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Any cyclist new to Ballarat will think they have struck gold, and it’s all thanks to the Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club.
The well-established club has approximately 350 members and caters for all cycling disciplines. The club has an extensive racing calendar that includes crits, road racing, MTB events, BMX races and track riding. How many clubs can offer all of that?!
The Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club provides year-round racing and plenty of support for those new to cycling. As well as running A, B and C grades through most of their events, the club has a strong commitment to developing their juniors and welcoming first-timers.
See also: Meet the Dirt Girls!
Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club board member Tim Canny explains the strong culture at the club.
“The club is a very close club. A lot of the members ride in bunches together, train together and we have a really good group of members who all get along.”
The great riding on offer around Ballarat obviously has a lot to do with the growth of cycling in the area, but it’s the commitment from the locals that breeds success. It’s not unusual to see some big name NRS riders sweeping corners prior to the Wednesday night crits, or providing some advice to juniors.
Ballarat MTB Dirt Crits
The MTB Dirt Crits on a Tuesday night showcases the family environment of the Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club. Kids aged between 4-7 years of age tear around the MTB crits track prior to the seniors having a go. Watching the kids race around the Dirt Crit circuit, it’s hard to know who is having more fun, the kids or the many parents and volunteers watching.
See also: Check out Ballarat's Top 3 MTB Rides
Ballarat Road Crits
From October to March the Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club runs crit racing around Victoria Park. The 1.1km closed circuit is fast and open, producing some quality racing and perfect viewing for spectators.
The club will regularly get well over 50 riders down across all grades. The juniors and first timers kick things off at about 5:45pm with the more experienced club members showing them the ropes. It’s then A, B and C grade racing at approximately 6:15pm.
The crits cater for all abilities, from the first-timer to the most elite level cyclist. And when we say elite level, we mean elite level. Ballarat is home to many exceptional cyclists including NRS and international riders, so regardless of your fitness level you are assured of some quality racing.
See also: Check out Ballarat's Top 6 Road Rides
The Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club is exceptionally welcoming. If you are new to Ballarat or just passing through, get in contact with the club and they can hook you up with one of the many local group rides or point you towards the best local route.
