Operational costs incurred from cancellation of 2025 Snowy Classic cycling event

The Snowy Mountains will lose some of its international shine next year after event organizers canned the 2025 Snowy Classic road cycling Gran Fondo.

The March event has been a staple since 2022 and marks the third in a string of Classic events to bite the bullet in recent years.

The largest annual cycling event in the region’s annual tourism calendar, the Snowy Classic, is one of the Alpine region’s few major off-season sporting events experiencing exponential growth.

The decision was attributed to the increased fixed operational costs of the event, including traffic management and policing the event.

“It’s just huge costs that go up every year,” said Vanessa Burges, the event’s director. “Fundamentally, safety is our number one priority, and we have a reputation for running a safe event, and it’s certainly not an area where we would cut corners.

“These operational costs not only impact cycling, but also all mass participation events where key stakeholders are talking to government about hosting outdoor events.”

Debuting in 2022, the Snowy Classic is one of five major European-style Gran Fondo cycling events offered in Australia, collectively known as The Classics and organized by Cycling Australiaall located in optimal tourist destinations within a two-hour drive from major metropolitan cities.

The Snowy Classic, Vanessa said, offered great off-the-beaten-track scenery and the chance to ride two challenging routes on fully closed roads.

Unlike other cycling events limited by their focus on elite riders, a single charity or family day, their all-inclusive platform catered to riders of all levels, all charitable causes and openly encouraged cycling. community and business involvement.

The Snowy Classic now follows the Noosa and Clare Classics in being abandoned by organizers, a blow to participants, many of whom took part in the event for the first time in 2024 and were planning return trips.

“We are really sad for the community and the region and as the Snowy Classic was a little further away from key centers it meant that people who traveled for the event stayed in the region for those extra few days,” he said. explained Vanessa.

“This includes cycling teams who have traveled each year from as far away as Queensland and corporate teams who have built team building holidays around the Snowy Classic,” she said.

The 2024 Gran Fondo Classics cycling event brought together over 2,000 cyclists and supporters who gathered at the start line in Jindabyne, before embarking on their 110km Challenge Classic or 170km Maxi Classic across some of the region’s most beautiful regional towns, including Berridale, Dalgety Valley and Perisher.

Both courses included the infamous short, steep and brutal Beloka climb, more commonly known as ‘The Wall’ – one of Australia’s most feared and revered cycling climbs, which gains 300 meters in elevation in just three kilometers.

The event injects more than $1.4 million into the local economy each year, with accommodation providers, retail outlets, bars, cafes and restaurants benefiting from the influx of people during the low season in the region.

“We are also donating to thank the community for contributing to their local fundraising efforts and I know this type of contribution has made a difference to many small groups, so we are truly sorry to have had to make this decision . ” she says.

Classics founder James Yaffa joined Vanessa in expressing his deep regret at having to cancel the 2025 event.

“This decision was not taken lightly,” he said.

The Snowy Classic represented the best Australian road cycling conditions, a special environment widely recognised and accepted by road cyclists here and overseas, he said.

Mr Yaffa expressed his gratitude to the racers, Destination NSW, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, and the incredible volunteers and the wider community who embraced the Snowy Classic and made it so special.

“I would also like to thank The Classics and Cycling Australia the staff, contractors, suppliers, local media and many people who dedicated so much time to make our event so special.

Riders registered for the 2025 Snowy Classic will be contacted and will receive a full refund to their original method of payment.

The Classics will continue to host the Bowral Classic (October 20) and Mudgee Classic (May 3-4, 2025) cycling events.

Snowy Monaro Regional Council was contacted for comment but none was received.