Dawson saddles up for seventh People’s Ride

GEELONG cyclist Peter Dawson has pulled on the jersey for all six People’s Rides in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (CEGORR), and is doing so again this year in the seventh edition of the event.

The mass-participation ride caters to cyclists of all levels and will see thousands of riders take on one of three courses – 35km, 50km and 125km – on January 28.

Mr Dawson, a fitness instructor and cyclist for 30 years, is using the 125km course as part of his training for March’s gruelling Peaks Challenge, a 13-hour ride, 4,000km ride up and around Falls Creek.

He first saddled up for the People’s Ride in its 2015 debut and has been a keen participant each year it has been held since.

He offered some advice to any first-time participants in 2023.

“If you’ve never done one before, you still need some preparation, you really do,” he said.

“It all goes back to how fast you want to do it in; whether you have a personal goal you want to achieve.

“If you want to average 20km an hour, that’s not a problem at all.

“But it’s a fun ride. You’ve got to want to ride with a lot of people, because it can be unnerving, especially at some speeds – but otherwise, it’s actually fun with the people on the side of the roads and the atmosphere.”

A chance to ride on the same roads as the pros, the People’s Ride is highlighted by Challambra – a climb for those doing the longest distance to conquer.

The 125km course will be run in reverse this year (as will the following Elite Women’s Ride and Elite Men’s Ride), with riders to roll through Ceres and Moriac first instead of Barwon Heads, but the final loops of Geelong will remain the same.

Mr Dawson said the change might throw him a little on the day of the ride.

“In a way, it could be better, because you’ve got the climbs out of the way to start with – you used to have to conserve a little bit of energy – then you can just go for it for the last little kick at the end.”

The People’s Ride returns after a two-year COVID-imposed absence and has welcomed the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) on board as its naming rights sponsor for 2023.

Registrations for the hugely popular event, which is only a few weeks away, are still open.

To find out more about the People’s Ride and how you can get involved, head to cadelroadrace.com