Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) cyclists are off to a flying start in 2010 with Rohan Dennis, Cameron Meyer, Michael Hepburn and Travis Meyer each winning a national title at the Scody Australian Open Road Cycling Championships, which were held in Ballarat, Victoria from 6 to 10 January.

AIS athletes had a double win on the first day of competition, with Rohan Dennis claiming victory in the 28km men’s under-23 time trial on 6 January, recording a time of 36 minutes, 13.30 seconds. A few hours later, Cameron Meyer also triumphed, in the 39km men’s time trial, with a time of 50 minutes, 52.74 seconds.

Former Australian Sports Commission National Talent Identification and Development cyclist Bridie O’Donnell was also successful in the 28km women’s time trial, finishing in second place behind South Australia’s Amber Halliday (with respective times of and 41 minutes, 2 seconds and 40 minutes, 57.10 seconds), followed by AIS cyclist Carly Light in third place (41 minutes, 59.8 seconds).

Three days later, on 9 January, 18-year-old Michael Hepburn won the 122.4km men’s under-23 road race in 3 hours, 20 minutes, 7 seconds, ahead of AIS team-mates Malcolm Rudolph in second place and Michael Matthews in third.

‘It is pretty special being my first race out of the junior ranks and it will be very special to wear the Australian jersey competing in the under-23 and senior men’s Milan—San Remo road race in Italy,’ said Hepburn.

The Myer family had their second win of the competition on the final day of races with Travis Meyer, brother of Cameron, blitzing the 163.2km men’s road race on 10 January. He won by a considerable margin after attacking the lead group on the final lap and finishing in 4 hours, 26 minutes, 31 seconds.
‘My first ever road national title and to do it in my first race in elite men, it is an unbelievable feeling,’ said Meyer.