Ask eight cyclists to finish the sentence “The Bowral Classic is…” and while the words may differ, the message is remarkably similar. Some focus on the challenge. Others, the atmosphere. A few simply think about the finish line. But after speaking with a group of Bowral Classic ambassadors ahead of this year’s milestone event, one thing became clear… No matter how they describe it, they all keep coming back.
As we celebrate 10 years of The Classics, we asked a handful of familiar faces to tell us what the Bowral Classic means to them.
“The Bowral Classic is…”
For Aidan Burgess, it’s simple. “The Bowral Classic is… an institution.”
After three Bowral Classics, Aidan says the event strikes the perfect balance between challenging yourself and simply enjoying the ride.
For Kate Lee, who will line up for her second official Bowral Classic this October…“The Bowral Classic is… a vibe.”
JA Hazlett perhaps summed up the Bowral experience best.“…hard enough to make you question your life choices, good enough to make you enter again.”
After countless Classics events, Bowral has become a permanent fixture in JA’s cycling calendar, a place to reconnect with friends, enjoy beautiful roads and remind herself exactly why she keeps signing up.
For long-time rider Giles Bourne, there’s no hesitation.“I think the Bowral Classic is one of the must-do rides in Australia.”
Having ridden every edition since the inaugural event in 2016, Giles believes the combination of scenery, atmosphere and community makes it one of the country’s standout cycling events.
Jay Gaffey sees something slightly different.“The Bowral Classic is where community, fun and a genuinely challenging ride come together.”
For Anthony Nguyen, Bowral sits just behind one local attraction…“The Bowral Classic is my favourite thing to do in Bowral, second to the Don Bradman Museum.”
After five Bowral Classics, it’s the friendships, pastries.cc community and weekend atmosphere that keep bringing him back.
Meanwhile, Dylan Robertson, who has completed more than 20 Classics events, keeps his answer short and sweet. “The Original, and The Best.”
Finally, Karen Norris perhaps summed up what many riders feel. “One of the best cycling events on the Australian calendar.”
After completing 11 Classics events across Bowral, Mudgee and Snowy, she says the events are about far more than simply crossing the finish line.
Join Us This October
This October marks 10 years of The Classics. Whether you’re tackling your very first Bowral Classic or returning to take on those iconic climbs once again, there’s never been a better year to be part of the celebration.