Luke Durbridge wins fairytale men's road race at home National Championships

Perth cycling icon Luke Durbridge (Team Jayco AlUla), has won a fairytale victory in his hometown, taking out the elite men's road race at the 2025 AusCycling Road National Championships.

After spending almost the entire 177-kilometre race in the breakaway − initially with Conor Leahy (CCACHE x BODYWRAP), then solo from 70km to go − the 33-year-old crossed the finish line metres ahead of his teammate, Lucas Plapp.

Giving up his own chance to win an unprecedented four titles in a row, Plapp gifted the Western Australian an unforgettable national title after bridging across to him with one lap (13.6km) to go.

The pair entered the finishing straight on Fraser Avenue with over a minute in hand to their nearest rival. That gave Durbridge ample time to drink in the applause of his friends, family and fans who had lined the streets of the Kings Park and Perth CBD circuit on Sunday afternoon.

Durbridge was mobbed by supporters as he made his way to the podium on the Kaarta Gar-Up Lookout overlooking the spectacular Perth skyline and Swan River.

It was redemption for Durbridge after he missed out on a medal in Thursday's individual time trial when he missed the final corner.

Today's victory comes 12 years after Durbridge first won the elite men's road race national title in Ballarat. It's his sixth Australian title, including the four he has won in the individual time trial.

"When Plappy came past he said, 'If you just hold the wheel, mate, it's all yours.' He doesn't need to do that. He would've broken the record, four in a row, which is insane," Durbridge said.

"I'm lost for words. True class from the champion. I had a good ride today. I mean, I blew up, Plappy helped me out. Without Plappy I probably wouldn't have won today. Not just Plappy, my teammates back there, they helped me out.

"You just take them for granted. When you're younger, when I won my first one, you think, this is the way cycling's going to be. You're going to win races. All of a sudden, you realise that's just not how it goes. Every single victory you have to savour. It's been a long time between drinks, between victories for me. You just have to take it in, absorb it, and you've just got to appreciate it.

"Now, you sit back and you think wow, this is probably one of the most iconic circuits in my home town. All my family's here. I'll never forget this."

Durbridge said hadn't intended to move so early in the race, admitting his winning move was "a little ambitious".

"We wanted to be away with CCACHE, actually, because that was probably the only team with numbers. And when Conor came, I thought, 'we're good here'," Durbridge said.

"I was a little bit concerned because once I did get rid of Conor I was thinking, 'now I am really alone.' But I had to sort of commit because then the gap went out to nearly three minutes and I thought, 'I'm in good shape here.'

"With about two to go, things started to get a bit messy. My back started to go. I think my legs were actually quite good, but my back was really seizing up, just from staying aero for so long."

Plapp was full of praise for his senior teammate, acknowledging the special moment he had helped create for the home crowd.

"That was all Durbo's. He's been amazing to Australian cycling for so many years. It's, I think, 12 years since he last won this jersey and he's been there for everyone else in those last 12 years," Plapp said.

"To have the national champs in his backyard, I knew how much it  meant to him, especially after that unfortune [sic] in the TT. He came out here today to prove a point. There's not a dry eye here and everyone's happy for Durbo."

A dogged Liam Walsh emerged over the crest of the final climb in the bronze medal position and dug deep to secure himself a maiden elite road race medal.

The 23-year-old from CCACHE x BODYWRAP has proved himself as a rising star of Australian cycling domestically and improves on his sixth-place finish from last year.

"It's a great day for both me and the new team. I put a lot of work into this and the last few months since Track Worlds has been all about this summer," Walsh said.

"I'm really proud of the way I rode. I laid it all out on the line and Durbo and Plapp were just stronger on the day."

The 2025 Elite Men's Road Race National Championship podium. Picture: ZW Photography

Results

Elite Men

1. Luke Durbridge (Team Jayco AlUla) 3h52:19
2. Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) +5
3. Liam Walsh (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +58
4. Brady Gilmore (Israel - Premier Tech Academy) +1:02
5. Chris Harper (Team Jayco AlUla) +1:07
6. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) +1:07
7. Blake Agnoletto (Atom 6 Bikes - Decca - Cycleur de Luxe Continental Team) +1:07
8. Oliver Bleddyn (Atom 6 Bikes - Decca - Cycleur de Luxe Continental Team) +1:07
9. Jai Hindley (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) +1:07
10. Blake Quick (Roojai Insurance) +1:07

Pedal Mafia King of the Mountains Jersey

• Luke Durbridge (Team Jayco AlUla)

Western Australia Most Combative Jersey

• Luke Durbridge (Team Jayco AlUla)

Feature picture: Chris Auld/AusCycling