Oceania’s best here for road race titles

AN international cycling event is set to attract the best riders from Oceania to Tasmania when it visits the state for the first time next year.

The 2018 Oceania Road Cycling Championships will be held in the North and North West from March 23-25, with 12 titles to be awarded over three days of competition.

The championships attract the best riders from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tahiti, New Caledonia and Guam, with 500 people expected to stay between the two regions during the event.

There will be time trials and road races across elite, under-23 and under-19 categories scheduled. The time trial is expected to be held near Evandale and the two-day road race near Railton.

The championships have been awarded to Tasmania after an exciting week of racing that saw the Tour of Tasmania and Stan Seijka Classic attract some of the biggest names in the region. Tasmania was also the host state for the Australian Junior Road National Championships this year.

Oceania Cycling Confederation president Tracey Gaudry said Tasmania deserved to host.

“With many successful domestic cycling events, we are delighted that the Tasmanian Government is actively supporting the introduction of international cycling to the State,” Gaudry said.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Sarah Courtney said the Government committed $30,000 to support the event and attract visitors.