Mat Hayman's view
This is more than just a criterium because it's the first real roll-out for a lot of riders on new teams. For many of the Australians, they've already raced at the national championships, but for the rest of the peloton, a lot of riders will have arrived with new squads and new equipment. For everyone involved it's always good to have this little hit-out before the Tour Down Under starts a couple of days later.
This year it's a slightly different circuit with an extra corner thrown in, but it's just such a fast route that the break, which invariably forms, has very little chance of staying away. I tried last year as I was about to retire, but it didn't really happen because it's just so fast along those wide streets.
I was involved with a few wins there, with Team Sky and Mitchelton, and it's a great feeling to win and start the week with that momentum, so teams with sprinters will be treating this as a really competitive outing.
-
Mads Pedersen to undergo surgery after crashing out of first race of 2026 at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
Dane's spring campaign at risk after late wreck -
'It was a really hard-fought battle' - Britain's Matt Richardson delivers rare defeat to Dutch sprinter Harrie Lavreysen to win European sprint title
Josie Nelson breaks women's individual pursuit world record en route to gold in Konya -
'High action, crashes, blood, guts - that's what Americans like' - Cade Bickmore and Danny Summerhill join USPro crit champs Bourgoyne, Fetzer at new Cadence Cyclery p/b Waldo Racing team
'Ragtag group of four dudes, black minivan and five bicycles' won big in 2025 and launches '85-foot mega rig' for criterium-only statement across US -
'There were no layoffs' - Campagnolo sets the record straight as it releases a statement on future plans
Campagnolo will launch new products in the next few months
