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Mallacoota Start For Big Cycling Event

Mallacoota has been chosen as the starting point for the spectacular Tour of Gippsland cycle race that will be staged in East Gippsland from 2-4 August.

By East Gippsland Shire Council - 6th July 2006 - Back to News

More than 100 leading riders will compete in the event that will see them race in Mallacoota, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Metung, Bairnsdale Traralgon and Warragul.

• On day one, Wednesday, 2 August, the race will begin at 11.00 am on with a spectacular 25.5 kilometre criterium that will see the cyclists racing in a closed circuit on the Allan Drive foreshore.
  At 1.30 pm there will be a 93.8 kilometre road race will involve eight laps of an 11.6 kilometre circuit.

• On day two, Thursday 3 August, the event will continue with a 42 kilometre criterium in the streets of Orbost before the riders set out on a 114 kilometre open road race to Lakes Entrance via Bruthen.
• On the third day of the Tour, Friday, 4 August, cyclists will race on a 65 km course from Lakes Entrance to Metung starting at 10.00 am. In the afternoon Bairnsdale will host the final East Gippsland stage – a 33 kilometre criterium in city streets.
• In Traralgon next day – Saturday 5 August - the riders will compete in a 45 km creiterium staerting at 110.00 am and a 63.2 kms road race from Traralgon to Hazelwood staerting at 2.00 pm.
• The event concludes on Sunday, 6 August with an 11.00 am start for a 134.8 kms road race starting and finishing in Warragul.

Event organiser and tour director John Craven said East Gippsland was a dream come true for an event of this kind."

"It is a spectacular region that rivals many of locations visited by the great European events including the Tour de France."

East Gippsland Mayor Cr Jane Rowe said being able to stage three days of the five day event in East Gippsland was a wonderful coup.

"It will provide a specatular event for our community right across the region to enjoy as well as bringing a major economic benefit," she said

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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