Ready to rebound: Fechner charts cycling's future

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner has urged riders at all levels to focus on cycling’s bright future in the wake of today’s cancellation of two marquee events.

The 2022 editions of South Australia’s Tour Down Under and Victoria’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race were both cancelled due to continued uncertainty around local and international travel and ongoing Covid19 concerns.

The news follows a raft of other cancellations and postponements across the calendar of all cycling disciplines at all levels.

‘’Sadly, the cancellation of the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans race is just the latest disruption to hit the sport we all love,’’ Fechner said.

‘’These decisions are always difficult, but we support the organisers in putting the health and safety of riders, staff, spectators and the surrounding communities first.’’

While the latest cancellations will affect the beginning of next year’s calendar, Fechner said she was delighted to confirm that January's 2022 FedUni Road National Championships in Ballarat will proceed as planned from January 12-16.

She also praised the South Australian government and Tour Down Under organisers for focusing their efforts on delivering a replacement event – the Santos Festival of Cycling – which will offer nine days of all-discipline cycling events across the state in January.

Fechner said while it was disappointing that two key events had been cancelled, cycling enthusiasts had a big role to play in the success of many other planned activities next year.

‘’Unlike 2020, we know what’s required for a sustainable return to competitive and recreational cycling, and that’s high vaccination rates.

‘’So, let’s make sure today’s disappointments are amongst the last that we have to endure. Getting vaccinated will not only allow us to enjoy the many, many events we have planned for next year but will reunite families, get kids back to school and revive businesses.

‘’It will also give our elite riders the very best chance to test themselves at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong.’’