With a race almost every weekend, it’s difficult to know where to start when it comes to participating in an event, be it your first or your 50th. We’ve pulled out some of our favourite events on the calendar this season to help make your decisions on which to do a little easier.
Road:
Santos Festival of Cycling
What’s better than a weekend of cycling? A whole week of cycling, of course, and that’s precisely what the Santos Festival of Cycling delivers. The week consists of group rides, an expo featuring everything cycling, multiple get-togethers and street parties, and races for all, including the first event of the UCI World Tour calendar. You expect to see some of your cycling heroes in action, some of your favourite bikes in motion and have an overall great time.
Date: 12-21 Jan 2024
Cadel Evans Great Ocean People Road Race
You don’t want to miss out on this action-packed long weekend of riding around Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast regions. There’s a recreational family race on Friday, a chance to ride with some of the pros during Saturday’s people’s ride and then watch the sparks fly during the elite men’s and women’s road race on Sunday.
Date: 26-28 January 2024
Peaks Challenge
A total distance of 235km with over 4000m of elevation and only 13hrs to complete the route in, this is a challenge for the toughest among us. Set across three of the Victorian high country’s most famous climbs, you’ll tackle the ascents of Tawonga Gap, Mount Hotham and make sure you save something in your legs for the back of Falls Creek, appropriately named ‘The Beast’.
Watch the highlights from the 2022 event here
Date: 10 March 2024
Tour de Brisbane
Another jam-packed cycling weekend, the Tour de Brisbane offers participants the choice between a ride or a race, both on fully closed roads. There are 3 different ride distances, along with the 110km Grand Fondo qualifying race and the Australian Sprint Duathlon Champs, all squeezed into 1 day. So go on and take your pick of events; we’re sure there’s something for everyone.
Date: 14 April 2024
MTB:
Otway Odyssey
Riders can expect lots of forest single-track, mountain ranges, and breathtaking views during the Otway Odyssey Racing through forests tall and wild, over mountain ranges high and breath-taking, along single track shaped by the wheels of world champions and weekend warriors.
Date: 24-25 Feb 2024
The Convict 100
One of the toughest marathon events of the Australian cycling calendar, the Convict 100 is bound to push riders to their limits. The route follows the historic Convict Trail winding through the Dharug and Yengo National Parks. Riders will be treated to a combination of technical rock gardens, rocky descents, fast fire trails and loads of spectacular views.
Date: 4th May 2024
Cape to Cape MTB Stage Race
Australia’s largest, longest-running and most popular four-day MTB stage race is back for another year of good times and great rides in October 2024. You can choose to tackle the 4 days by yourself or in pairs with various categories in both competitions for the competitive-minded riders among us. Riders can expect between 34-59km per day and an overall elevation gain of around 2500m over the 4 days.
Date: 17-24 October 2024
Gravel:
Seven Gravel Race
As part of the UCI Gravel World Series, you’ll want to add this event to your calendar. The SEVEN Gravel Race course starts and finishes in the picturesque township of Nannup. The route winds around the golden triangle of cycling in WA between Nannup, Bridgetown and Donnybrook. With 3 different distances to choose from, there’s an event for you no matter what your fitness or experience level is.
Date: 11 May 2024
Noosa Enduro
The Noosa Enduro is a fan-favourite on the race calendar. The stand-out event is the Noosa100. One hundred gruelling kilometres of the Noosa Trail network, taking in some of Australia’s most scenic tracks, trails and off-road real estate. If you’re not up to riding 100kms, there’s a 60, 30 and a kids event to ensure no one misses out on the action.
Date: Mid 2024- Exact date to be confirmed
Dirty Detour Monkerai
Riders can look forward to an adventure-filled weekend experiencing some of the best backroads the Monkerai Valley in the foothills of the World Heritage-listed Barrington Top, NSW, has to offer. With 20km, 50km and 90km route options, there is something for everyone. Take the whole family and make a weekend out of it by booking into the lovely campsites or cabins Riverwood Downs offers.
Date: 10 Aug 2024
The Hunt 1000 Bikepacking
The Hunt 1000 is a self-supported gravel/mountain bike race that runs between Melbourne and Canberra through some of the country’s most scenic areas. In true bike-packing fashion, the race has that no-fuss, no-frills approach with no grand depart.
Check out these route highlights.
Date: 24 November 2023
Velosure allows you to travel to and participate in races with complete peace of mind. Velosure Premium policies cover your bike whether you’re transporting it on a bike rack or travelling by plane.
Whichever races you decide to enter this summer, ensure your bike is covered with bicycle insurance for racing, travel and everything in between.
Take out an easy, obligation-free quote from Velosure and protect your bike.
