State road cycling championships move on after more than two decades

After hosting the Victorian Road Cycling Championships here for more than 25 years, Wangaratta Cycling Club has to had to pass them on due to rising traffic management costs. The championships will now be held at Phillip Island on the renowned motorcycling racecourse, which can be easily closed off from other traffic and avoid the spiralling cost of safety measures required on public roads. Wangaratta Cycling Club president Paul Somerville said it was a sad moment for local cycling enthusiasts but there was no other choice. "Traffic management costs are just getting too high and there is no sign of that changing in the near future," he said. "That became the biggest expense by far in holding the event and was why we had to go into partnership to continue holding it. "It's unfortunate we've lost it; we still have all the equipment to hold it in the cycling shed. "We've held them here for so long and the last 10 years in partnership with Carnegie Cycling Club due to the increasing costs. "It's such a great little course through Taminick gap, and certainly offers more challenging climbs compared to the rolling hills on Phillip Island." The event, which featured two days of elite racing based in Glenrowan and spread across roads around the district, attracted hundreds of cyclists, their support crews and spectators from across the state. It featured current and future stars of road cycling from under 19s through to seniors. Somerville said the loss of another elite cycling event highlighted the need for a cycling precinct to continue this Wangaratta sporting tradition into the future. "Imagine a criterium track on a closed course where we could hold exciting racing of 30-50kms over say 30 laps," he said. The Wangaratta Cycling Club will hold its annual general meeting on Friday, July 25 and anyone interested in cycling is welcome to attend. "We would love to see past members or those who used to ride or anyone interested in cycling," Somerville said. "We always looking for more volunteers and we have a range of exciting initiatives lined up for cyclists of all ages." The AGM will be held at the clubrooms at the saleyards, visit the club's Facebook page for more details.

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