Aussie Summer of Cycling 2026

[eth-dog]

Nats start in a week, run from Wednesday the 7th through to Sunday. Start with time trials on Wednesday and Thursday, then Crits on Friday, road races Saturday and Sunday. All times local (so add 3 hours if you're from Melbourne, Sydney etc)

Time Trials:

Wed: Club TTT 9:30-12:30, MU19 12:40-2:15, WU19 2:30-3, MU23 3:15-4:45
Thu: Para categories (too many to list them all) 9:30-12, WU23 12:15-1:30, WE 12:45-2:10, ME 2-3:45

Crits:

Fri: Club Crits 9:45-11:35, U19 11:45-1:30, MU23 2:50-3:45, WE 4-4:55, ME 5:15-6:30

Roas Races:

Sat: Para categories 6:30-9:15, MU19 9:30-12:25 (est), WU19 9:32-12:10 (est), MU23 1-4:30 (est)
Sun: Gran Fondo 7-10:15, WE/WU23 11-2 (est), ME 2:50-7 (est)

Genuinely puzzling how they're doing it on Saturday. Surely they can run the under 19 races separately?

After that you have the TDU WE running from the 17th-19th, TDU ME 20th-25th, SCC on 28th and 29th, and CEGORR 31st and 1st.

Some quality in the women's TDU with Chapman, Realini and Smulders the current headlines. Men have Guillaume Martin, Alberto Dainese, Lucas Plapp, Mauro Schmid, Ben O'Connor, Adam Yates, Jay Vine, Santiago Buitrago, Simon Clarke, Chris Harper and Michal Kwiatkowski as Grand Tour stage winners or even Grand Tour podium's in the case of BOC and Yates.

 

[The Kings Ransom]

How does Harper ride for the 'Team Aus' with his team Q36.5 not attending.

Presumably, any UCI points he scores are not assigned to Q36.5?

 

[eth-dog]

How does Harper ride for the 'Team Aus' with his team Q36.5 not attending.

Presumably, any UCI points he scores are not assigned to Q36.5?

Because he'll be down for Nats. And they will go to Q36.5

 

[Orange Agent]

How does Harper ride for the 'Team Aus' with his team Q36.5 not attending.

Presumably, any UCI points he scores are not assigned to Q36.5?

Howson as well. They should either give Q36.5 a wildcard, Joey Pidcock comes out here for a holiday anyway, could probably get Tom. Or go back to development team like it used to be. Liam Walsh probably only gets one stage to sprint and as good Lucas Stevenson is, this is probably a step too much at this stage.

 

[eth-dog]

Howson as well. They should either give Q36.5 a wildcard, Joey Pidcock comes out here for a holiday anyway, could probably get Tom. Or go back to development team like it used to be. Liam Walsh probably only gets one stage to sprint and as good Lucas Stevenson is, this is probably a step too much at this stage.

They get an automatic invitation (along with Tudor and Cofidis) but they turned it down like Cofidis.

 

[The Kings Ransom]

It's weird to me that the team can turn down the invite, but riders tied to them can still ride not under their team umbrella and score points for the team.

 

[eth-dog]

Men's Start List | Santos Tour Down Under

Every year, UCI WorldTeams travel to South Australia to race in Australia's greatest cycling race, the Santos Tour Down Under. View the men's team and riders who are racing in the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under.

tourdownunder.com.au

Notable sprinters: Welsford, Brennan, Andreson, Molano, Van Poppel, Dainese, Gate
Notable GC candidates: Yates, O'Connor, Vine, Buitrago, Martin, Fisher-Black, Haig, Zana, Harper
Favourites for the first stage: Plapp, Vine, Cavagna, Oliviera, Schmid, Sobrero

 

[Orange Agent]

They get an automatic invitation (along with Tudor and Cofidis) but they turned it down like Cofidis.

It's more a national team selection issue, Howson and Harper have nothing to gain from this. The guys like Eddy can use it to get a contract somewhere. It should be to provide an opportunity for riders on the edge or from track team or other disciplines.

