CADEL’S KIDS RIDE SCRAPPED
Waterfront ‘too busy’ for popular event, organisers say
ANOTHER popular Australia Day event in Geelong has been canned due to a clash of schedules.
The family ride, which forms part of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race schedule, will not go ahead in 2018.
Organisers say a lack of space for the ride along the Geelong Waterfront has caused its cancellation, with the event running alongside the Festival of Sails for the first time. The scratching coincides with the postponement of the Australia Day Polo in Eastern Park, with organisers of that event blaming Geelong’s “already crowded” schedule.
Road Race co-founder Jason Bakker said the cancellation was “regrettable” and “disappointing”, but said it was unavoidable.
He said the Festival of Sails would take over a section from Yarra St to Eastern Beach, which was traditionally used for the family ride.
“We didn’t want to step on the toes of the Festival of Sails, they needed the space for their event,” Mr Bakker said.
“For both events to exist in a successful manner there’s got to be compromises from time to time.
“So even though we were reluctant, that was something we were prepared to do.”
The ride has been a popular feature of the Road Race for the past two years, with more than 500 cyclists young and old taking part last January.
Mr Bakker said the event would be back “bigger and better” in 2019.
“I suspect a lot of people will be really disappointed, but hopefully it motivates more people to get involved the following year,” he said.
“One of the key objectives for us is … getting more kids cycling and getting more families active.
“We are hellbent on making it an outstanding event for the kids and families.”
GMHBA had sponsored the ride but pulled its commitment earlier this year.
Mr Bakker said he was expecting a new major sponsor to be announced in the coming weeks.