Bathurst Cycling Classic: 2020's road race champions Sam Hill, Emily Watts win hill climb

Tamworth Cycle Club member Hill (Team Bridgelane), completed the ascent from Mount Panorama's starting line to Skyline in a time of six minutes and 45.07 seconds (28.44km/h average) while former Bathurst Cycling Club rider Watts (Sydney Uni Velo, KOM Knights Racing) reached the finish of the 3.2 kilometre ascent in 8:26.21 (22.76 km/h).

Hill's brother and teammate Ben (Canberra Cycling Club) managed to break the seven minute barrier on his way to the runner-up spot (6:59.61) while Brandon Conway (Port Macquarie CC) was third in 7:03.95.

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The wins for Hill and Watts gave them the early advantage in the newly introduced Bathurst Tour, which is a combined point score made up of the hill climb, criterium and road race results.

This year's hill climb course was a change from previous editions. It used the Mount Panorama course itself, as opposed to the old side road (Barry Gurdon Drive).

Men's winner Hill was quick to acknowledge his brother's fall at the Tour Down Under earlier this year, believing the result in Friday's climb could have been a closer affair if not for Ben's disrupted preparation.

"Ben's had a pretty interrupted run. I mean, he was in hospital for quite some time after TDU," he told Cycling NSW.

"Not ideal prep, but still, it always feels good to get one over Ben. We have a pretty healthy rivalry, so it's good to get him back this year.

"I prefer [the new course]. It is a bit more steady. Last year was a bit of 'flat, climb, flat'. This year, I found it a bit more consistent besides the top, which suits me."

He is one of several TCC members competing in the tour.

In other results Luke Deasey was 13^th in Division 1, Luke O'Connor fifth in Division 3 and Pip Ash 13^th in the Division 1 women's.

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