Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo

The world class event is set to showcase Lorne and the surrounds as the gem of the Great Ocean Road (which it is), whilst drawing thousands of visitors and giving Lorne a welcome economic boost.

Accommodation and eateries are already booked out during the event. We encourage the local community to cheer on the cyclists and the visitors while they embrace the beauty of Lorne and leave with a lasting memory of the place we call home

Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo, an iconic annual event celebrating Australian cyclist Amy Gillett, will proudly host the 2025 UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Gran Fondo World Championships from 16–19 October 2025. This prestigious, internationally renowned event features an expanded racing program, drawing cyclists from across the globe. Cyclists from around the world will turn the scenic Great Ocean Road—completely closed to traffic—into a thrilling competitive arena as they vie for the coveted title of World Champion.

2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

Scheduled from October 16 to 19, 2025, the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will bring together amateur cyclists from around the globe to compete for world champion titles in various age categories.

Thursday 16 October – Lorne

Individual Time Trial – UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 9:30am – 4:00pm

Friday 17 October – Geelong

Hendy’s SpinOff Family Ride 4pm

Team Relay Racing – UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 6:00pm – 6:40pm

Sunday 19 October – Lorne

Road Race – UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 7:15am

Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo

Taking place on October 19, 2025, Amy’s Gran Fondo offers a range of cycling events, including the 122km Gran Fondo, 45km Medio Fondo, and a 3km Family Fondo. The event is renowned for providing a unique experience of riding on fully closed roads along the picturesque Great Ocean Road.

Sunday 19 October

122km Amy’s Gran Fondo Recreational Ride 9:00am

3km Amy’s Family Fondo (Free) 9:20am

45km Amy’s Medio Fondo 12:00pm

A cycling expo will take place on the Lorne foreshore as part of the event weekend, where cycling exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase and sell directly to riders.

The Event Village in Lorne will be open during the following times:

Wednesday 15 October 2025

12:00pm – 5:00pm

Thursday 16 October 2025

10:00am – 5:00pm

Saturday 18 October 2025

10:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday 19 October 2025

6:00am – 5:00pm

Following consultation with the Lorne Business and Tourism Association, please note that no temporary food vendors will be present within the event village. Instead, cyclists will be encouraged to support local businesses. If you’re a coffee trader, we strongly encourage you to consider opening early on Sunday 19 October, ahead of the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships which starts at 7:15am. With both events scheduled in close proximity, Lorne is expected to experience a significant influx of cyclists, support crews, and spectators in October 2025. The combination of the UCI World Championships and Amy’s Gran Fondo will likely make this one of the most prominent cycling weekends in Australia.

‘’We’re excited to bring back Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo to the Surf Coast & Colac Otway Shire for a spectacular ride and to raise awareness of safe cycling in conjunction with the Amy’s Foundation. We’re also excited to also host the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships with AusCycling, where we will welcome riders from every corner of the globe to compete. This is a landmark moment for cycling in our country – showcasing the beauty of the Great Ocean Road while bringing together thousands of passionate athletes and fans to celebrate cycling on the world stage. Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo is a significant event for the Surf Coast region. Last year alone the estimated economic impact for the region was $2.5 million, with 65% of participants staying in the region for 2-4 nights. Lorne and the surrounding coastal towns provide the ideal location for a weekend away for participants and their friends/families with plenty of activities to enjoy.’’ – Jordan O’Neill, Director of O2 Events.

To ensure the safety of all participants and the broader community, temporary changes to traffic conditions will be in place during the event. These traffic control measures are approved by Victoria Police and the relevant road authorities and will be temporarily installed at all intersections and private property access points along the course. Flyers containing detailed event information, including specific road closure times, will be distributed to affected premises in advance. For the latest traffic updates and community information, go to the website – https://tinyurl.com/gran-fondo.

Amy’s Foundation is Australia’s leading cycling safety organisation, driven by a core mission to reduce the death and injury of cyclists. All fundraising from Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo is redirected back into cycling safety research, advocacy and educational campaigns and programs.

As a thank you to the community, locals can access an exclusive 10% discount on the 122km Gran Fondo and 45km Medio Fondo. The Family Fondo remains free (registration required). To redeem your discount, please email [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming the world to this iconic event and sincerely thank you for your continued support as we partner with Amy’s Foundation to make cycling in Australia safer.

Katie Walker

Lorne Business and Tourism Association

Jordan O’Neill

O2 Events

A word from the chairman

Hello

On our first long weekend for a while, tourists and day-trippers thronged to Lorne despite some ordinary weather. The main street was as busy as we have seen it for months and, with live screens at many of the hospitality venues, there was an opportunity for everyone to share the ups and downs of the AFL Grand Final. After a close contest for the first half, Brisbane ran away on fresher legs in the second half. Commiserations to our many Cats fans.

As we put our beanies and scarves away for another year, there are plenty of events coming up to attract our attention.

The Grand Pacific Hotel will celebrate the first anniversary of its reopening this weekend with live music on Sunday afternoon. The grand dame has established her place in the Lorne hospitality scene and Wednesday pie and pinot night has become a must-do for many locals and visitors. Well done Mary-Ann and Matt.

On Wednesday October 8, the Lorne Business and Tourism Association (LBTA) will hold its Annual General Meeting and a networking event which will include a presentation by the CFA to business operators in preparation for what is predicted to be a high bushfire risk summer. All LBTA members and business operators are welcome to attend.

The following week, the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships comes to Lorne. The event will take place over four days from 16-19 October culminating in the Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo on Sunday October 20, and will bring 5,000+ Australian and international cyclists to Lorne. This event will showcase our town and the beautiful Great Ocean Road (let’s hope someone fixes the potholes!). There will be extensive road closures in and around Lorne on the Thursday and Sunday, see here (https://tinyurl.com/gran-fondo), so plan your travels well ahead and make our visitors welcome.

And after a weekend to catch our breath, it will be Cup weekend and then the run into Christmas (now less than 12 weeks away). Where did this year go?

October is positive ageing month and Surf Coast Shire are participating with a calendar of events that encourage social connection, community engagement, learning and an active lifestyle. The theme for the month is, “Connect, Create, Celebrate” and there are events in Lorne and elsewhere in the Shire. To see the full calendar of events go to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/PositiveAgeingMonth

Remember that daylight saving time starts on Sunday. Don’t forget to put your clocks forward (if they don’t do it by themselves!), enjoy the longer evenings and commit to a morning dip with the Lorne Mermaids. It’s sure to wake you up!

And for those turning their minds to Pier to Pub swim preparation, spare a thought for Nick Newton, Past President of the Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club, who is swimming the English Channel (that’s 28 Pier to Pubs) for the fourth time at the age of 71, to honour his long-term swimming coach who is suffering from cancer. Good luck and congratulations Nick.

Cheers