Meaningful rides get go ahead

THE 2022 Ballarat Cycle Classic is under starter’s orders and it’s bigger than ever.

Set for the weekend of Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 February, the Classic has expanded to two days with a new event seeking to capture the increasingly popular enduro and gravel bike scene.

And while there are many people who take part because it’s all about the bike, at its heart the Cycle Classic remains a major fundraiser for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.

“This is an important fundraising event for the Institute,” said FECRI director George Kannourakis.

“The 2021 Ballarat Cycle Classic raised $250,000 for our cancer research program in a year of pandemic uncertainty, imagine what we can do next year.

“We’re all looking forward to being able to go to events and meet up with family and friends again.”

The new event, to be known as the Gravel Grind will go over two days and is being billed as, “On the Gravel, In the Bush and On the Road.”

Returning is the Eclipse Ford 160km SPUD 100mile ride, introduced in 2020 in honour of Danny Frawley, while there’s also road rides of 100, 85, 60 and 50 kilometres backed by Protect.

The BJT Legal Mountain Bike Challenge is also back over 50, 40 and 30 kilometre distances, as are the more sedate ride and walk around Lake Wendouree events.

The stated mission of the 2022 Ballarat Cycle Classic is to collectively ride 100,000 kilometres and raise $250,000.

Registrations are now open via ballaratcycleclassic.com.au.