New time trial course heats up Federation University RoadNats

A new time trial course for the 2020 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat raced through Federation University's Mt Helen campus for the first time this year, on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 January.

The new state-of-the-art Health and Sports Precinct provided a stunning backdrop bringing many visitors to the Mt Helen Campus who were cheering on Australia’s best cyclists and para-cyclists. The facilities, will support world-class research and provide sports science students with commercial experience in a student-led clinic and community gymnasium.

The challenging and technical out-and-back course started at Federation University, with riders making their way out and back along Yankee Flat Road, before heading back through the more technical section of Federation University. The course also provided a more spectator-friendly with the looped circuit allowing fans to catch a glimpse of their heroes multiple times across the circuit.

Heats included Para-cycling, Intellectually impaired, U19 Men, U19 Women, U23 Men, U23 Women, Elite Men, Elite Women on Wednesday 8 January, and Para - UCI C1 Time Trial, Club Teams Time Trial, Schools Teams Time Trial on Thursday 9 January.

Staff across the university were instrumental in working with Cycling Australia across a full range of events and the University's partnership continues to go from strength to strength, offering opportunities for graduate employment and research collaborations.

The 2020 Federation University Road National Championships featured an exciting five-day program beginning with the action packed and crowd friendly criterium races.  Australia’s best under 19, under 23, elite and para cyclists battled for the coveted green and gold national champions jerseys in the criterium, and the road race and time trial. A host of other exciting racing and recreational opportunities and community events also took place. Highlights for the university community during the five days of racing included:

• Twenty staff members competed in Cycling Australia’s Grand Fondo event, tackling the iconic Mt Buninyong climb.
• Elite Athlete Scholarship recipient Nicole Frain, who is studying a Bachelor of Food and Nutritional Science while pursuing an elite cycling career, competed in the Time Trials.
• Alumnus Liam White competed in the Criterium in Sturt Street, Ballarat.
• Federation University West Vic Academy of Sport Athlete and 2019 Australian U/19 Men’s Champion Graeme Frislie toured our Health and Sports Precinct with Lecturer in Sport Science Ryan Worn, looking at how athletes can prepare to the best of their ability.
• Lecturer in Exercise Science Oscar Owens presented to aspiring elite cyclists and was a member of Cycling Australia’s panel discussing education for athletes.
• Student Teesha Smedley, who is studying a Bachelor of Sport Management /Bachelor of Business, volunteered to gain experience while assisting the community.

Federation Alumni congratulates all involved.