Memorial race returns

THE annual Ross Bush Memorial Handicap Race will return this year, building on the success of its 2024 success as a Victoria statewide event.

Riders will take to the roads around Meredith tomorrow (Saturday, June 21) for the handicap race, which starts at 1.30pm.

Open to all AusCycling members, the race honours Ross Bush, a national-level cyclist popular in the local community, who was hit and killed by a car on the road to Anakie during a training event.

Geelong Cycling Club president Kris Hinck said the event had nearly 90 entries last year, with this year’s course to be different.

“The main thing is we’ve just changed the start and finish location on to Russell’s Bridge Road, the course is much the same, except the northern circuit will be raced in an anticlockwise direction as opposed to last year.

“It creates a slight variation in the race this year which will make the first half of the race a little more challenging with some bigger climbs early in the race.”

This year’s race will feature some of the region’s most talented riders along with last year’s winner Toni Qian.

“We’ve got Tynan Shannon, who’s probably the strongest local rider and is based at a national and international level as the local guy to beat and he’s probably starting the race as the strong favourite from the scratch group,” Mr Hinck said.

While run by the Geelong Cycling Club, the race’s meaning also has a strong connection to the community and the Bush family.

“It’s a chance to bring up the topic around road safety because Ross was killed in a road accident, unfortunately,” Mr Hinck said.

“It’s a good reminder that bike racing and road drivers can coexist and keep putting that message around road safety front and centre as well.”

There will be a juniors U17 and U13 30km and 8km handicap and a seniors 89km handicap.

For more information head to geelongcycling.com