Millions of cycling fans from Europe and nationally are turning their eyes to the south-west for all the Jayco Herald Sun cycling tour action.
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The tour brought 100 of the world’s top professional cyclists, teams and hundreds of cycling fans to the region as stage one traversed the Great Ocean Road before finishing in Merri Street on Thursday in front of hundreds of spectators. And Friday’s stage 2 two will see huge audiences tune in again to watch riders race to Ballarat via Camperdown.
Warrnambool Mayor Robert Anderson said the tour delivered “an amazing spectacle”, drawing crowds and media interest from around the world.
“The tour … is of terrific benefit to our region’s visitor economy (and) provides a fantastic showcase of our region’s stunning coastline and of our beautiful city,” he said.
The council’s manager of visitor economy David McMahon said the tour showed the region could stage world-class events and “do it well”.
“It is such a great promotion for the region around the world,” he said.
“It is not just the value of the overnight stay for 500 people in the city, it is putting the city and the region in front of millions of cycling fans across the world and also getting us fantastic destination brand recognition in Melbourne and nationally.”
The winner of stage one was Denmark’s Lasse Norman Hansen (Aqua Blue Sport), who sprinted his way into the leader’s jersey after a hectic finale.
The day began in Colac with hundreds of local primary school children drawing messages of support in chalk on the road before lining the barricades to cheer on the riders as they set out for a 161km race along the Great Ocean Road and into Warrnambool.
Hundreds of people also gathered at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour Village at Flagstaff Hill for the finish, enjoying family activities as well as rider interviews and post-race celebrations.
Cycling fan Fran Hyland, of Warrnambool, said it was exciting to watch the stage finish.
“I came down to watch it straight after work. I really admire the sport and the athletes that do it.”
Ben Timpson, who was there with his daughter Sophie, said: “The race itself was exciting, my daughter was more excited about the ringing of the cow bells. It’s good to have the summer of cycling back in Warrnambool.”
