On Tuesday, good news was announced for Australian race fans: the road championships for all categories to be held in 2021 will now be held on the later date of February 3-7.

It was announced this week that the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race for men and women have been cancelled, as has the Herald Sun Tour for men and women in August.

AusCycling (the new name for the Australian Cycling Federation), the national federation Cycling Australia following the merger of the six state organizations and the BMX and mountain bike disciplines, announced in a press release that the championships would be held one month later than normal and The event will be held "to optimize the COVID-19 plan and provide a safe environment for the community, competitors and workers, allowing us to safely deliver a major regional event to the Ballarat region."

and continued: "AusCycling has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the City of Ballarat to ensure that the Championships are held in a safe environment at COVID. Details of these plans will be announced closer to the championships."

AusCycling added that the road championships will follow the same format as last January's event, with all time trials taking place on Wednesday, February 3 and the criterium on Friday evening, February 5.

The road races will be held on the familiar Mount Bunyon circuit, with the under-23 men's road race on Saturday, February 6, and the elite/U23 women's road race and elite men's road race on Sunday, February 7.

"After such a challenging year, we are excited to host the Collegiate Championships."

"As part of an exciting national cycling summer, we look forward to the positive impact the championships will have on Ballarat and the cycling community.

Janet Dore, CEO of the City of Ballarat, added, "The City of Ballarat is committed to working with Aust Cycling to bring this world-class event to Ballarat in February 2021 in a COVID safe format that protects the community, riders and spectators ."