RoadNats schedule: Cycling spectacular to take over Ballarat

It’s hoped the Ballarat cycling spectacular will bring some community relief after ‘a tough past couple of years’. See the schedule.

Contingency plans are in place should restrictions be implemented while RoadNats takes place.

The 2022 Federation University Road National Championships will kick off in Ballarat on Wednesday, with something to do for the elite and amateur cyclist alike.

Despite some major events in Victoria having been cancelled because of rising Covid case numbers, the Ballarat calendar staple is going ahead as planned from January 12 to 16.

AusCycling sport executive general manager Kipp Kauffmann said the championships’ Covid-safe plan went beyond what was required by the State Government.

“We have had ongoing consultation with the City of Ballarat, emergency services and the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure a Covid safe event,” he said.

“We delivered the 2021 championships in extraordinary conditions and in a Covid-safe manner, which was considered a benchmark standard.”

This year’s Covid plan requires all staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated and to have completed a Rapid Antigen Test before the event.

Any participant showing Covid symptoms will not be allowed to take part, and if Covid is detected in the workforce, the event will be scaled back so that it can continue in a modified format.

AusCycling said contingency plans were in place should any restrictions, such as density limits, be implemented.

Cyclists during RoadNats 2020.

Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney said RoadNats brought more to Ballarat than just elite cycling.

“AusCycling, working in conjunction with the City of Ballarat, always provide a range of community events that bring social and economic benefits to both Ballarat and Buninyong,” he said.

“It will be great to see families back out and about for the community movie night and keen amateur cyclists back on the bike for the bunch ride.

“It’s been a tough past couple of years for everyone, including elite sporting events, and it’s just fantastic to see a wonderful program of summer events kicking off so early in the New Year, including this prestigious national event that has called Ballarat home for the past 16 years.”

Ballarat mayor Daniel Moloney (left) praised the social and economic benefits of the annual cycling competition.

The championships will begin with time trials at Federation University’s Mount Helen campus on Wednesday and Thursday.

Criteriums will be held under lights on a 1.1km Sturt Street circuit on Friday; a community ride is planned beforehand, starting at 7am from the Western Hotel and returning at 8.30am.

Road races will take place in Buninyong on Saturday and Sunday.

Fireworks at Lake Wendouree on Sunday will mark the event’s end, and a film will be shown at De Soza Park at 7.30pm, with food trucks to be on site from 5.30pm.

The RoadNats 2022 schedule is as follows:

TIME TRIALS

Wednesday, January 12

8am – Para-cycling: intellectually impaired and deaf

10am – Masters

1pm – U19 men (18.8km)

1.50pm – U19 women (18.8km)

2.45pm – U23 men (28.6km)

3.45pm – Elite and U23 women (28.6km)

5.30pm – Elite men (37.5km)

Thursday, January 13

10am – Club Team Time Trial (32.4km)

CRITERIUMS

Friday, January 14

7am – Community ride from Western Hotel

10.30am – Masters (22km)

3.10pm – U19 women (16.5km)

3.35pm – U19 men (22km)

4.15pm – U23 men (33km)

5.15pm – Elite women (38.5km)

6.30pm – Elite men (44km)

ROAD RACES

Saturday, January 15

7.30am – Para-cycling: intellectually impaired and deaf

9.40am – U19 women

9.50am – U19 men

1.20pm – U23 men (139.2km)

5.15pm – Gran Fondo

Sunday, January 16

8.50am – Elite and U23 women (104.4km)

12.30pm – Elite men (185.6km)

7pm – Film at De Soza Park, Buninyong