By Callum Ludwig
The Giro Della Donna is back to its traditional timeslot in November after delays earlier this year, with riders set to take on local tracks on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November.
Initially slated for the start of April, the event was postponed at the advice of VicRoads and the Department of Transport until the ongoing repair works on Acheron Way were completed.
Event Director Michael Hands said they’re pleased we can run the event in November again. “We had moved it because of Covid so it’s kind of nice to return to that traditional November date as well, this would be the ninth year, but we missed one because of Covid so it’s the eighth edition of the event,” he said.
“I think it takes a while to get established in people’s minds and in a community on the calendar, but I think the recognition and interest in the Giro is pretty widespread now, we get people from all over the country, some from New Zealand and even beyond coming to it.”
The event opens with about 80 guests descending on Warburton for a three-course dinner and drinks event, the Serata Coppi, at Projekt 3488 in Warburton on Friday 23 November.
Mr Hands said they will be bringing well north of 1000 riders to the event.
“It’s got standing now as a great ride, but also the whole Upper Yarra area, Mt Donna Buang, the town and the forest, it’s all pretty special really,” he said.
“We are very pleased that the Acheron Way will be reopened, it is one of the most talked about roads in Victoria and on the course so it’s a very special bit of the area and of the event.”
The event consists of two major rides; the 55km Gravel Giro starting off from 11am on Saturday and the 125km Giro Della Donna starting at 8am on the Sunday. Local families might be interested in participating in the free Piccolo Giro family ride on Saturday, which starts at 12pm.
Following some complaints and concerns from community members last year about the management of the many event attendees, Mr Hands said organisers are keen to do their best to mitigate any negative impacts for the community.
“It’s certainly busy but there’s no good answer, if you’re going to bring a couple of thousand people into town then it’s going to be busy but we also know it brings a lot of money, awareness and the like into the town,” he said.
“We certainly recognise that that many people coming into town has an impact and we work very closely with the Warburton Advancement League, the CFA and (Warburton Valley) CEDA as partners at the event and to direct people to specific parking areas,”
“I think we’ve collectively had great success in keeping people from parking directly on the street, for example, and leaving that for the locals and we also do our best to let people know about it so there’ll be a letter drop-in a couple of weeks and we’ve got a large email list we send to.”
Since the 2022 event, the proposal for almost all of the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination has been approved, paving the way for the influence and success of mountain biking to prosper in the region.
Mr Hands said he thinks it will be pretty amazing.
“The mountain bike park will bring people throughout the year, not just at peak season, and through the week, not just on weekends, so I think it’ll be great for all of the cafes, restaurants, accommodation providers and other businesses in town and really amazing riding as well having seen the maps and pictures,” he said.
“Everyone who rides there who hasn’t ridden there before is blown away, it’s a surprise to them how good it is with the forests and the climbs and just the area, it’s got to be one of the best spots to ride a bike in the country.”