 

[yaco55]

Men's Start List | Santos Tour Down Under

Every year, UCI WorldTeams travel to South Australia to race in Australia's greatest cycling race, the Santos Tour Down Under. View the men's team and riders who are racing in the 2026 Santos Tour Down Under.

tourdownunder.com.au

Notable sprinters: Welsford, Brennan, Andreson, Molano, Van Poppel, Dainese, Gate
Notable GC candidates: Yates, O'Connor, Vine, Buitrago, Martin, Fisher-Black, Haig, Zana, Harper
Favourites for the first stage: Plapp, Vine, Cavagna, Oliviera, Schmid, Sobrero

Pretty keen on Oliveira. Sprinters often do well in short prologues and should not be discounted.

 

[eth-dog]

Pretty keen on Oliveira. Sprinters often do well in short prologues and should not be discounted.

It's nice and flowing which does suit them as much as the TT specialists, not overly technical to get the likes of Yates, BOC or Martin closer

 

[eth-dog]

Potential Champs Startlist for WT teams and PRT's based on the TDU startlist:

Jayco: Durbridge, McKenzie, O'Brien, O'Connor, Porter, Plapp
Alpecin: Plowright
Bahrain-Victorious: Stannard
Decathlon: Chamberlain, Scotson
EF Education: Mackellar, Sweeney
Ineos: Haig, Hamilton, Welsford
Lotto: Fox
NSN: Clarke, Gilmore, Schultz
Bora: Drizners, Tuckwell
Picnic: Dinham, Hamilton
UAE: Vine
Q36.5: Harper, Howson

The most bizarre thing is that despite having Michael Storer in their squad, Tudor have opted for all three Australian races yet he's not in their TDU team. If he does end up racing the Nats that would be even more bizarre. Is he injured?

Also a strong kiwi contingent. Bower, Thompson, Bennett, Strong, Fisher-Black, Pithie and Gate on the startlist. Wonder if all of them stick around for their Champs the week after the CEGORR. Would be nice to see the Kiwi National out in the WT this year on one of their shoulders.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Plapp or Durbridge for the RR and TT.

Luke Lamperti will win a stage in the TDU.

Looking at the startlist can't see how Narvaez loses.

 

[eth-dog]

Plapp or Durbridge for the RR and TT.

Luke Lamperti will win a stage in the TDU.

Looking at the startlist can't see how Narvaez loses.

Really? He'll lose time on the prologue to Yates and Vine and then UAE probably protect them instead.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Really? He'll lose time on the prologue to Yates and Vine and then UAE probably protect them instead.

He won't lose more than 10 seconds to them. He will pick seconds up in the intermediate sprints, and will probably win stage two unless a GC rider solos as he is the fastest of the GC men.

He only lost six or so seconds behind Waerenskjold in Germany and in Romandie two years ago, finished four seconds behind Yates.

He is explosive so he isn't going to lose big chunks in 3.6km. Assume its technical? Will suit him better getting up to speed.

 

[yaco55]

Plapp or Durbridge for the RR and TT.

Luke Lamperti will win a stage in the TDU.

Looking at the startlist can't see how Narvaez loses.

Narvaez never put his face in the wind in 2025, however, he will have to in 2026. Injuries have already started. Liv Alula Jayco lose their GC leader in Smulders after a training crash. They'll need to be creative to get a result in the Aussie summer.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Narvaez never put his face in the wind in 2025, however, he will have to in 2026. Injuries have already started. Liv Alula Jayco lose their GC leader in Smulders after a training crash. They'll need to be creative to get a result in the Aussie summer.

Hypothetical. Let's say Narvaez loses 10 seconds to Vine in a 3.6km prologue on road bikes, Vine will be protected initially, but if stage 2 is a GC sprint (most likely), no one is beating Narvaez. He gets the lead back.

Do they then do a 1/2 on Willunga or ride for Narvaez to outsprint everyone? They won't burn Narvaez on that climb to try and set it up for Vine. They will want Narvaez fresh. They will still try and set it up for him. If it is a headwind, they ride for him.

