men’s under-23 road race.
White finished the 127.6-kilometre race in three hours, 21 minutes and 19 seconds.
Buninyong is celebrating tonight.
- READ MORE: White conquers Mount for epic title
MEN’S UNDER-23 ROAD RACE TOP 10
Nicholas WHITE 3h21:19
Michael POTTER +0
Samuel JENNER +0
Cameron SCOTT +0
Jarrad DRIZNERS +4
Darcy PIROTTA +4
Riley FLEMING +4
Ben METCALFE +4
Matthew DINHAM +4
Benjamin ANDREWS +4
Bizarre finish to women’s under-19 title race
There’s been drama in the women’s under-19s race, with crashes and disqualifications at the final straight.
The Courier’s senior sports journalist David Brehaut is reporting from the course that Francesca Sewell, who fell in the sprint finish, walking her bike across the line, but first across the line Neve Bradbury was disqualified after her bike failed the weight test.
Watch Sewell speak with media below
WOMEN’S UNDER-19 ROAD RACE RESULTS
Francesca SEWELL 2h13:59
Catelyn TURNER +2:36
Ashlee JONES +3:05
Tahlia DOLE +8:16
Hannah SEELIGER +8:18
Olivia SENS +9:55
Staci MCCUDDEN +10:39
Isla BRADBURY +11:31
Tessa KOHN +12:03
Dharlia HAINES +12:03
Darcie RICHARDS +12:03
Michaela MEHARRY +15:26
dsq Neve BRADBURY
dnf Ella SIBLEY
Bendigo brothers Patrick and Sam Eddy finished first and second in the men’s under-19.
MEN’S UNDER-19 ROAD RACE TOP 10
Patrick EDDY 2h48:28
Samual EDDY +1:34
Alastair MACKELLAR +1:34
Dylan HOPKINS +1:34
Blake AGNOLETTO +1:53
Jesse NORTON +1:54
Henry DIETZE +2:01
Charles LIEBENBERG +2:03
Piper ALBRECHT +2:21
Daniel DI DOMENICO +2:21
This afternoon, the under 23 men have their turn.
Remember there are road closures all through the town, including on the Midland Highway.
A free family festival is at De Souza Park all afternoon, with a screening of The Greatest Showman at 7pm.
Para-cycling contested road race titles on Buninyong for the first time on Saturday morning
Australian para-cycling great Carol Cooke says community support for athletes along the course has been incredible.
The RoadNats ambassador has long advocated for the para-cycling road titles to be held in Buninyong to allow para-athletes the same chance to take on the notoriously tough Mount Buninyong climb as the elites.
"To have people all around the course, especially up the mountain with cowbells and big horns is incredible," Cooke said.
"We're so used to being on our own. Now, to have our titles on the nationals course is absolutely fabulous."
MEANWHILE, Ballarat’s Christian Ashby has captured a para-cycling bronze medal on his RoadNats debut.
Ashby said it felt great to have the whole town behind him, cheering him along in a tightly contested C2 division.
This comes less than three years after Ashby was knocked off his bike by a car while riding around Lake Wendouree on Good Friday.
"It was good to finish the race. This was a matter of getting out there, having a go and being active," Ashby said.
Para-cycling winners:
Men’s C1 – Darcy Thompson (Port Adelaide CC)
Men’s C2 – Darren Hicks (Norwood CC)
Men’s C3 – David Nicholas (Mackay CC)
Men’s C4 – Daniel van der Laan (Sydney Uni Velo Club)
Men’s H1 – Grant Nickel (Newcastle CC)
Men’s H3 – Alex Welsh (Leongatha CC)
Men’s H4 – Grant Allen (Port Adelaide CC)
Men’s H5 – Stuart Tripp (St Kilda CC)
Men’s T2 – Stuart Jones (Newcastle CC)
Men’s tandem Don Mankewich (Vikings CC ACT)
Women’s tandem – Lindy Hou (Vikings CC ACT)
Women’s C3 – Paige Greco (Port Adelaide CC)
Women’s C4 – Meg Lemon (Port Adelaide CC)
Women’s H1 – Emilie Miller (Bathurst CC)
Women’s T1 – Gabrielle Vassallo (Sutherland Shire CC)
Women’s T2 – Carol Cooke (St Kilda CC)
Keep an eye out for more photos and videos through the day.
A big Gran Fondo time out
A record number of riders turned out to race and ride the National Gran Fondo Championships, first up in Buninyong on Saturday morning.
Seventeen green-and-gold jerseys were up for grabs in what was the largest participation ride ever held at a FedUni Road Nationals.
More than 450 challengers rolled out on fully closed roads to tackle the famed Mt Buninyong course.
The event raised money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis, the national support body for the neurological condition.
City of Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh also challenged herself up Mount Buninyong climb.
"It was fantastic getting on the bike, even if I did get passed by almost every person on the track nonetheless, I loved it,” Cr McIntosh said.
"It’s always really important to see the event before the road race starts, to see what those out there are really experiencing and also from a council perspective to see how the community have really embraced this course and come on board with all the hay bails lined up, and such gorgeous art of bikes to see that creative side of our community coming together.
“There was so much it really brings a smile to your face, even after the big hill climb."
Read more:
Catch up on all the excitement of Friday’s criteriums
Check out all the work the community has put in to welcome cycling fans
Who are the favourites for tomorrow’s elite races? Read all about the men and women here.
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