Announcing the NRS 2020 Race Calendar

The Cycling Australia (CA) National Road Series (NRS) is back stronger than ever for 2020. Featuring the most iconic domestic races, an exciting new addition and a bolstered women’s roster.

The NRS structure sees the one-day Classics series take place between February and May followed by the Tour series consisting of six individual stage races between July and November.

Kicking off the series on 15 February the second oldest one-day cycling event in the world, the Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool. Now in its 125th year, riders will race the 267km course in hopes of claiming the prestigious spot in history.

On 5 April the NRS is set to welcome back the Tour de Brisbane for its second year. Featuring both men’s and women’s races throughout on an inner-city circuit it has quickly become a favourite for riders.

The Classics series will then be rounded out with the 60th edition of the David Reid Homes Grafton to Inverell on 9 May which will feature a women’s NRS race for the first time.

Come winter, the Tours series of the NRS commences with the Tour of the Tropics between 31 July and 2 August in Cairns, followed quickly by the Tour of The Tweed on 7 – 9 August.

The NRS then continues with the Tour of the Great South Coast ( 25 – 31 August) and the Tour of Gippsland ( 08 – 11 October).

For the penultimate tour of the season, we head back to Tasmania and to one of the most challenging parcours of the NRS. The Queen stage features the iconic Mt. Poatina; steeped in a history of winners that graduate onto the WorldTour.

Then the NRS welcomes for the first time, L’Étape Australia. L’Étape provides a new challenge to the riders as they face mountainous routes based on a similar format to a genuine Tour de France stage.

Cycling Australia’s General Manager – Sport Kipp Kaufmann is excited about how the expanded NRS will benefit riders.

“We are pleased to see the continued growth of the NRS for 2020 with the inclusion of new events and the expansion of the Grafton to Inverell to include a Women’s NRS race” said Kaufmann.

“The quality of racing and events in the series continues to grow and 2020 will be another year of great growth.

2020 Schedule

Classics
Powercor Melbourne to Warrnambool, VIC (Men) 15 February
Tour de Brisbane, QLD (Men & Women) 05 April
David Reid Homes Grafton to Inverell, NSW (Men & Women) 09 May

Tours
Tour of the Tropics, QLD (Men) 2 July 31 – Aug
Tour of Tweed, QLD (Men & Women) 7 – 9 August
Tour of the Great South Coast, SA/VIC (MEN) 25 – 30 August
Tour of Gippsland, VIC (Men & Women) 08 – 11 October
Tour of Tasmania, TAS (Men & Women): TBC
L’Étape Australia, NSW (Men & Women) 27-28 November