Zac Marriage stamps claim for overseas opportunity via dominant U23 national time trial win

A dominant performance from South Australian Zac Marriage has powered him to the under-23 men's time trial national championship at the 2025 AusCycling Road National Championships in Perth.

Marriage rolled the down the start ramp as the final starter and led at every time check for the three laps of Bold Park which covered 28.8 kilometres.

The 21-year-old finished in 35 minutes and 52 seconds at an average speed of 48.17kph and amassed a winning margin of 41 seconds ahead of defending under-23 men's road race national champion Fergus Browning (CCACHE x BODYWRAP).

Zac Marriage atop the podium alongside Fergus Browning and John Carter. (Picture: Chris Auld)

Perth powerhouse John Carter (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) completed the podium in the bronze medal position after setting the early benchmark.

Always a cool and calm character, Marriage shrugged aside the pressure of being the last starter by stating "you've just got to ride your bike I guess".

"It was pretty unreal to have the time checks coming through but I put my head down and kept going. I knew Fergus was in front of me and he was on for a good one so it was kind of good to have a carrot to chase and then time checks from John Carter as well," Marriage said.

"I knew the last corner was a bit 'techy' as well so I was full concentration to the end but the final 10 metres felt pretty sweet.

"It's a big relief as well because a lot of work has gone into it. But I can't fully relax yet, I've still got a big week of racing to come."

Marriage is hungry to add the under-23 road race national crown to his impressive palmarès on Saturday and he enters as a clear favourite on current form.

Today's victory comes less than two weeks after he won the Madison national title on the track with Oliver Bleddyn.

The Adelaide product will also start his second Tour Down Under next week for the ARA Australian Cycling Team before heading to his third Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in the same Australian colours.

There is no understating how important this summer of cycling is for Marriage, who is set to ride the inaugural ProVelo Super League with Butterfields Ziptrak Racing after three years of racing for the now defunct Team BridgeLane men's program.

"Everyone here is looking for a contract overseas and hopefully this result helps, but hey it's a national title, you take it because it doesn't happen very often."

Results

Under-23 Men Individual Time Trial

1. Zac Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrak Racing/SASI) 35:52.53
2. Fergus Browning (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +41
3. John Carter (CCACHE x BODYWRAP) +1:29.16
4. Wil Holmes (Hagens Berman Jayco) +1:37.31
5. Matthew Connan (Cycling Development Foundation) +1:38.22
6. Julian Baudry (Atom 6 Bikes - Decca - Cycleur de Luxe Continental Team) +2:04.05
7. Nate Hadden (St George Continental Cycling Team) +2:28.30
8. William Cooper (St George Continental Cycling Team) +2:34.87
9. Tyler Tomkinson (Balmoral CC) +2:54.67
10. Jack Clark (X-Speed United) +3:08.21

Feature photo: ZW Photography/AusCycling