Cycling New Zealand has confirmed that the Elite Road Cycling National Championships will be based in the Waikato for two years from 2026.

The 2025 championships will be staged for a second straight year in Timaru on 6-8 February before the championships head to the North Island for 2026 and 2027.

The event will be in partnership with the Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club with the dates and courses to be confirmed.

The Te Awamutu club has a rich heritage in the sport and hosts successful club racing throughout the year, along with their annual Te Awamutu Tour, which is based at Goodwood, near Cambridge.

“Staging any event in the current sporting climate is significant with the complexities of traffic management and other regulatory requirements,” said Cycling New Zealand CEO, Simon Peterson.

“Cycling New Zealand is fortunate to have strong and supportive clubs like Timaru and Te Awamutu with the experience, time, energy and expertise to take up the challenge of staging an important event like the Elite National Road Championships.”

Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club President, Marc Gascoigne, says the club is excited to host the championships and welcome New Zealand’s top cyclists to the Waikato region.

“I’m proud to be President of the TA Cycling Club.  Our members are passionate about cycling and are always eager to pitch in and help run events, both on the road and the track - the 2026/27 Elite Road Championships will be no exception.  Not only do we have a strong, dedicated, and experienced committee but we’re fortunate to have cycling legend, Stephen Cox working alongside us.  This will be a huge event for the Waipa District – aptly known as the Home of Champions - and we can’t wait!”

It will be the first time that the Te Awamutu Club has hosted the Elite Road Championships since 2009 when Gordon McCauley won the men’s title for a record fifth time, and Melissa Holt claimed her third women’s elite title.

The championships have been staged on several occasions in the Waikato, most recently in Tokoroa in 2023, Cambridge for the preceding three years, and Te Awamutu in 2009 and 2000, won by former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Glen Thomson and Sydney Olympian Fiona Ramage.

Other venues in the Waikato to host the championships include (winner in brackets): Morrinsville in 1995 (winners Norm Shattock, Tania Duff-Miller); Hamilton in 1992 (Dean Peterken, Roz Reekie); Kiwitahi near Morrinsville in 1983 (Eric O’Brien, M McDonald); Tokoroa in 1978 (Jack Swart); Kiwitahi in 1971 (Vern Hanaray);  Kiwitahi 1964 (G Grey); Karapiro in 1956 (L Parris) and Matamata 1951 (A Sweeney).

*Note that the national road race started in 1934 for men and 1981 for women.

Details on dates and courses will follow in due course.