Launceston's highest profile cyclist has voiced his concerns for the future of the city's annual criterium.
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Tour de France star Richie Porte has been a regular competitor in the Stan Siejka Classic but fears its new course and timeslot may be driving away top riders and straying from its original goals.
The 34-year-old has not raced the Classic since 2016 - two years after enticing multiple Tour de France winner Chris Froome to take part - and said the current course around City Park incorporating the accident-prone peanut roundabout is not attractive to elite riders.
"Pro guys don't want to do that course," he said.
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"I would love to race this crit but when teams are paying your salary for a full year of riding, to race on a course with unnecessary risk at the very start of the season does not make sense.
"The peanut is a spectacle but I just don't think the current circuit works. What I hear is that no WorldTour riders want to race on this course at that time of year."
Debate about the course raged on Facebook after this year's Classic with some riders praising the course.
Launceston's Nicole Frain, who played a lead role in the elite women's race, said: "I think the course is awesome. It's super tough, which makes it a real elite race. Yes it splits the field, it also causes some carnage with the roundabout (spectator excitement) and everyone gets around that area to cheer. It makes it different from all the other crits."
Hobart pro Nathan Earle added: "The hill provides the spectators with an 'up close and personal' view of the riders as it slows us down to almost walking pace. I personally loved coming around each lap and seeing my daughter on the hill."
But Porte fears the days of the race being a who's who of Australian cycling may be over. He also feels that bringing the race forward to early December to tie in with the Tour of Tasmania may be detrimental to attracting big names.
"I remember the early days when Stan Siejka and Tom Sawyer started it, it went around the town and all the pubs would open up.
"It was more about getting the pro riders down to Tassie rather than tagging it onto the Tour of Tas. When you had Baden Cooke, Brad McGee, Robbie McEwen, Stuart O'Grady and Cadel Evans turning up, that's what Stan and Tom started, and that is what drew the spectators.
"I think going forward, maybe that's the answer. The crowds were huge back then and it had a really festive atmosphere.
"I'll admit that cycling is not the most fantastic spectator sport but when you have a street circuit through the city, you encourage participation from lots of local businesses and create a party atmosphere, it really works."
The race began in 2002 and, aside from a two-year break, has been run annually ever since.
In the early days it finished in Cimitiere Street but moved to a CBD block with a finish in St John Street before another switch to its current course.
Spectator numbers have dropped since the race's heyday when it attracted crowds estimated at up to 10,000 people.
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