MOMENTUM is building towards the start of the Great South Coast Cycling Tour today, with hundreds of people arriving in Mount Gambier for the event this week.
For the seventh consecutive year, cyclists from all over Australia and the world will descend on the region to compete for the title.
“I am tremendously excited for the event and I am full of praise for the support this event has received from the Mount Gambier City Council and Grant District Council,” Caribou Publications director John Craven said.
“The event is expected to attract a minimum of 400 racing personnel to the region in the dead middle of winter, which is great for local tourism.”
The tour – which is the only cross-border event on the nation’s cycling calendar – has continued to grow since the inaugural event seven years ago, despite having a smaller budget than other races.
“The effort the organisers and local councils have put in to continue to get this international cycling event up and going each year is a credit to them,” Craven said.
“There are cyclists out there who say this is the best tour in Australia – they have a lot of affection for the course, the support it receives from sponsors and the great people they meet along the way.”
Forecasted rain is not expected to deter 104 competitors and cycling enthusiasts when the event kicks off at Vansittart Park today with a 36km city circuit.
“The first stage has been bludgened by bad weather almost every year, which has become a bit of a comedy point amongst the people involved,” Craven said.
“Standing in the rain watching the race will add to the theatre and I know some of the riders enjoy tougher conditions.”
Craven said he expected a highly competitive tour due to the quality of the field this year.
“There is always a large percentage of the tour who know they cannot win who enter the event for the challenge,” he said.
“Despite that we have some classy riders this year and it is a good chance for them to ride well and get noticed by a team internationally.
“A previous winner of this event, Patrick Bevin received and international opportunity as a result of his success and has now rode in the last two Tour De France.”
After receiving Victorian State Government funding as well as generous sponsorship from several other organisations, Craven hoped the event could keep building for the future.
“For the first time in seven years the Victorian State Government has got on board and contributed a large sum of money,” he said.
“It would be good to get the South Australian State Government on board next year.”
