Men's Elite Road Race | 2026 Australian Road National Championships
The 2026 Australian Road National Championships moved to Perth, Western Australia for a three-year stint after two decades at Buninyong in Victoria. The 177km elite men's race covers 13 laps of a 13.6km circuit through Perth's CBD and the leafy Kings Park. Unlike Buninyong's defining single climb, Perth's course spreads the climbing over an uphill drag in the first half and punchy pinches in the final stages. The defining feature is Malcolm Street - dubbed 'Pedal Mafia Mountain' - a steep pinch that peaks just 400 metres before the finish line, making for an explosive finale on every lap.
Where to watch
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Men's Elite Road Race | 2026 Australian Road National Championships
The decisive pavé
Where the race is made
Who to watch
Narratives to watch
- Perth locals Jai Hindley and Sam Welsford racing for the green-and-gold jersey in their hometown - extra motivation for the BORA duo
- Jay Vine seeking to add the road title to his TT crown - UAE's climbing specialist showing form early in the season
- Team Jayco AlUla as Australia's only WorldTour team entering with tactical options
- New Perth course creates unpredictability - riders haven't fully decoded the Malcolm Street dynamic yet
- The green-and-gold jersey is the most coveted prize in Australian cycling - WorldTour stars interrupt European preparations to compete
Form book & lore
The Australian Road National Championships have been held annually since 1901, making it one of the oldest national championships in world cycling. The event spent two decades on a fixed course near Ballarat, Victoria, with its race-shaping Buninyong climb becoming iconic. The 2025 move to Perth marked a new era, with a circuit format that rewards different rider characteristics than the climbing-heavy Buninyong course.
When to tune in
Watch for the Malcolm Street pinch on each lap - as fatigue builds through 13 laps, this explosive climb becomes increasingly selective. The Perth course proved more decisive than it appears on paper in 2025, with few opportunities to rest. The flat-ish final kilometers after Malcolm Street make it possible for a small group to stay away, but also allows sprinters to hang on if they survive the climb. Expect attacking racing from the Perth locals eager to perform in front of home fans.