Registrations are rolling in thick and fast for the 2023 TAC People’s Ride, with more than 1000 riders signed up for the hugely popular event on the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race schedule.
Organisers are delighted to see both new and experienced riders nominate from not only across the region but across the state, nation, and even the world with riders from as far as Middlesex in England and Nice in France signing on in recent days.
Over 150 registrants (and counting!) are set to be welcomed into the exclusive ‘Seven-timers Club’ having cycled the TAC People’s Ride every year since the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race’s inception.
The first edition of the People’s Ride was held in 2015, the year of Cadel’s final elite race. The Tour de France winner and former world champion finished in 5th place in front of tens of thousands of spectators who flocked to the finish line on the Geelong Waterfront.
Local resident Lois Geall was among them.
Lois rode in the first-ever People’s Ride in 2015 and, alongside her husband Mitch, has featured in every ride since.
“It’s a fantastic event, we just love it,” Lois said, who’s opted to tackle the 35km in 2023 on her hybrid bike.
“When you line up at the start line in the morning among thousands of people, it’s an amazing atmosphere. Everyone’s so friendly and encouraging.
“And it’s brilliant to be able to ride with a bit of freedom along quiet roads around Barwon Heads and 13th Beach. We never get to experience that often.”
Peter Smith will also be back again in 2023. He’s signed up for the 125km course, which will take in the sights of Torquay, the Surf Coast and Cadel’s home base of Barwon Heads.
Following the event’s two-year absence, Peter says he’s eager as ever to get back in the saddle for the next edition.
“I’ve done them all, so I am really looking forward to coming back for this one,” he said.
“This event really symbolises Cadel’s achievements. For him to do what he’s done on an international stage and bring a little piece of that back to our little stretch of coast is fantastic. And for him to still be playing a big part of it is a really nice thing.”
Registrations for the TAC People’s Ride are now open, with registrants encouraged to take advantage of the 10% Early Bird pricing special before it closes on November 30.
Whether it’s your first, or your seventh event, click here to join in the flock of blue jerseys at this year’s TAC People’s Ride!