Cycling Classic gaining momentum

THE wheels are turning on next month’s Bendigo Cycling Classic.

Rolling into its fourth year, the Classic will return with a smattering of races appealing to families, casual riders, and neo-pros on Sunday, 20 March.

Organiser Geoff O’Sullivan said the best part of the mass participation event is every dollar raised goes to two local charities, the Otis Foundation and Bendigo Health Foundation.

“Over the three years it’s run, we’ve donated over $150,000 to local charities,” he said.

“Obviously COVID’s sort of played with everything and we deferred it until March because back in October there was a bit of uncertainty.”

The traditional format remains, with five races all starting at the town hall ranging from the 12-kilometre free kids’ race to a 100-kilometre race out to and around Mount Alexander.

New this year is the Goat Gravel Ride on Saturday, 19 March.

The ride is suitable only for gravel and mountain bikes and will take riders from Strathfieldsaye to Axe Creek over a 72-kilometre course with 750 metres of climbing, starting and finishing at Braidie’s Tavern.

Mr O’Sullivan said the main event on Sunday will be a fun, community-minded event based at the Town Hall.

“We’ll have music, food, coffee, drinks and we’re a licensed premises so we can have a few beers,” he said.

“People come back and if it’s a nice day they can sit around under the shady trees and they seem to enjoy it.

“We’ve all been stuck inside; it gets the community out and about and gives them a couple reasons.

“Sometimes it’s a bit of family time and we see a lot of families riding it. Fresh air, exercise, and at the end of the day every dollar they pay goes to Bendigo charities.”

For registration information head to bendigocyclingclassic.com.au.