A three-day event on the Sunshine Coast is set to attract the nation’s best riders and showcase the region, almost 10 years before it hosts Olympic cycling events.
Cycle Sunshine Coast will be held from December 17 to December 19, and will be hosted by the University of the Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Council, with funding support from the Australian Government.
It’s set to lure Australia’s top male and female riders, as part of the National Road Series.
It will include four stages, including a one hour criterium at Maroochydore, a 146km road race at Peachester, a 6km time trial at USC and a 109km road race at North Arm, with distances slightly shorter for women.
The festival will also include the Cycle Sunshine Coast Corporate Cup, a 30min criterium fundraiser for a Compass Assistance Dog.
It will also include a free community ride (including distances of 17km and 27km), which showcases new bike paths across the Coast, departing from USC. It’s supported by the Queensland Governments Cycle Network Local Governments Grants Program.
The region’s top cycling squad, the Australian Cycling Academy, is set to have a strong presence in the festival, especially with their elite team Pro Racing Sunshine Coast.
And the academy will head into the event with a significant boost, after accepting a $75,000 grant from the from the Australian Government, announced by Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien.
The funding was secured through the Building Better Regions Fund, which delivers on the Australian Government’s commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities
Australian Cycling Academy CEO Matt Wilson was excited to accept the funding and relaunch the new dates for Cycle Sunshine Coast.
“We are thrilled to accept support from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund for Sunshine Coast over the next three years,” he said.
“This funding has been critical in providing us with the building blocks to grow with this major event for the region in confidence during these difficult times.
“I would also like to also thank the Sunshine Coast Council for their support and belief in this project and the USC for coming on board as the presenting partner of the event.
“With the announcement of the 2032 Olympic Games here on our doorstep, this event will be an amazing opportunity to showcase our region in the lead up to the games putting the region on the world high-performance map.”
Meanwhile, Mr O’Brien, who is the Special Envoy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ted O’Brien said the cycling festival comes close to 10 years before the start of the 2032 Games, where the world will watch the Olympic Cycling Event take place on the Sunshine Coast.
“In a decade’s time, the world’s best cyclists will descend on the Sunshine Coast and tread the same roads that our Cycle Sunshine Coast riders will this December,” he said.
“Cycling is one of the ways we will showcase our beautiful region to the world and this event is a timely reminder of the importance of supporting sporting organisations at local, state and federal levels.”
USC Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett said the University was proud to sponsor the cycling festival, which will be the first of its kind for the region.
Professor Bartlett said the event would help promote the Sunshine Coast to the rest of Australia and build interest in the region hosting the road cycling events of the 2032 Games.
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“Our support of this festival is another example of USC’s strong, successful relationship with the Australian Cycling Academy, which has its headquarters on campus at Sippy Downs,” she said.
With an action packed three days planned, economy portfolio Cr Jason O’Pray said the event would benefit the Sunshine Coast tourism, sport and leisure industries, by showcasing our region as a premium cycling destination and encourage increased participation in major events for visitors and locals alike.
“The festival offers events for the elite rider through to mass participation community rides, with courses spread throughout our picturesque region. This fantastic variety will mean there’s something for everyone to enjoy throughout the event,” Cr O’Pray said.
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