The Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) is pleased to announce the 2018 Oceania Road Cycling Championships will be held in Tasmania, Australia, March 23-25, 2018.

12 titles will be awarded over three days of competition in Time Trial and Road Race events across elite, under 23 and under 19 categories for men and women. The Championships attract the best riders from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tahiti, New Caledonia and Guam and will be the final UCI event in Oceania ahead of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

President of the Oceania Cycling Confederation and Member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Management Committee Tracey Gaudry said, “The UCI and Oceania Cycling Confederation are delighted to award the 2018 Oceania Road Championships to Tasmania for the first time in recognition of the growing role that cycling plays in Tasmania – for sport, recreation and active transport.”

The Championships have been awarded to Tasmania following an exciting week of racing in the State that saw the Spirit of Tasmania Tour of Tasmania and Stan Seijka Classic attract some of the biggest names in the region. Tasmania was also the host state for the Australian Junior Road National Championships this year.

“With many successful domestic cycling events established in Tasmania, we are delighted that the Tasmanian Government is actively supporting the introduction of international cycling to the State,” Gaudry continued.

“The Oceania Championships are the highest ranked international Championships in cycling after the World Championships.”

The 2017 Oceania Road Cycling Championships were held in Canberra, Australia in March and proved to be a successful launching pad for athletes who experienced continued success throughout the year. After winning the under 19 women’s road race championship Tasmania’s Madeleine Fasnacht (Australia) went on to win bronze in the time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway.

Meanwhile elite women’s time trial champion Lucy Kennedy (Australia) has signed a professional contract with the UCI Women’s Team Orica-SCOTT and the men’s road race podium of Lucas Hamilton (Australia), Michael Storer (Australia) and Jai Hindley (Australia) all join the UCI World Tour ranks in 2018.

2018 Oceania Continental Championships
2018 Oceania Track Championships: 20-23 November 2017 – Cambridge, New Zealand
2018 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships: 9-11 February 2018 – Dunedin, New Zealand
2018 Oceania BMX Championships: 21 March 2018 – Bunbury, Australia
2018 Oceania Road Championships: 23-25 March 2018 – Tasmania, Australia