Gabrielle Duykers, Naracoorte Community News
The tour of the Great South Coast bike race has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, originally set to begin travelling through the Limestone Coast and Victoria later this month.
The opening two stages would have been in Mount Gambier, day two in Port MacDonnell, day three in Naracoorte, and the final three days in Victoria’s Glenelg Shire.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart said the cancellation was unfortunate news for the town.
“The danger of it being called off this year is that we may not see the race again – once it goes into recess, that’s two years in a row now so the event promoter may not continue that race,” Mr Smart said.
“That is not a good outcome for us or other councils involved.”
The annual men’s cycling event was due to run from August 31 to September 5.
In a letter to council, tour founder John Craven said it was with “deep regret” he announced the race cancellation for the second year in a row.
“The tour had never looked better,” Mr Craven said. “Sponsorship was at an all-time high, teams from throughout Australia and New Zealand were ready and eager.
“Developments outside our control have led to the cancellation, a drastic measure forced upon us by tortuous uncertainty with interstate border closures.”
Mr Craven said that when the tour last ran in 2019, more than 75 per cent of participants came from other states.
“If the race were to start tomorrow, we would be lucky to assemble a line-up of 20 riders,” he said.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News, 18 August 2021.
