CYCLING NSW race director Michael O’Reilly has confirmed next year’s NSW Masters Cycling Championships will be held in the region - and he’s labelled Orange and Molong, the two centres to host races in 2016, as ideal locations.
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The event, which Mr O’Reilly says boasts a touring party in the vicinity of approximately 1500 riders and supporters, will be staged over three days from April 30 next year, with Cabonne Council committing $5000 to the cycling championship this week.
Mr O’Reilly says the meet will call the Orange-Cabonne regions home for the next three years, a coup for both councils.
“We think the area is great for this event,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“We think staging the event in Orange and Cabonne will add a lot to the championship and there’s a lot of positives to come from it being there, for both parties.”
On Saturday, April 30 the road race in Molong will kick off the masters championship, with the 28 kilometre loop completed as many as four times, that’s if you’re in the younger masters age bracket, which is traditionally 35 years.
The criterium event will be held in Orange on Sunday, May 1 before the 20km time trial on Monday, May 2, which will also be staged in Orange.
Cabonne council this week allocated $5000 from its events assistance program to help promote the event, and councillor Ian Davison believes the numbers at next year’s event could exceed this year’s championships at Griffith in the NSW Riverina.
He said the region’s central location and proximity to Sydney could draw more competitors and spectators.
“The council welcomes the opportunity to be part of these championships and work with Orange to co-host a major event which should benefit the whole region,” he said.
Orange City Council’s sport and recreation committee chair, councillor Jason Hamling, said Orange is always interested in attracting significant sporting events that have the benefit of bringing large numbers of people to town.
“There are real benefits for the local economy in backing events like this,” he said.
“There’s been discussions with organisers of the NSW Masters Cycling Championships about them staging an event in and around Orange in April next year.”
nick.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au