The Australian National Championships road race to be held on January 12, will kick-off the 2014 cycling season with the change of its traditional route, should the new one become harder and more selective. The reversal of the Buninyong climb meets the approval of the former Australian National Champion Simon Gerrans, who won the road race on a similar path in 2012 and does not hide any satisfaction that the challenge has been made tougher, and thus should it favor the strongest riders of the moment.

"You can never say with certainty how a change will affect the course of the race,” Orica-GreenEDGE cyclist and the winner of the Tour de France two stages told SBS Cycling Central.

“To predict how the race will unfold tactically, this is the question. But my first thought is that it makes the ride more selective."

As in all national tests, it is extremely favorable to ride with the support of team-mates, but according to former Sky Procycling rider, the broad particularity of the track specialists participating in Australian Championship road race could makes the situation less complicated for the athletes chasing their luck without any help.

"Buninyong is difficult. Obviuosly, it is always an advantage to have a team backing you, there's no doubt about that, but it is not such a big disadvantage on a circuit like this to be a sole rider if you're going to race really strongly. Classic example is that of Matt Lloyd. He was there to fight for the win so many times, and hardly ever had any team-mates supporting him.

“That's why I like the idea that the race is more selective: it should not be a case of luck and I personally think that all the national races should favor the strongest rider of the day among those competing for the victory, not the luckiest ones."

While waiting for the official composition of the teams being announced, the 33 year-old Australian fears most the fierce competition of the Drapac Cycling Team and the young fellow countrymen of Garmin- Sharp, who "are improving year by year," and that they may already be in a "good shape " in January.