CYCLISTS from across Australia are set to descend on the region this weekend, with the return of the arduous alpine classic to the valley expected to attract upwards of 1500 competitors.
Challenging hill climbs across the Tawonga Gap, Mount Buffalo and Mount Hotham will greet riders brave enough to tackle one of the classic's host of events, with distances of between 60km and 250km available to the most daring of riders.
Beginning in 1986 when six cyclists rode from Bright to Falls Creek and back, before completing a further 70km return journey up Mount Buffalo, the Alpine Classic has grown into one of the country's premier cycling events, attracting thousands of riders from around the nation.
With the active closure of Bogong High Plains Road restricting access to Falls Creek in 2023, this year's riders will be forced into uncharted territory, with Dinner Plain set to play a key role in the 135km, 200km, 250km events.
Events manager at O2 events, Jordan O'Neill, said the weekend was shaping up as a busy time for the alpine region.
"The Alpine Classic has had a bit of an interesting four years with being cancelled for bushfires and lower registration years with COVID and border closures, so this summer has a lot of interest with about 1500 cyclists for the weekend," he said.
"Given the proximity to New South Wales and the ACT, the event does well to get about 40 per cent of its field from interstate, but there's certainly a lot of Victorians that travel to it year on year.
"It's an interesting one, because along with interest in the event is the interest in the region more generally.
"Bright as a township is just super busy, so we are finding that although there is a lot of interest in the event, there's a lot of competing interests for accommodation, so it's good, but it's also perhaps putting a bit of a ceiling on registrations."
The classic also features a two–day, 220km 'Alpine Raid' event, where cyclists ride from Bright to Omeo on Friday before staying overnight and returning to the Alpine town on Saturday in line with cyclists undertaking the single–day events.
Road speed reductions will be in place at points along each ride, however, organisers have advised roads will not be specifically closed for the event, which is not classified as a 'race'.
Single–day riders are set to depart Bright's Howitt Park between 4am and 7am on Saturday, with the park set to be transformed into a festival space in the afternoon for riders and their families to enjoy live music, entertainment and local cuisine and drinks into the evening.
For more information about Saturday's event, visit www.alpineclassic.com.au.
Entries close on Friday, January 27.
