A new home for road cycling’s finest

Australia’s premier road cyclists will battle for honours on an all-new CBD course when the Road National Championships arrive in Perth next year.

Following an exhaustive search for a venue that would both excite fans and challenge some of the world’s best riders, AusCycling has chosen to partner with the WA Government, through Tourism WA and the City of Perth to take the Championships to the City of Light between 2025–2027.

While the event will include multiple competitions across juniors, para-cycling, mass-participation and elite, the highlight will be the arrival of high-octane racing in the iconic Kings Park.

“We are thrilled to present some of the best athletes in the world to some of the best sports fans in the world in the heart of Perth,” AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said.

“Running the road races through such an iconic location is a privilege and a perfect way to showcase this beautiful city to the rest of Australia and a huge international broadcast audience.

“We thank Tourism WA, the City of Perth and the WA Government for making this new chapter possible.”

The Australian road champions will be crowned in Perth for the next three years. (Photo: Con Chronis)

As the first national championship in each year’s cycling and riding calendar, RoadNats is fiercely competed with winners earning the right to wear the champions’ green-and-gold bands for the remainder of the year.

“We’ve seen some epic battles in recent years,” Fechner said. “Perth will now become part of cycling lore and we can’t wait to see what stories unfold over the coming years.”

Assistant Minister for Tourism, the Hon. John Carey MLA, who is also the Local Member for Perth, said the event would bring multiple benefits to the local community and economy.

“Securing the AusCycling Road National Cycling Championships for Perth over three years from 2025–2027 is a huge win for Western Australia,” he said.

The Hon. John Carey MLA, cyclist Luke Durbridge, and AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner in Perth. (Photo: John Koh)

“This prestigious event will bring the nation’s elite cyclists to Perth, boosting our local economy through tens of millions of dollars injected into our tourism and hospitality businesses, and building WA’s reputation as a host of world-class sporting events.

“Major events like this Championship are an important part of the state’s tourism strategy, creating vibrancy in the local community, jobs for West Australians, and bringing people to WA to experience all the Dream State has to offer.”

Sam Welsford, 2020 Australian criterium champion and winner of three stages at the 2024 Tour Down Under, said, “It is very exciting the Australian Road National Championships are coming to Perth for three years. I grew up training and racing on these roads and the opportunity to race for the prestigious green-and-gold jersey in front of friends and family is very special.

“Cycling in Western Australia continues to go from strength to strength and hosting the best in the country will give local fans the chance to watch their heroes up close and interstate visitors to see the amazing roads Perth has to offer.”

Sam Welsford (right, in green) is excited for RoadNats to arrive in his home town. (Photo: Josh Chadwick)

City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said the city was excited to be hosting the AusCycling Road National Championships event for the first time.

“We are thrilled the City of Light has been chosen as the host for the Championships, which is the first time the event has been held outside of Victoria in 18 years,” he said.

“The Championships will attract thousands of people to our beautiful city in January 2025 and we can’t wait to put on a memorable show for our international and local visitors.”

The Road National Championships will be held in early January each year and will include elite time trials, a criterium, men’s, women’s and para-cycling road races and a mass-participation gran fondo in which members of the public can ride on the same course as the elite riders.