Ballarat secures world class cycling event

NEXT February Ballarat will become the hub for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, attracting the world’s best cyclists to the city.

The five-stage event will include the peloton riding through both the Ballarat CBD and surrounding regions showcasing the area’s offerings globally.

The men’s and women’s races have been secured for two years with a partnership between the State Government and NewsCorp, and there will be equal prize money for both events.

For the first time, the race will have one central hub in Ballarat and Agostino Giramondo, managing director at NewsCorp Vic/Tas, said this benefits the community.

“This way everyone comes back here, dines in restaurants, buys souvenirs, has a look at the tourist attractions,” he said.

“I think Sovereign Hill and these places will love it.”

The event will be classified as a UCI 2.1 race with at least four World Tour teams expected to participate.

Co-director and Olympian Grace Brown said the event will strike a balance for national riders and top tour teams

“At the moment there is a gap in the calendar for this sort of bridging event that allows riders at a domestic level in Australia to test themselves at an international level against some of the best teams,” she said.

The tour was first held in Victoria in 1952 and has not gone head since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

It will become part of a two-week cycling festival in Victoria, held three days after the conclusion of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

“This will see incredible cyclists from around the world racing in this event,” Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events said.

“Can you image the peloton racing through the historic streets of Ballarat? It’ll just be profound.”