Drama at Australian Championships: Jayco AlUla bring back Durbridge in final, conti rider Eddy steals title

The Australian men’s road race championship has been won by Patrick Eddy. The rider from Team Brennan capitalised on a costly tactical error by Jayco AlUla: defending champion Luke Durbridge appeared to be heading for a comfortable solo victory, but was reeled in at the last moment thanks to the efforts of Luke Plapp. In the sprint that followed, it was former WorldTour rider Eddy who proved the fastest.

What a joy it is to watch road racing again! While the Tour Down Under traditionally provides the international kick-off to the season, Australia always begins with its national championships. The time trial was held on Thursday and was won by Jay Vine. In the women’s events, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden claimed the time trial title, while Mackenzie Coupland took victory in the road race.

The men’s road race was the main course. Riders faced a demanding circuit: 176 kilometres with almost 2,000 metres of climbing. In Kings Park, Perth, the route constantly went up and down, featuring two climbs on a 13.5-kilometre lap. Pure sprinters stood little chance, which is why Sam Welsford (INEOS Grenadiers) opted to make the early break.

That move proved promising. Jayco AlUla took control of the race and placed both Durbridge and Ben O'Connor in the front group. O’Connor looked like the outright favourite, particularly as Vine (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) had missed the move. The Jayco riders lifted the pace and dropped Welsford, who was forced to let go.

Vine then attempted to bridge across on his own, but quickly found himself stuck in no man’s land. Tactical games soon began at the front: Durbridge launched the first attack with around 40 kilometres remaining, at a moment when only five riders were left in the lead group. O’Connor disrupted the chase behind, allowing his team-mate to extend his advantage.

A lack of cooperation in the second group allowed Chris Harper (Pinarello – Q36.5) to bridge across, but the gap to the peloton remained small. Durbridge did not look entirely comfortable and gradually began to lose time. Could he hang on, or would he be caught after all? With two laps remaining, Durbridge still held a one-minute lead over the chasers and a margin of 1:40 over the peloton.

Vine, who had done most of the work earlier, had meanwhile drifted back. The second group was absorbed by the peloton, but crucially without making any real inroads on the leader. A new chase group then formed, but once again it was neutralised by Jayco AlUla’s numerical superiority. Everything appeared under control - or so it seemed.

That illusion was shattered when Plapp launched a decisive attack, bringing O’Connor with him, alongside Oscar Chamberlain and Eddy. The quartet worked well together, and Durbridge’s advantage evaporated rapidly. Plapp had gifted Durbridge the title last year, but this time the defending champion was caught with just 800 metres to go. And Plapp himself? He was beaten in the sprint by former Picnic PostNL rider Eddy, who claimed the Australian road race title in sensational fashion.