In previous years the Queensland native had ridden for the Mackay Cycling Club, but this time around he was proudly representing the Bathurst Cycling Club.

It is a club which has embraced Nicholas since he moved to the city five years ago.

"It was my first time representing Bathurst Cycling Club. I am extremely proud to be able to join the club finally as they have supported me ever since I first moved to Bathurst," he said.

Facing an 18.8 kilometre course in Ballarat - one which was 12km shorter than what he'd conquered in 2021 - Nicholas knew he would have to push hard to defend his Australian title.

That is exactly what Nicholas, who won a bronze on the track at last year's Tokyo Paralympic Games, did on a course that featured a 228 metre elevation change as he averaged 40.21km/hr.

It saw Nicholas stop the clock in a time of 28:03.28 to win by 46.16 seconds over Moreton Bay rider Kyle Willis.

"The conditions were good on course today. A little bit of cross wind, but apart from that it was almost perfect," Nicholas said.

"The atmosphere was reasonable considering that COVID is affecting the whole country, but it's great to see people still coming out to race and get on with business."

Though Nicholas is no stranger to pulling on the victor's jersey, it was still a moment he cherished.

"I still enjoy racing nationals every year. It's great to see new athletes competing each year and get to pull on national champions' jersey," the 30-year-old said.

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On Saturday Nicholas will tackle the 51 kilometre men's C3 road race, an event in which he is the six-times defending champion.

If Nicholas manages to extend that winning streak, it will also mark his 32nd national championship victory overall across both track and road titles.

While the Bathurst cyclist is in good touch, he is wary of Queensland talent Willis who has improved since claiming bronze in last year's edition of the national road race.

"[Wednesday's] TT gives me a little bit of confidence, however Kyle Willis is getting just better and better each year, so I will have be on my game in the road race," Nicholas said.

Meanwhile fellow Bathurst Cycling Club talent Luke Tuckwell placed 14th in the junior men's individual time trial event as he began his own Road National Championships campaign.

Like Nicholas, Tuckwell raced on the 18.8km course and he stopped the clock in a time of 26:30.50. It was an effort that was 2:04.15 down on victor Hamish McKenzie from Northern Districts CC.

Former Bathurst Cycling Club and Western Region Academy of Sport rider Emily Watts marked her first race of the 2022 road nationals with a bronze in the under 23s women's individual time trial.

Riding in the combined under 23s/elite women's field for the Knights of Suburbia team, the 28.6km course Watts faced consisted of two laps of a circuit that featured tight turns and around 180 metres of elevation gain.

But she rode strongly to cover the course in a time of 44:37.66 to place 13^th outright and third in the under 23s division behind Anya Louw (43:31.17) and Alyssa Polites (44:09.21).

It is the third time the Lithgow native has enjoyed an under 23s podium in this event, having placed third in 2020 and snaring the silver last year.

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