Australia’s cycling elite ready for National Championships

Australia’s top riders are set to compete in the Westbridge Funds Road National Championships in Perth this week.

The pinnacle of Australian road cycling will see the nation’s best riders, para-cyclists and future champions compete across multiple disciplines including time trial, criterium and road races. 

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner celebrated last year’s event bringing over $9 million directly to the Perth economy, with over 50,000 spectators lining the streets, and she expects an even bigger impact this week. 

“This event is about far more than elite competition, as important as that is,” Fechner said. 

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner looking forward to the pinnacle event.

“Yes we’ll see some of the world’s best cyclist competing here for the green-and-gold jerseys, riders like the riders here today and talent like Ben O’Connor, Jay Vine and Amanda Spratt, these athletes represent the pinnacle of Australian road cycling. 

“But what truly excites me is how this event strengthens cycling at every level. 

“We work every day to be a sport for everyone from world champions to weekend warriors, to Paralympic athletes to families discovering cycling for the first time.”

In the elite men’s races, Team Jayco AlUla will surely be the favourites with hometown heroes Luke Durbridge (the defending road race champion) and Tour de France stage winner Ben O’Connor. Three-time road champion Luke Plapp is once again in scintillating form for both the road race and time trial.

Luke Plapp is one of the pre-race favourites from Team Jayco AlUla.

A big challenger will be Jay Vine, a renowned climber and the most likely to wrest the time trial crown from Plapp’s shoulders. West Australian youngster Brady Gilmore is a contender after his fourth place last year.

“I really want to do well, there is pressure there,” Gilmore, 29 said. “It’s a big deal to compete in front of a home crowd, to go out and race is a big deal.”

Olympic gold medallist Sam Welsford, 29, wants to use the Nationals as a chance to showcase Australia’s best riders to the world.

“Last year I got a win in the criterium in front of the home crowd,” Welsford said. “It’s a new team, new opportunity for me this year and a chance to grow as a rider and be the best I can be and show the world we can produce world class sprinters and world class athletes out of Australia.”

AusCycling, the City of Perth and Westbridge Funds Management launched the event with athletes this morning.

For the elite women, Brodie Chapman is the strongest time triallist on paper and could deliver a road race-winning performance, as she did in 2023. A Lidl-Trek trio of Amanda Spratt (three-time road race winner), Lauretta Hanson and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden will pose a powerful challenge.

 Neve Bradbury and Tiffany Cromwell (both Giro stage winners) present an intriguing force for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto, while AG Insurance-Soudal’s Alex Manly has race-winning pedigree, lining up alongside Tasmania’s Anya Louw.

Amanda Spratt, Amber Pate and Brodie Chapman are among the top riders in the elite women's race.

For Liv AlUla Jayco, Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Josie Talbot, Georgia Baker and Amber Pate are all proven race winners at the top level. The Australian WorldTour team will be the team to beat.

“All the GreenEDGE girls [will be ones to watch], Brodie, and Spratty is the smartest rider in the peloton, watch out for her,” Manly said.

For more event information, including broadcasts, read our event guide.

Photos: Chris Auld / AusCycling