Australasian cycling media brand Bicycling Australia has officially launched its third annual Noosa Classic.
The cycling festival, supported by Tourism Noosa, Queensland Events and Tourism and by brand partners including Bianchi, Deloitte, Lazer, Schwalbe, Orbea and Shimano, will be held over the weekend of August 15 to 16, 2020.
This year's Gran Fondo event returns with a new 65-kilometre Rouleurs course and Hill Climb event up Gyndier Drive on Saturday, August 15.
"As an Australian-owned and independent media company we are very proud of the emerging Classics as they continue to grow and contribute so much to regional Australia," says Bicycling Australia publisher James Yaffa.
"We have the support of state governments as the emphasis on regional Australia only heightens.
"We set out to create cycling events in world class destinations that are in close proximity to metropolitan cities – making it easily accessible for city dwellers. With densification comes a need to decompress both mentally and physically. Events like The Classic series cater for short escapes that accommodate the rider and families.
"Further to the tragic events of this summer, marketers and government agencies are more focused on regional Australia than any other time in the history of this country. Events like The Noosa Classic drive economic stimulus and much need hope and inspiration for these communities.
"The Classics by Bicycling Australia deliver a beehive of big spenders in the core 40-65 demographic, something we haven’t seen the like of before."
The event is also a major coup for the greater Noosa region.
Last year, a third of riders travelled from interstate for the 2019 Noosa Classic with many international participants along with numerous cycling groups making a multi-day to week-long holiday of it.
Queensland's tourism industry development minister Kate Jones says the Noosa Classic provides the perfect opportunity for people to visit the region.
“Noosa is one of the most picturesque places in the world to go for a ride,” she says.
“It’s no surprise the Noosa Classic delivers over 3,000 direct visitor nights for the region. But we want to grow these numbers.
“We know that once people get a taste of Noosa, they’ll want to return.
“We invest in events like these because they support local businesses and local jobs.
“The Palaszczuk government will continue to back events like the Classic that deliver a strong return for the Noosa economy.”
The 2019 event injected $1.4 million into the local economy over the event weekend with $500 on average spent by a Noosa Classic rider each day of their stay.
It achieved $1.5 million in total media value and 98% of riders said they would recommend Noosa Classic to a friend.
Tourism Noosa has also returned as a major partner.
“Tourism Noosa has been a proud partner of the Noosa Classic since its inception in 2018," Tourism Noosa CEO Melanie Anderson says.
"It is encouraging to see the event evolve and the addition of the new Rouleurs course will see more riders getting out and about discovering the best of our beautiful Noosa hinterland”.
In addition to the government partnerships, event organisers are thrilled to have international brands including Bianchi, Deloitte, Lazer, Schwalbe, Orbea and Shimano on board as partners, along with local supporters Cancer Council Queensland, Peppers, RACV and Richardson and Wrench Noosa.
More partner and sponsor news will be announced soon.
In addition to a weekend of cycling, the Noosa Classic offers riders the opportunity to support charity.
Bicycling Australia’s Gran Fondo events have collectively generated more than $400,000 for various charity groups across Australia.
2020 Noosa Classic riders will again have the opportunity of supporting the charity of their choice via the unique Choose your Charity initiative.
Early bird registrations for the 2020 Noosa Classic are now open until Sunday, March 22.
Those who book early not only save on registration, they will also receive a complimentary $115 event jersey. Register here.
The Noosa Classic is one of four Gran Fondo events for Bicycling Australia -- the Bowral Classic, Mudgee Classic and Clare Classic -- making it the largest platform of Gran Fondo cycling events in Australia.
Bicycling Australia is owned by Yaffa Media, the publisher of AdNews.
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