18-year-old Julian Baudry wins U23 Men's Road Race National Championship

Eighteen-year-old Julian Baudry (Alpine Cycling Club) has soloed to victory in the under-23 men's road race at the 2025 AusCycling Road National Championships in Perth, Western Australia.

In an attritional race, the Victorian from Bright went clear of his breakaway companions on the penultimate lap around the scenic Kings Park and Perth CBD. He held his advantage of almost one minute to cross the line alone on Fraser Avenue.

Baudry had been part of a breakaway group of 13 riders that had formed halfway through the 136-kilometre, 10-lap race.

With 30 kilometres to go, pre-race favourite Fergus Browning (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) attacked out of the peloton, attempting to bridge across. He was helped along the way by teammates Will Heath and Finn Walsh, who had been in the earlier break.

As Browning began to close in, Baudry accelerated away, determined not to let the defending champion back into contention. While Browning was able to reach the remnants of the break, they were unable to make up the difference, ensuring Baudry would take the under-23 Australian road race title.

A frustrated Browning was forced to settle for silver in a two-up sprint with South Australian Jack Clark (Norwood CC/SASI).

"It’s unreal, I can’t believe it. I was focusing on the TT this week and coming in I just wanted to try get in the break and see how I could finish up in the road race," Baudry said.

"I felt really, really good out there. Huge thanks to my coach Mark O’Brien. He’s helped me through the last year-and-a-half and it’s been a pleasure working with him. Got me doing lots of heat training sessions just in preparation for this, and it's paid off.

"It’s amazing I never thought this would happen, I can’t believe it, I’m so excited for the year ahead wearing the green and gold.

"I was bit nervous at the start, trying to make sure I got in the break, and when we finally got away I was really happy and just stayed with the group and noticed down in the bottom corners before Mounts Bay Road I was gapping them in the corners. I wasn’t braking into most of them and I was able to open up a gap each time.

"When I heard Browning was chasing I just went full gas into those corners and got a gap on the second-last lap and tried to hold it all the way into the finish."

Results

U23 Men

1. Julian Baudry (Alpine CC) 3h05:53
2. Fergus Browning (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +51
3. Jack Clark (Norwood CC/SASI) +51
4. Levi Hone (Echuca Moama CC) +57
5. Dylan Proctor-Parker (Carnegie Caulfield CC) +1:17
6. Nate Hadden (St George Continental Cycling Team) +2:26
7. Will Heath (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +2:28
8. Jeremy Smith (Atom 6 Bikes - Decca - Cycleur de Luxe Continental Team) +2:45
9. Jack Ward (Blackburn CC/VIS) +3:03
10. Wil Holmes (Hagens Berman Jayco) +3:06

Pedal Mafia King of the Mountains Jersey

• Julian Baudry (Alpine CC)

Western Australia Most Combative Jersey

• Nate Hadden (St George Continental Cycling Team)

Feature picture: Chris Auld/AusCycling