LOCAL Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic committee members will meet with Cycling Australia next week to discuss the event’s future direction.
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Committee member Andy Graham said the meeting would dissect the report by Cycling Australia into last year’s event and committee members would voice their concerns on a number of issues, namely the shock cancellation of the Shipwreck Coast Cycling Classic.
Cycling Australia ran the Melbourne to Warrnambool on behalf of the Warrnambool Citizens Road Race Committee for the first time last year after taking over from Caribou Productions, which had a 17-year association with the race.
Graham said the meeting was about debriefing on last year’s race and discussing the future direction of the event and the whole weekend. “We want to make it a viable weekend of cycling in the region,” he said.
“Having some sort of event happening on the Sunday is a priority, be it the Shipwreck Coast Road Race, a closed circuit kermesse or criterium.
“So far the information is people would stay in town overnight if there was to be some sort of race on the Sunday.
“We have a BMX club and a mountain bike club in town.Why can’t we do something in conjunction with them and make a multi-discipline weekend of cycling?”
Graham said committee members were seeking feedback about the 2013 event and any ideas on future events.
“As a committee we have an obligation to ensure that this event is run as best as it can be,” he said.
“If we can go to Cycling Australia and say ‘this is what your stakeholders want’ it will make our case all the more stronger. We want feedback on everything, from the riders about the course, about the communication from Cycling Australia, from sponsors or those that would be willing to provide sponsorship, from businesses along the route and from the community as a whole.”
Graham said businesses on Raglan Parade raised concerns last year about the length of time the road was closed to traffic, which would also be addressed at the meeting.
He said early feedback had shown strong support for a race on the Sunday.
“People have suggested a closed circuit kermesse around Lake Pertobe and Cannon Hill for the Sunday or a CBD criterium.
“There has also been feedback about TV coverage.”
Feedback can be emailed to the committee at cycleedgewb@hotmail.com
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
