Spectator Guide

The AusCycling Road National Championships are an annual cycling event where riders compete to become the Australian champion. The winners receive the green-and-gold champion’s jersey, which they alone can wear over the next year. Becoming the Australian champion is a prestigious achievement in the career of any Aussie cyclist. 

The time trial is a race against the clock. The riders set off one-by-one, riding by themselves, aiming to set the fastest time along the course. There is no slipstreaming or complex tactics: it’s about going fast with high, consistent power and aerodynamics. 

A criterium is an intense race of an hour or less, held over multiple laps of a short circuit. Everyone starts together and the first rider to cross the line, wins. Riders need handling skills to negotiate tight corners, and fast acceleration. Criteriums often end in a high-speed bunch sprint. 

A road race is the most traditional type of bike race, held at distances up to 200km or more. Riders need outstanding endurance, climbing ability and sprinting speed, depending on the terrain. Team tactics can be important, as riders try to stay fresh while forcing others to spend more energy. First across the line wins. 

The Under-19 and Under-23 age categories are self-explanatory; they are for up-and-coming and developing riders. 

Para-cycling is for riders with a recognised physical impairment. This includes hand-cyclists (‘H’-class), tricyclists (‘T’), vision-impaired riders on tandem bikes (‘B’), and riders on standard or modified two-wheeled bicycles (‘C’). 

There are also races for deaf cyclists, transplant recipients, and athletes with an intellectual impairment (AWII). 

Finally, the Elite category is for the best of the best. This is where you’ll find Australia’s top professional cyclists. 

The Pedal Mafia King or Queen of the Mountain is a competition awarded to the best climber within each of the Elite, Under-23 and Under-19 road races. 

There will be an intermediate sprint line at the Pedal Mafia Mountain at the top of Malcolm Street. On all even-numbered laps (Lap 2, 4, 6, etc, except the last lap), points will be awarded to the first, second and third-placed riders across the top of the Pedal Mafia Mountain. 

The rider who finishes the race with the most points will be crowned the Pedal Mafia King or Queen of the Mountain and receive the respective winner’s jersey. 

The Western Australia Most Combative Jersey is awarded to the most combative rider in each of the Elite, Under-23 and Under-19 road races, and the Elite criteriums. 

A panel of judges will decide who wins the prize. It’s whomever they deem to have been the most exciting, enterprising or aggressive rider – the one who animated the race the most. 

At the time trial, you can expect a new rider to come past every minute. 

At the criterium, the riders will take about 2 minutes per lap. 

At the road race, depending on the speed and conditions, expect each lap to take between 20−25 minutes. 

You might be surprised by how many motor vehicles are involved in a bicycle race! Here are some of the more common vehicles you might see in the race convoy: 

Police: long before you see the riders, you’ll see police vehicles making sure the course is clear and safe 

Lead car: the first car in the race, it always stays in front of the leading riders 

Commissaire car or motorbike: carries a race official, who makes sure the race runs according to the rules of the sport and enforces any infringements by riders 

Timing board: a motorbike that carries a whiteboard to inform riders of the time gaps between competitors on the road 

Camera moto: a motorbike carrying a camera operator for the TV broadcast, or an official photographer 

Team cars: provide assistance if the team’s riders have a mechanical problem, such as a crash or flat tyre 

Shimano neutral service: offers mechanical assistance to any rider who needs it, regardless of their team 

Sag wagon or broom wagon: the last vehicle in the convoy, it ‘sweeps’ up riders who have fallen behind and are withdrawing from the race 

Helicopter: provides the stunning aerial shots for the TV broadcast. The rhythmic ‘TACATACA’ sound is your first cue that the race is approaching!