Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews return to compete in Roadnats

For the first time in years, some of Australia’s leading riders will come to Ballarat in their quest to win a national title. Find out more here.

Tour De France stage winners Caleb Ewan and Michael Matthews will be looking to add a national road race title to their resume when both compete at next month’s Road National Cycling Championships in Ballarat.

The duo, two of the biggest names in the sport, have been confirmed as starters in the race in the second week of January.

This will be Ewan’s first national titles since 2019 with the 10-time Grand Tour stage winner a former winner of the under-23 national road race title.

Matthews is racing for the first time at the nationals since 2014 and will start the event as one of the favourites after finishing third at the world championships in the road race in Wollongong this year.

Team Bikeexchange-Jayco team's Australian rider Michael Matthews won a stage at this year’s Tour de France. Now he’s competing in Ballarat next year. Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP

“This year’s event is shaping up as one of the best in many years,” City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Hudson said.

“To have the news that the big names keep coming is making it even more exciting.

“It’s going to be an amazing way to start the new year in Ballarat.”

The two international stars join a host of other names already announced for the event.

Last year’s men’s winner Luke Plapp will race alongside Paris-Roubaix stage winner this year Simon Clarke.

Ben O’Connor and Jay Vine, winners of a Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana stage respectively this season, are also involved.

Jay Vine of Australia and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck won a stage at the Vuelta this year. Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images

In the women’s field, four-time podium place finisher Grace Brown will look for her first title after losing by four seconds to Nicole Frain this year.

She’s finished second the past two years and third in 2020 and 2018.

Brown will be joined by professional riders Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Alexandra Manly, Rachel Neylan and Jessica Allen.

Last year’s national title winner Luke Plapp and Grace Brown will be competing at the Roadnats in Ballarat. Picture: Alison Wynd

More than 15,000 spectators are expected to attend the event, which will be held in Ballarat for the 17th straight year.

The event starts on January 6 with a criterium race around Sturt Street in under-19, under-23 and elite for men and women.

The road races follows around Buninyong on January 7 and 8 with the elite for men and women to be held on the Sunday.

The time trial ends the event on January 9 and 10 around Mount Helen.

To see the route maps, head to the Road Nationals website.