Covid-19 concerns leave Australian cycling calendar in tatters

Neither the Herald Sun Tour nor the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will go ahead this summer.

WorldTour Teams advised Visit Victoria that border closures meant international riders would not be sent to Australia for the events, prompting their cancellation for a second consecutive year on Thursday.

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Tom Salom, chairman of the Herald Sun Tour, confirmed that “ongoing uncertainty around Australia’s Covid-19 situation” meant both the men’s and women’s Tours had been postponed until 2023.

“We are proud of our history as the country’s oldest cycling stage race, however the unpredictability that Covid-19 brings to our event presents too many challenges for us to proceed next year. In particular, the quarantine restrictions that come with Covid made it very difficult to attract the best international riders,” he said.

“We have not taken this decision lightly, and our team will continue to examine all possibilities in a bid to resume racing in 2023.”

Speaking on the postponement of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements said: “We know this is disappointing for race organisers, our partners, communities along the Surf Coast and cycling fans from all over who love the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.”

McClements said Visit Victoria had begun to explore the possibility of holding an international cycling event later in the year.

Earlier on Thursday, the South Australian Government confirmed the Tour Down Under had also been cancelled for a second year running, citing similar concerns to Visit Victoria.

The tour had been set to take place in South Australia in January but will be replaced by the Festival of Cycling, which is set to run from January 21-29.

“We have fully explored all avenues, but unfortunately in the end it was the border closures and quarantine requirements for more than 400 people that make up the international teams that proved to still be too difficult to overcome,” said Events South Australia executive director Hitaf Rasheed.

Premier Steven Marshall said he was looking forward to the Festival of Cycling.

“Adelaide in January is all about cycling and our cycling friends from all around Australia gathering here,” he said.

“Although international major events continue to be challenging, we will celebrate cycling in January 2022 in the best way we know how and welcome visitors to Adelaide once again to kick off the new year.”