Gran fondo cycling in Australia got a big boost this week with the announcement that a new event – the Snowy Classic – in the the alpine mountains of New South Wales is coming 26 March 2022.

“The Snowy Mountains precinct is simply stunning and offers so much for road cyclists. This new event will be a fantastic addition to our family of Classics!,” organiser James Yaffa promised.

Organised by Bicycling Australia, the Snowy Classic will be based out of Jindabyne for the next five years and is Bicycling Australia‘s fifth gran fondo event. They also host the popular Bowral, Noosa, Mudgee and Clare Classics events, but plan to make Snowy Classic their premier gran fondo.

L’Etape Australia previously held their event in the Snowy Mountains from 2016-2019, but in 2020 abandoned the route and relocated to Kiama. Unfortunately, the 2020 and 2021 editions in Kiama were cancelled.

Bicycling Australia was quick to seize on the opportunity to partner with the State of New South Wales to restart an already very popular ride in the Snowy Mountains and capitalise on two successive L’Etape Australia cancellations.

Containing Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches a height of 2228 metres, the Snowy Mountains offer cyclists dramatic summits to cross and some of the most challenging climbs on the continent.

Thousands of cyclists are expected to participate each year with government and local businesses expecting the event to inject $4.16 million into the State’s economy during the five-year agreement with Bicycling Australia.

PHOTOS: Bicycling Australia

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