The Lexus of Blackburn Bay Crites, the traditional event that kicks off Australia's summer racing season, will return in 2022.

The long-running event, which in 2020 featured a three-day criterium at two locations in Geelong, finishing in Williamstown, has been shortened to two days this year and will return to its normal format in 2023. 2022's event will be held both days on the held on the course around the Eastern Gardens in Geelong, going clockwise on Saturday, January 8, and backwards on Sunday, January 9. This change in direction is expected to change the dynamic of the race.

"It will be a great race and both courses will offer different challenges. Those hills are incredible, and after having to endure two crazy and challenging years at COVID, it's great to get this event back in front of people," race director John Trevorrow said at the launch across the beach in Geelong.

Summer racing in Australia is usually a time when many European-based riders return home to enjoy early season racing in the warmer weather of the southern hemisphere. Both the World Tour and Women's World Tour teams participate in top-class events, providing an opportunity for domestic riders to race alongside world-class riders in their home countries.

This year, however, the international event and the Herald Sun Tour were canceled for the second time, and the South Australian race was replaced by the national Santos Festival of Cycling. Nevertheless, in September, Trevorrow, with the help of sponsors and supporters, was determined to host the Bay Critz despite the uncertainties.

"Bay Critz was my baby, and I wanted it back," he said. We were just going full speed ahead and the obstacles that stood in our way were just challenges."

Since September, international borders have been opened, quarantine restrictions have eased, and riders from the European World Tour and Women's World Tour have begun returning. At the top of the list are Grace Brown and Luke Plapp.

Brown suffered a shoulder injury that ultimately required surgery and has not raced since the Olympics, before donning the jersey of her new team, FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, at the road national championships, January 12-16, She is delighted to have the chance to make her racing debut with the Lexus of Blackburn team.

"This is my first time racing here. It's a really important event to see how I'm doing for the Japanese championship, and it's an iconic race on the calendar, so I'm happy to be back," Braun said at the presentation.

Plapp, who won a bronze medal in the team pursuit at the Tokyo Olympics, knows firsthand how important a race in Australia is as a stepping stone to a career.

"I grew up watching this race and I love being part of it," Plapp said.

"We will be running with the defending champion Lexus of Blackburn team. Sam Welsford won a few years ago and it's great to have a track team back here. It was a great way to start the year and we're going to have another great team."