The Australia Road National Championships were held recently in Ballarat where the best cyclists in the country take on Buninyong and surrounding areas in the battle for the Green and Gold National Champions jersey. The 5-day event would cover criterium, road race, and time trial events across Para athletes, U19, U23 Elites, and Masters disciplines. This year’s event would also include the 2021 Masters National Championships that were scheduled to be in the Gold Coast were postponed several times last year because of COVID.
The Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club had 4 key riders chasing their dreams of Green and Gold in Ballarat, Talia Appleton, Rudy Dobson, Dan Purcell, and Josh Hopwood.
Time Trial
The Time Trial was the first event to kick off the Championships on the iconic Federation University Mount Helen campus time trial. The course features a technical start and finish along with several short, but tough hills for competitors to contend with over 18.8kms. Riders have the opportunity to find their rhythm along Gear Ave and Yankee Flat Rd, however, the Fisken Rd descent and roads through Federation University will be sure to push the riders’ technical abilities to the limit. Hopwood finished 7th and Appleton in her new outfit of 99 Bikes Women’s Academy finished 6th.
Hopwood about to tackle the technical section down Fisken Road.
Appleton setting herself up to make the turn.
Criterium
If you’re new to cycling then Criterium events are the best place to start, they are jam packed with action, thrills, and spills. The crit circuit took place in the heart of Ballarat CBD on the famous Sturt St which features a tough uphill drag on a hot dog circuit. The nature of the course sees only the strongest rider taking line honours. Dobson in her first ever criterium race for Roxsolt LIV SRAM managed a strong 9th place. In hot form Purcell who recently won the Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crits was going to be a marked favourite of many. Purcell rode a smart and tactical race, saving his energy for the final. Unfortunately, Purcell would come undone by an AusCycling official who failed to inform the riders of a number change to a rider that took the win. Purcell secured the silver medal and should be very proud of his achievement.
Road Race
One would say this is the main event, the Road Race. The Buninyong circuit includes a tough Mount Buninyong climb each lap and a technical section through the Federation University. The local girls of Appleton and Dobson would be flying the flag for the club, although racing in different teams. The race started off in foggy and wet conditions and stayed that way for most of the race. This circuit is known for making riders blow up and lose contact with the leading bunch. On the second last lap, Dobson was looking good in the leading bunch on the steeper section of the climb, but it was Appleton losing contact with 350 meters to go until the top of the climb. There were mixed emotions with the huge Club supporters that were roadside, we had one rider in the leading group and then the other starting to fade.
It was on the last lap that 6 riders started to appear out of the foggy conditions and Appleton had made a brilliant come back. We had Appleton and Dobson in the final 6 riders going over the top of the climb. Dobson made multiple attacks through the technical sections within the last 4kms but couldn’t get away. The race was all set up for the final sprint. With 200 metres to go it was Stewart who made the jump first and it was full gas to the line, Marr took the win with Appleton right in the mix finishing 5th and Dobson 4 seconds behind in 6th. What a fantastic achievement by Appleton and Dobson in their first Championship race.
Appleton and Dobson saving energy in the bunch.
The weather had cleared, and it was very a warm and humid start to Hopwood’s road race. Over 40 riders took to the start line in what would be a frantic start from the gun. The pace was extremely high on the first lap trying to drop the weaker riders, this is where a good warm up is key to starting well. At the top of the first climb more than 20 riders had been dropped to the sheer pace. Hopwood was in a good position in the leading group, it was all about getting into race rhythm and saving energy where possible. Being a short race of 60kms this race would be full on with attacks nonstop until the finish line. With 2 laps remaining, Hopwood was starting to feel the fatigue in the legs and was dropping off the pace, somehow he managed to recover and get back onto the leading group of 15 riders with 1 lap to go.
Hopwood in 5th wheel at the start of his race.
Throughout the race multiple riders would attack and try to ride away but the bunch would shut everything down, it was about surviving the final climb and follow any attacks through the technical section of Federation University. Going under the 1km to go banner with only 10 riders left, again solo attacks couldn’t get away, it was coming down to the final sprint. At 150 meters the sprint was launched with riders going full gas, Hopwood had a great lead out and just missed the podium taking 4th place.
This was another great result from our club members who were chasing the Green and Gold in Ballarat. A huge thank you goes out to all the club supporters that were there helping our riders, well done.