The Greater Shepparton region of Victoria will be home to cycling’s generation-next this weekend when it hosts the 2012 Cycling Australia U19 Road National Championships.

Hundreds of Australia’s brightest young cyclists will contest the four-day event from Thursday June 28 to Sunday July 1, with 2012 national champions to be crowned in the individual time trial, road race and criterium.

The event has been a breeding ground for Australia’s elite professional cyclists, with 2012 London Olympic Games cyclists Rohan Dennis, Josephine Tomic (WAIS), Melissa Hoskins (WAIS) and Amy Cure, plus reigning world champions and Orica GreenEDGE cyclists Cameron Meyer (WAIS) and Luke Durbridge (WAIS), all forging their careers with victories at the championships.

Both the men's and women's fields are littered with reigning junior world and national champions, with 2011 team pursuit world champions Alexander Morgan (VIC), Caleb Ewan (NSW) and Jack Cummings (VIC) the ones to beat in a strong under 19 men’s field.

As defending champion in the time trial, Morgan will wear the number saddle-cloth, with Ewan also eager to defend his criterium crown. Miles Scotson (SA), Nicholas Schultz (QLD) and Trent Derecourt (WAIS) are also expected to perform strongly.

The under 19 women’s entries have doubled in just one year, with dual 2011 junior track world champion Taylah Jennings (QLD) headlining a superb line-up of riders.

The defending champion in the road race, Jennings will go head-to-head with her junior world champion pursuit team-mates Emily Roper (QLD), the 2012 Subaru National Road Series (NRS) under 19 standings leader, and Georgia Baker (TAS).

Others to watch in the women's category include defending time trial champion Allison Rice (ACT) and Jessica Mundy (SA), who currently sit second and third respectively in the NRSstandings behind Roper.

Greater Shepparton Mayor Michael Polan said the event would further build on the municipality’s reputation as an event destination.

"Shepparton has already seen successful partnerships with the U15 & U17 National Championships, together with the Oceania road and MTB championships which were held in 2011,” said Polan. "So hosting the U19 Road National Championships cements our support for cycling in our region."

"It is fantastic for Greater Shepparton to be hosting an event such as this and continues to showcase the municipality as a major events destination providing a fantastic boost for the tourism and retail industries,” he added.

The action gets underway on Thursday with the individual time trials in Dookie, with a rest day scheduled for Friday. Dookie will also host the road races on Saturday before the action moves to Shepparton on Sunday for the critierums.

The 2012 Cycling Australia U19 Road National Championships run from Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July in the Shepparton & Dookie areas of regional Victoria and are being hosted in conjunction with Cycling Australia and the Greater Shepparton City Council.

- Cycling Australia