Rohan Dennis and Richie Porte are the only two riders to have won on the current Buninyong Australian national championships time trial course. It's therefore no surprise the BMC teammates will start Friday's 40.9km out and back course as the overwhelming favourites.
Teammate and current road race champion Miles Scotson has also tasted success on the course, claiming the 2015 U23 title and is aiming for his first elite podium.
Dennis, who won four-time trials last season, enjoyed a white Christmas in Europe with a delayed return to Australia compared to previous years. But Dennis knows the demands of the course arguably better than any other rider and is well poised for a third straight win.
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"It will be interesting because I have only just returned back to Australia after spending winter in Europe, so it will depend on how my body copes in the heat," Dennis said. “My form is as good as any other year. It's all about not going out too hard especially on the final climb on the way back as there are still ten kilometers to go. Those last ten kilometers take longer than you think they should and it's always mentally tough."
Although Porte has only limited race days since crashing out the Tour last year, where he last rode against the clock, the 2015 champion can't be discounted from medal contention.
"To be honest it's hard to know how my form is when I haven't raced properly in so long," said Porte. "For both the time trial and the road race, my goal is to get some good racing kilometers in my legs in the lead up to the Santos Tour Down Under. Anything more than that is a bonus at this stage. I hope to produce a decent time trial result and in the road race, I think we have a strong team to give it a good shot."
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