{"id":2446,"date":"2022-09-06T02:00:42","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T16:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingclassics.com.au\/bowral\/2022\/09\/06\/bowral-classic-101-cycling-secrets-of-the-southern-highlands\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T10:05:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T23:05:23","slug":"bowral-classic-101-cycling-secrets-of-the-southern-highlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingclassics.com.au\/bowral\/2022\/09\/06\/bowral-classic-101-cycling-secrets-of-the-southern-highlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Rides + Hidden Gems Of The Southern Highlands"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bowral Classic is one of the Gran Fondo & Criterium highlights of the year but there\u2019s more to it than just cycling – here we take a look at some of the other local rides plus highlights from the town & surrounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bowral Classic is\u00a0the jewel in the Gran Fondo crown, it’s Bicycling Australia’s\u00a0signature cycling event, and regarded as the premier event on the annual ‘must ride’ calendar.<\/p>\n

Come the weekend of October 15 & 16, the thousands of riders who’ve registered for this award-winning\u00a0cycling spectacular\u00a0will again descend on the stunning roads of Bowral and the Southern Highlands.<\/p>\n

Bowral Classic: The Story So Far<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Megan<\/figure>\n

First held in October 2016, the inaugural Bowral Classic was Bicycling Australia’s first mass participation cycling event. With the objective of raising funds for charity while also providing a challenging and goal-oriented\u00a0day out, around 3000 riders collectively raised more than $120,000 for those most in need. The Classic returned bigger and better in 2017, with more riders and ultimately more money raised for charity, bringing the collective total to over $250,000!<\/p>\n

The Bowral Classic then won a number of major\u00a0awards including Australian Event of the Year in two categories – Best New Event and Best Community Event, and has recently been nominated for yet more awards.<\/p>\n

The popularity and success of the Bowral Classics has led to several other major events including the Clare, Snowy, Mudgee & Noosa Classics.<\/p>\n

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The 7th Annual Bowral Classic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Back bigger, bolder and better than ever, the \u201822 Bowral Classic will again feature a major criterium on the Saturday afternoon then the main event – the Gran Fondo – on the Sunday.<\/p>\n

Where Else To Ride<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
To get the low down on all things cycling in the Bowral region we spoke with local rider Harry Kooros who works with Bicycling Australia and The Classics.<\/div>\n

Fozwat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quite possibly the most ridden cycling route in the Southern Highlands, this is a 40km loop with approximately 400m of elevation. With a few rolling hills, it is not an overly difficult loop and will take the average rider between 1hr 15min to 1hr 45min to complete.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.strava.com\/activities\/1227432770<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Greenhills<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another common route ridden dozens of times per day by local riders, this loop traces the first quarter of the Bowral Classic Maxi Classic and is a challenging yet rewarding ride. It features several tough hills, but the breathtaking scenery makes it all worth while.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.strava.com\/activities\/1061831593#26120343128<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Macquarie Pass Return<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 75km loop is not an easy one, but is definitely a spectacular one. This route takes you from the height of Bowral (at 690m above sea level) to Albion park (at only 21m above sea level). You will descend the awesome Macquarie Pass (a 9km climb) and the challenging return climb. With a fair bit of elevation, this ride is a tough one and usually takes between 3 and 4 hours (including breaks).<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.strava.com\/activities\/151515485<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tallong Return<\/strong><\/p>\n

A relatively flat 100-120km out-and-back ride that takes you along some of the course of this years Classic. A few dead roads will test your patience but otherwise it\u2019s a very cruisy ride.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.strava.com\/activities\/219258474<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Avon Dam<\/strong><\/p>\n

This ride takes you up north to Avon Dam, where you will climb 3 short (3km) hills. You descend all the way to Avon and climb your way out. It is a very scenic ride.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.strava.com\/activities\/221738508<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Top 5 Things To See And Do In The Southern Highlands<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s literally so much to do in this amazing region you\u2019d honestly need a week to see and do it all. In no particular order here are some of the standout highlights.<\/p>\n