So for me, there is only two possible winners. Vine or Narvaez. I would be leaning Narvaez.

Brennan will win stage 5 but Narvaez could alao finish second or third.

 

[eth-dog]

He won't lose more than 10 seconds to them. He will pick seconds up in the intermediate sprints, and will probably win stage two unless a GC rider solos as he is the fastest of the GC men.

He only lost six or so seconds behind Waerenskjold in Germany and in Romandie two years ago, finished four seconds behind Yates.

He is explosive so he isn't going to lose big chunks in 3.6km. Assume its technical? Will suit him better getting up to speed.

I can easily see him losing 15 seconds to Vine, and it's not very technical which doesn't suit him at all:



The prologue suits the specialists like Vine, Plapp, Oliviera, Cavagna and Sobrero (who I have as a smokie for top 10).

 

[SpecialBruce]

It's a pretty ordinary startlist for GC. UAE have the strongest team. Shame that Onley isn't here.

 

[SpecialBruce]

I can easily see him losing 15 seconds to Vine, and it's not very technical which doesn't suit him at all:

View attachment 2504623

The prologue suits the specialists like Vine, Plapp, Oliviera, Cavagna and Sobrero (who I have as a smokie for top 10).

Road bikes brings specialists back to the pack a bit

 

[Orange Agent]

Potential Champs Startlist for WT teams and PRT's based on the TDU startlist:

Jayco: Durbridge, McKenzie, O'Brien, O'Connor, Porter, Plapp
Alpecin: Plowright
Bahrain-Victorious: Stannard
Decathlon: Chamberlain, Scotson
EF Education: Mackellar, Sweeney
Ineos: Haig, Hamilton, Welsford
Lotto: Fox
NSN: Clarke, Gilmore, Schultz
Bora: Drizners, Tuckwell
Picnic: Dinham, Hamilton
UAE: Vine
Q36.5: Harper, Howson

The most bizarre thing is that despite having Michael Storer in their squad, Tudor have opted for all three Australian races yet he's not in their TDU team. If he does end up racing the Nats that would be even more bizarre. Is he injured?

Also a strong kiwi contingent. Bower, Thompson, Bennett, Strong, Fisher-Black, Pithie and Gate on the startlist. Wonder if all of them stick around for their Champs the week after the CEGORR. Would be nice to see the Kiwi National out in the WT this year on one of their shoulders.

Start lists are out now.

Start Lists and Results: 2026 Westbridge Funds RoadNats | Road Nationals

Start Lists and Results for the 2026 Westbridge Funds Road National Championships in Perth, Western Australia, in January 2026.

roadnationals.org.au

 

[eth-dog]

It's a pretty ordinary startlist for GC. UAE have the strongest team. Shame that Onley isn't here.

Really? Probably the best GC startlist since 23 where you had Bilbao, S Yates, O'Connor, Hindley, Vine and Tiberi on the startlist, and really only second to that group for a while.

Road bikes brings specialists back to the pack a bit

Not that much.

Hypothetical. Let's say Narvaez loses 10 seconds to Vine in a 3.6km prologue on road bikes, Vine will be protected initially, but if stage 2 is a GC sprint (most likely), no one is beating Narvaez. He gets the lead back.

Do they then do a 1/2 on Willunga or ride for Narvaez to outsprint everyone? They won't burn Narvaez on that climb to try and set it up for Vine. They will want Narvaez fresh. They will still try and set it up for him. If it is a headwind, they ride for him.

So for me, there is only two possible winners. Vine or Narvaez. I would be leaning Narvaez.

Brennan will win stage 5 but Narvaez could alao finish second or third.

Narvaez will do extremely well to only lose 10 seconds to Vine. Also you're forgetting about Yates, who he will also likely finish behind in the prologue. There's no chance they waste Yates on the front up Corkscrew so that'll fall to Narvaez in the second ascent. I think Vine wins but there's a number of others I can see winning as well, not limited to Yates, Narvaez, Plapp, O'Connor, Buitrago, Van Eetvelt, Haig, Fisher-Black. Hell, I have Schmid and Sobrero as outsiders as they're very good in the ITT and suit the climbs here in Australia.

