BUNINYONG businesses say they are thrilled the road races for the Cycling Road Nationals are heading back their way in February 2021, and are calling on organsiers to make the date change permanent.
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AusCycling has announced the Road Nationals, a five-day cycling extravaganza, will run from February 3-7, 2021, one month later than usual.
The February date is designed to give AusCycling, the Department of Health and Human Services and the City of Ballarat time to coordinate COVID-safe measures, but Buninyong businesses say they would be keen to see the new date as a permanent fixture into the future.
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Katrine Taylor from Maggie and Kate Cafe said she would not normally open for the race, preferring to spend early holidays time with family, but the February date would change things.
"It's actually really difficult in January, so many locals go away. Buninyong can be a ghost town then," she said.
"We opened for the first couple of years, but we found it just wasn't worth it.
"This will be great, with the kids back at school, people around, it's a great opportunity to put Buninyong on the map.
"While we know we are part of Ballarat, there's a real feeling of belonging to this event in the Buninyong community."
Pig and Bone general food store owner Wendy Kirby described the date change as the perfect opportunity for business and the town.
"I think it's brilliant. Doing it in February rather than straight after new year makes so much sense," she said.
"As a business owner, you just need a down time. So now it will be great to shut for a week, take a breather and now come back and get ready for a huge event.
"It's lovely if we can have the people from Melbourne come back and it's something people can make a real weekend out of."
AusCycling's Acting Joint CEO Steve Drake said: "After such a challenging year we are excited to be able to host the Federation University Road National Championships".
"We look forward to the championships providing a positive impact for Ballarat and the cycling community as part of an exciting domestic summer of cycling," he said.
The 2021 schedule will see a return of the 2020 format, which saw the championships open on Wednesday night with the time trial at Federation University's Mt Helen Campus.
The Friday night criterium will return to the Ballarat CBD.
City of Ballarat interim chief executive officer Janet Dore said: "The City of Ballarat is committed to working with AusCycling to deliver this world class event for Ballarat in February 2021 in a COVID-safe format that protects our community, riders and spectators."