Mike O'Connor
Adelaide will host the Oceania Road Championships from January 15-17, 2027, with the event moving to January for the first time to give more professional riders the opportunity to compete before heading to Europe.
The championships will feature road races and time trials for elite, under-23 and under-19 men and women, forming part of the opening weekend of the Santos Festival of Cycling and coinciding with the first round of the ProVelo Super League.
Course details and the locations of the road races and time trials are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
This year’s championships were held in Brisbane, but the move to Adelaide and a January date shifts the event from its traditional March-April slot.
Oceania Cycling Confederation president and UCI Management Committee member Tony Mitchell said the new timing would give leading riders a better opportunity to compete for the continental titles.
“Positioning the Championships in our summer ahead of the Santos Tour Down Under ensures prime position on the calendar and opens the opportunity for the top professionals to compete and chase the Oceania Champions jersey to wear in Europe,” Mitchell said.
The Oceania Championships will precede the 2027 Santos Tour Down Under, which runs from January 19-24 for the men and January 22-24 for the women.
Organisers say the 2027 edition will be the first time a race has held men’s and women’s WorldTour events over the same distance on the same day, with the two events overlapping during the final three days.
The Oceania Cycling Confederation has 16 members, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa. Past champions include Luke Durbridge, Cameron Meyer, Lucas Hamilton, Chris Harper, Gracie Elvin, Katrin Garfoot, Jess Allen, Lauren Kitchen and Shara Gillow.
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
