Cycling Tasmania is cock-a-hoop after locking in Oceania road championships for the next three years.
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Already the event’s host for this year, in was confirmed on Friday by Oceania Cycling Confederation that Tasmania will also welcome the region’s best riders in 2019 and 2020. Cycling Tasmania executive officer Collin Burns said the 2018 March 23-25 championships will be the state’s first Union Cycliste Internationale sanctioned road event.
More than 200 riders are expected to participate with an individual time trial at Evandale leading into two days of racing in Railton.
“Entries are flowing in with 40 riders already entered from New Zealand alone and a 10-rider group from Western Australia flying in a week early for a crucial lead-up race,” Burns said.
“These types of events are not only great for cycling within Tasmania but are also a major windfall for tourism as Tasmania approaches its shoulder season. The economic benefit alone for this event is estimated at a half million dollars per year."
OCC president Tracey Gaudry said it was the first time a multi-year deal has been handed out. “Hosting the Oceania road championships is further recognition of Tasmania’s rich cycling history,” she said.