{"id":2992,"date":"2021-12-13T02:04:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingclassics.com.au\/bowral\/2021\/12\/13\/bowralclassic2021-wrapup\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T15:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:53:08","slug":"bowralclassic2021-wrapup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingclassics.com.au\/bowral\/2021\/12\/13\/bowralclassic2021-wrapup\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 Bowral Classic: Beardy McBeard\u2019s Photos & Mike Tomalaris\u2019s Take On The Gran Fondo Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article originally published on www.bicyclingaustralia.com.au<\/a><\/h3>\n

It was cancelled due to Covid then delayed due to lockdowns, but there was no way 2021 was going to end without the running of the 5th Bowral Classic cycling event.<\/p>\n

Well worth the wait, what a Classic it turned out to be. Bicycling Australia\u2019s original Gran Fondo event, the Bowral Classic was first held in 2016 and has subsequently led to several other sister events \u2013 the Clare, Noosa, Mudgee and Snowy Classics.<\/p>\n

The many thousands of riders of these events have helped raise more than $400,000 for charity, bolstered the bike industry, and pumped millions of dollars into regional economies.<\/p>\n

From Friday through to Sunday more than 3500 riders descended on the picturesque Southern Highlands for a freshly-expanded weekend of cycling action.<\/p>\n

Sadly the much-anticipated Dirty Bowral \u2013 a gravel\/adventure ride scheduled for Saturday morning \u2013 was canceled due to sodden ground, swollen creeks and strong winds. That event will be back on the schedule for 2022 as gravel cycling continues to boom and the appetite for adventure cycling surges.<\/p>\n

Red Hot Crit Racing<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
Bowral\u2019s quiet streets roared to life on Saturday afternoon as the inaugural Bowral Crit got underway.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

AusCycling managed proceedings, Mike Tomalaris and Lee \u2018Hollywood\u2019 Turner were on the microphones, leading cycling photographer Beardy McBeard was capturing the action and hundreds of fans \u2013 including the likes of Tour de France riders Brad McGee and Stephen Hodge were on the sidelines \u2013 it was thrilling afternoon of fast and furious bike racing.<\/p>\n

Local rider Ella Bloor of Specialized Women\u2019s Racing put in a impressive effort to win the female Division 1 race, while Edwin Britts of Olivers Racing overpowered the strong competition to take men\u2019s Division 1.<\/p>\n\n\t\t