The countdown is on with one week to go until the nation's best riders hit Ballarat and Buninyong streets for Cycling Australia Road National Championships.

Cr Taylor said the scheduling, this time falling in the second week of January, should mean more people back in town from a festive break and the chance for bigger crowds.

This is prime time to peddle what this city can offer.

"The community involvement has really grown and people of Buninyong are really supportive," Cr Taylor said.

"Bringing in Federation University and a changed (road race) course has certainly put Ballarat on the map a bit more and it's great to have television beaming Ballarat and Buninyong on the big screen.

"We know how much fun King of the Mountain on the top of the Mount Buninyong climb can be, it has a Tour de France-like feeling."

City of Ballarat remains in negotiations with Cycling Australia to extend hosting rights beyond 2020.

More than 20,000 people got out on course last summer for the RoadNats.

A Friday night fixturing for the criteriums, and change-up to put the women's elite on Sturt Street as the finale, should help generate greater interest in the championships.

Cycling Australia worked with Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields to find a solution to their opening night, which has now shifted to Saint Alipius in Victoria Street.

Para-cycling was officially added to the program two years ago and athletes fought hard for the chance to make the notorious Mount Buninyong climb in their title races for the first time last year.

The main influx of cyclists should start at the weekend after the Bay criterium series about Geelong and Williamstown bay-fronts.

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