Further Gran Fondo events to entice more participants to Port Douglas

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Michael Warren

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Local tourism boss Mark Olsen (pictured far right) and others gathered just days ago to talk about further additions to this year's Port Douglas Gran Fondo festival. Picture: Gran Fondo

Cyclists from across Australia and around the world will arrive in Port Douglas and Cairns to participate in the Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival on September 9-10.

A new addition to the program this year is the Hartley’s to Port 40km Mountain Bike Race.

To be held on September 9 the Hartley's to Port Douglas race will start outside the front doors of Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures in Wangetti.

“The course will take riders up Quaid Rd, a private road which is closed to cars all year round. This 5km climb with an average of 8.5% gradient will be a challenge for everyone," Connect Sport Australia managing director Bade Stapleton said.

“Riders will then turn right into Black Mountain Road, before descending the famous Bump Track into Mowbray. The final stretch will take the riders along Four Mile Beach to the finish line in Port Douglas."

Meantime a local tourism business is happy to be a part of the action.

“We are excited to have this event start from our front door. So, we’ve decided to do something special for the family and friends of the riders and offer them a very unique opportunity to purchase a Breakfast with the Crocs experience,” Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures spokesperson Peter Freeman said.

“This is something we don’t offer on any other day of the year as we are doing this as a very unique experience for those getting up early to see their family and friends off from the start of the Hartley’s to Port."

Mr Stapleton also announced a world-first event, the Four Mile Beach mountain bike sprint race.

“Just like our Hemingway’s Brewery road cycling sprint race, two riders at a time will race head to head down a 250 metre strip of sand on Four Mile Beach," he said.

"This exciting knock out competition will find our fastest man and woman on mountain bikes on the sand.

"It’s never been done anywhere in the world and is sure to test the legs after a few rounds and into the finals.

“Entries are already up by 25% on last year’s festival so we are expecting over 1,200 participants this year."

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said the Hartley’s to Port mountain bike race is another exciting addition to the growing number of mountain bike events on the calendar.

“Cairns and Port Douglas are quickly becoming the places to visit with your mountain bike," Mr Olsen remarked.

"Building on Crankworx, Reef to Reef, the Croc Trophy and the recently announced 2024 and 2025 UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships, this event provides yet another reason for people to visit our region."

Registrations can be made at www.portdouglasgranfondo.com.au.

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