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2010 Results are rolling in
Check-out this year's results here
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2010 SCODY AUSTRALIAN OPEN ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Affectionately known amongst Australia's elite cyclists as "the Nationals", the 2010 Scody Australian Open Road Cycling Championships are expected to attract a world class field of Olympic Games medalists, Commonwealth Games medalists and of course Australia's Tour de France stars.
The 10.2km Buninyong circuit is without doubt the ideal course to determine Australia's best male and female road cyclists, with challenging climbs, fast winding downhills and a tough flat sprint to the line.
A variety of viewing areas providing up close access to riders, has enabled a "Europen-type" feel to the event, with 15,000 spectators expected to flock to the grand finale - the Men's Open Road Race on Sunday.
Ballarat now is home to the National Criterium too!
A new edition to the 2010 Championships is the National Criterium, to be held in Ballarat for the first time. On Ballarat's historic tree-lined boulevard, the tight Sturt Street circuit allows spectators to really get up close and personal with the Nations greatest cyclists.
About the Buninyong road circuit - why is Buninyong considered the best road race course in Australia?
To win a race on this circuit the rider must have enduring strength, powerful hill climbing ability and technical bike skills to tackle the risky downhill section.
The up and down nature of the course, tests the anaerobic thresholds of riders by challenging them to climb, climb again, accelerate hard on the flat, then tackle the technical Fisken Rd before sprinting 500m to the finish.
The lay-out of the course is as follows;
0km – 3.2km: Climb (start has an elevation of 434m, top of King of the Mountain is 590m)
Average ascend of 5%, with some sections reaching 8-9% gradient increase.
The severity of the climb sees riders limp to the KOM finish to the cheer of a
European-type crowd.
3.2km – 3.7km: Flat followed by an undulating rise
5.0km – 9.7km: Fast / sharp corners, followed by undulating downhill
(start of downhill is 574m and the end flattens out to 434m)
Shaded vantage points providing spectators with a view that demonstrates the amazing strength and skill required to be an international rider.
The 161.2km course challenges the rider to:
- climbs for a total of 56km at an average of 5% gradient
- tackle downhill for 91km
- and only 16km of flat roads
The infamous Fisken Rd see’s riders enter downhill corners three a-breast at speeds reaching 70km/ph.