Start lists are out now.

Start Lists and Results: 2026 Westbridge Funds RoadNats | Road Nationals

Start Lists and Results for the 2026 Westbridge Funds Road National Championships in Perth, Western Australia, in January 2026.

roadnationals.org.au

By my eye that's no Stannard, Scotson, Haig, Hamilton x2, Sweeney, Fox, Clarke (understandable, he's retiring), Schultz, Drizners or Tuckwell in that startlist. Strange, why come out for the TDU and not ride Nats? Especially Haig, since he's from Perth too.

 

[Orange Agent]

By my eye that's no Stannard, Scotson, Haig, Hamilton x2, Sweeney, Fox, Clarke (understandable, he's retiring), Schultz, Drizners or Tuckwell in that startlist. Strange, why come out for the TDU and not ride Nats? Especially Haig, since he's from Perth too.

Jack's from Bendigo, but it's rare for him to come home for summer. RR has a really poor start list, as it did last year. With Greenedge being able to do whatever they want, the incentive to go over there isn't great. Sweeney was supposed to be GC leader for TDU, and for most others it's a long trip for what could likely end up a training ride. I think the main reason Vine goes is the TT.

 

[eth-dog]

Jack's from Bendigo, but it's rare for him to come home for summer. RR has a really poor start list, as it did last year. With Greenedge being able to do whatever they want, the incentive to go over there isn't great. Sweeney was supposed to be GC leader for TDU, and for most others it's a long trip for what could likely end up a training ride. I think the main reason Vine goes is the TT.

I thought Ineos at least would with 3 Aussies in their squad, all of whom are riding in the TDU. Plus if they can get Welsford up that last hill in the front group he will outsprint the others.

I just want a competitive champs for once.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Really? Probably the best GC startlist since 23 where you had Bilbao, S Yates, O'Connor, Hindley, Vine and Tiberi on the startlist, and really only second to that group for a while.

Not that much.

Narvaez will do extremely well to only lose 10 seconds to Vine. Also you're forgetting about Yates, who he will also likely finish behind in the prologue. There's no chance they waste Yates on the front up Corkscrew so that'll fall to Narvaez in the second ascent. I think Vine wins but there's a number of others I can see winning as well, not limited to Yates, Narvaez, Plapp, O'Connor, Buitrago, Van Eetvelt, Haig, Fisher-Black. Hell, I have Schmid and Sobrero as outsiders as they're very good in the ITT and suit the climbs here in Australia.

By my eye that's no Stannard, Scotson, Haig, Hamilton x2, Sweeney, Fox, Clarke (understandable, he's retiring), Schultz, Drizners or Tuckwell in that startlist. Strange, why come out for the TDU and not ride Nats? Especially Haig, since he's from Perth too.

You are really overrating the prologue.

No chance to win = Buitrago, O'Connor, Plapp (extremely overrated by Australian's as a GC rider. Tell me when the last time was Plapp shone at the TDU in the GC or any GC for that matter), Van Eetvelt, Haig.

Minus Plapp, Narvaez should beat half of them in the prologue or lose one or two seconds.

TDU is usually won by riders with a sprint due to the insane bonus seconds. Rules Buitrago, O'Connor Haig etc out immediately. If UAE go all in for Vine, Narvaez will eat all the bonus seconds up so others can't get them.

If Vine didn't have Narvaez, it might be different, but if Vine puts so much time into him than everyone thinks, he will still mop up bonua seconds preventing Vine's rivals from getting them.

Barring crashes, UAE have this race in their hands.

 

[SpecialBruce]

I thought Ineos at least would with 3 Aussies in their squad, all of whom are riding in the TDU. Plus if they can get Welsford up that last hill in the front group he will outsprint the others.

I just want a competitive champs for once.

Jayco will dominate. All about who they ride for.