The Tour of the Great South Coast is one of Australia's premier road cycling classics and is one of 10 events on Cycling Australia’s prestigious National Road Series Calendar.
In 2018 the Tour attracted 103 top-class cyclists from Australia and New Zealand, plus several international competitors. The race features 20 teams competing in a similar format to the Tour de France.
The event’s founder, Caribou Publications and Events – of which John Craven is the managing director – will again be the organising group, in conjunction with Cycling Victoria, under the patronage of Cycling Australia.
The six day tour will be held from Tuesday 27 August until Sunday 1 September 2019. The first three days will be raced in South Australia, with the final three days to be conducted on a spectacular Tour de France style course through the Glenelg Shire region taking in Casterton, Heywood, Cape Bridgewater and Portland.
Glenelg Shire is taking a lead role in the 2019 event, adding entertainment and activities on the foreshore for spectators to enjoy in the lead up to the main race on Sunday 1 September 2019.
“Glenelg Shire Council is again proud to support this iconic cross-border event,” Glenelg Shire Mayor Anita Rank said.
“We look forward to welcoming a talented field of world-class cyclists who will test their abilities across three amazing locations, including the rolling hills of Casterton, the rural landscape surrounding Heywood, the majestic rugged coastline of Cape Bridgewater, and the fast-paced final Portland CBD street circuit for the sprint finish.”
Cr Rank said the tour, which has been backed by the Glenelg Shire at various levels since its inception, provided the region with national media profile.
“Television crews are set to film what we think is one of the most picturesque sporting routes in the country,” she said. “This will air to a national audience whilst the event is expected to attract cycling enthusiasts from across the region.
“I urge the community to position themselves on the course throughout the three days it visits our shire to see these elite cyclists test their abilities, many of whom have competed in the Tour de France and other world class cycling events.
“It is a spectacle not to be missed and one that will put our region on the national sporting map.”
The eighth Tour of the Great South Coast is scheduled to start in Mount Gambier on Tuesday, 27 August , with the traditional 36km criterium in Vansittart Park, followed by an afternoon 65km Blue Lake circuit race.
The action will stay in Mt Gambier on Wednesday 28 August with a further criterium at Vansittart Park.
Thursday 29 August will see a criterium of Naracoorte in the morning, following by a Team Time Trails in the afternoon.
The tour’s opening three days in South Australia are backed by the City of Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant.
The Glenelg Shire will host three spectacular stages – Casterton to Heywood on Friday, 30 August, the 121.4km Cape Bridgewater road race on the 31 August, and the grand finale waterfront criterium in Portland on Sunday, 1 September.
We are currently seeking sponsorship for the 2019 event, if you are interested in becoming a sponsor please see the Tour of the Great South Coast Sponsorship Prospectus