"Hundreds of cyclists are expected to hit the roads around Bathurst next April when Bathurst Regional Council hosts the inaugural Mount Panorama Cycling Festival at the iconic racing circuit.
The week-long festival will run from April 11-17 2011. It will include recreational and competitive events and aims to attract a new market of family riders to Bathurst, and build on the strong bike culture that exists in the region.
Bathurst Mayor Cr Paul Toole said Council was keen to develop an event that would appeal to a broad cross section of cyclists.
"The program includes an exciting range of activities," said the Mayor. "There will be social rides in and around the CBD, workshops and training sessions, a one-day Bike Expo, and it will culminate with a criterium and endurance ride on the weekend at Mount Panorama for the more serious competitors."
The event is timed to run during the Autumn school holidays and give participants a reason to stay in the region for a few days. It is an initiative of Bathurst Regional Council, which is providing the funding and is the event promoter.
"We have been working closely with Cycling NSW and the Bathurst Cycling Club during the planning phase. The have both offered their support to Council in establishing this festival, which it's hoped will become a permanent item on the local event calendar," continued Cr Toole.
"Autumn is a perfect time of year in Bathurst for an event of this kind. With such a great range of accommodation and tourism facilities available here, it will give the region an opportunity to showcase what it has to offer as a special event and tourism destination."
The festival is primarily being targeted at cyclists in and around the Central West and it's expected there will be strong support within regional cycling networks. Some advertising and promotion is also planned in Sydney and Canberra.
Registration for the event will open in January but in the meantime a festival webpage is currently under construction on the Council's Mount Panorama website, www.mount-panorama.com.au.