One week out from the start of the UCI Pro-Tour, the best professional Australian road cyclist will be crowned in Ballarat. We’ll have live race updates from the 2014 Road Nats Elite Men’s Road Race from 2.00pm AEDT.
This year’s drawcard will be none other than Cadel Evans who will also ride the Tour Down Under.
A former Road Race World Champion and Australia’s only Tour de France winner, Evans will race the Australian Nationals for the first time in nine years after making good progress in training.
But Evans won’t be the only big name racing on Sunday; Richie Porte, Michael Matthews, Adam Hansen, Matthew Goss and defending Champion, Luke Durbridge will all see Evans on the starting line.
Orica-GreenEDGE will be the most represented in the field, with six contracted riders racing.
Simon Gerrans and Simon Clarke have been in terrific form, with Gerrans wearing the yellow jersey in the 2013 Tour de France and Clarke a constant force in the breakaways of the Grand Tours.
The 183.6km course will include 18 laps of a 10.2 km route which includes two climbs, the first at a 6.4 percent incline for 1.4km and the second at 6.4 percent for 1.1km.
The descent is technical and narrow, which could provide plenty of action should the riders lose their direction.
Goss, Renshaw and Matthews are the sprinters in the field but they will be up against it to remain at the front following the climbs up Mount Buninyong.
A course such as this does suit the likes of Jack Bobridge, Luke Durbridge, Simon Gerrans, Richie Porte and Cadel Evans.
Short, sharp climbs are a feature of many European one day classics as well as time trials.
Riders such as Evans, Porte, Durbridge, Cameron Meyer, Bobridge and Clarke will look to rely on their climbing and time trialling abilities to outlast their sprinting opponents, possibly attacking during the final 20km to try and shake the sprinters.
Should these men make it over the final climb of Buninyong I’d be looking at Durbridge, Evans, Porte and Meyer to fight it out. Evans’ time trial form has not been great lately and he may look to break away on the climb before consolidating on the descent.
Porte has shown his value on the climbs as well as his time trialling ability in 2013 so he won’t be easy to beat.
Durbridge, the defending champion, will be tough to get past, boasting a wonderful time-trialling ability. Should he get into the clear he will need an organised chase to catch him.
Renshaw, Matthews and Goss will have to back themselves on the short climbs to stay with the peloton as the race continues.
Should the three remain with the pack I’d back Goss to win the sprint.
He has a Robbie McEwen-like style that allows him to sprint well without a large lead-out train.
It’s a star studded field and sure to provide plenty of entertainment on Sunday afternoon. Join us for live updates from 2.00pm AEDT.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Great to see Cadel up there. Exciting finish!
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
OGE make it 3 from 3 at the Nationals. The Green and Gold jersey will likely be seen in the 2014 TDF peloton later this year.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Gerrans win the gold, Evans silver, Porte bronze. Porte attacked, Gerrans responded with Cadel jumping on his wheel. Evans and Gerrans sprinted for it. Meyer finished 4th with Bobridge in 5th. It's the highest finish for Cadel at the Nationals and his first ever podium at the event.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Porte hammers it and Meyer is chasing to help out Gerrans. Evans sits firmly on Meyer's wheel.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
I'd expect a time trial effort fro Porte and Evans pretty soon. They know they won't beat Gerrans in a sprint.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Meyer has been caught. Once again alongside Porte, Evans and Gerrans. Gerro is the best sprinter and Evans is not expending any energy.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Porte and Evans working together to catch Meyer.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Meyer attacks. Shades of the Schleck brothers against Evans on the Galibier in 2011.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Evans, Meyer, Gerrans and Porte are together at the front.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Evans is after Gerrans and is in second.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Gerrans has caught his teammate and gone past him.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Meyer attacks.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
O'Brien caught by Bobridge and Meyer.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Bobridge responds and drags him back. Mark O'Brien now attacks
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Here goes Darren Lapthorne for Drapac.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Peloton has 19 riders. Durbridge, Matthews, Gerrans and Clarke are there for OGE. Evans and Porte still there.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
The Group of 4 has been caught. Peloton is together and Cadel is still there with one more climb of Mt. Buninyong to come.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Simon Clarke has been caught by Will Clarke. Joined by David Tanner and Zach Dempster.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Gap is just 21 seconds with 14km remaining.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Clarke once again attacks. No one has reacted, he will have to survive just over one lap. Adam Hansen looks to be the only one capable of chasing him and has begun to.