On Sunday 17 September, more than 5,500 bike riders and their families and friends will visit the region of the Great Ocean Road and Otway Ranges as part of the annual Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo.
Now in its seven year, the event is held in memory of Australian cycling team member Amy Gillett, who tragically lost her life in a training ride in Germany in 2005 when hit by a car.
The Amy Gillett Foundation aims to reduce the incidence of death and injury of all bike riders through safety awareness and education with a mission of safe cycling for all Australians and a vision of zero bicycle rider fatalities.
The Foundation is committed to supporting the local community, with the weekend of activities bringing significant economic benefit of approximately $31 million to the Surf Coast Shire region every year through accommodation, meals and indirect exposure to the area.
All proceeds and fundraising associated with the event will be re-directed back into cycling safety research, advocacy and educational campaigns and programs.
What’s new in 2017?
There are several new changes to the Wiggle Amy’s Gran Fondo event in 2017 to take note of, including;
- New Lorne Criterium Course & Road Closures – Saturday 16 September. 2017 will see the Professional Women and Men of the Cycling Australia National Road Series race a loop of Mountjoy Pde, Bay St, Smith St, and Grove Rd. Please review Road Closure timings on the website – amysgranfondo.org.au.
- Gravel Fondo Course of 65km – Sunday 17 September This year will see the start of an off-road ride taking place in Apollo Bay. The table overleaf shows the road closures and traffic treatments that will take place in Apollo Bay and along the course.
- Cyclocross Apollo Bay – Saturday 16 September. Cyclocross racing will hit the Apollo Bay foreshore on Saturday afternoon with this new inclusion to the Victorian CX Series (this event will not have any road closures)
- Lorne & Apollo Bay Family Fondo Course of 14km – Sunday 17 September. Residents/Families of the region can participate in either of the 14km Family Fondo Courses for 50% off the entry price. Course details online.
- Great Ocean Road Closure Times – Sunday 17 September. Please note the Great Ocean Road will be closed on both directions between Skenes Creek and Lorne from 8:00am to 3:30pm on the 17th of September.
The following Road Closures apply:
| ROAD | LOCATION | APPROX. TIMES |
| Saturday 16th September | ||
| Mountjoy Pde, Lorne | Between Otway St & Bay St | 12:00pm – 5:30pm |
| William St, Lorne | Between Smith St & Mountjoy Pde | 12:00pm – 5:30pm |
| Grove St, Lorne | Between Smith St & Mountjoy Pde | 12:00pm – 5:30pm |
| Smith St, Lorne | Between Grove Rd & Bay St | 12:00pm – 5:30pm |
| Bay St, Lorne | Between Mountjoy Pde & Charles St | 12:00pm – 8:30pm |
| Sunday 17th September | ||
| Mountjoy Pde, Lorne | Between Otway St & Grove Rd | 5:30am – 10:00am |
| Mountjoy Pde, Lorne | Between Grove Rd & Bay St | 5:30am – 4:30pm |
| Deans Marsh-Lorne Rd | Between Great Ocean Rd & Neade St, Lorne | 6:00am – 10:00am |
| Deans Marsh-Lorne Rd – Otway St | Between Deans Marsh Rd & Otway St | 7:00am – 10:00am* |
| Deans Marsh-Lorne Rd | Between Birregurra – Deans Marsh Rd & Neade St Lorne | 6:00am – 11:00am |
| Birregurra – Deans Marsh Rd | Between Bushes Rd & Deans Marsh-Lorne Rd | 7:30am – 11:00am |
| Bushes Rd, Deans Marsh | Between Pennyroyal Station Rd & Birregurra – Deans Marsh Rd | 8:00am – 12:00pm |
| Pennyroyal Station Rd, Deans Marsh | Between Murroon Rd & Bushes Rd | 8:00am – 12:00pm |
| Murroon Rd, Barwon Downs | Between Division Rd & Pennyroyal Station Rd | 8:00am – 12:00pm |
| Division Rd, Barwon Downs | Between Birregurra – Forrest Rd & Murroon Rd | 8:00am – 12:00pm |
| Birregurra – Forrest Rd | Between Colac Forrest Rd & Division Rd | 8:00am – 12:00pm |
| Forrest – Apollo Bay Rd | Between Beech Forest Rd (Turtons Track) & Colac Forrest Rd | 8:30am – 1:30pm |
| Skenes Creek Rd | Between Great Ocean Rd & Beech Forest Rd (Turtons Track) | 8:30am – 2:00pm |
| Great Ocean Rd | Between Skenes Creek Rd, Skenes Creek & Bay St, Lorne | 8:00am – 3:30pm |
| Medio Fondo Start (Sunday 17th September) | ||
| Great Ocean Rd | Between McLaren Place, Apollo Bay & Skenes Creek Rd, Skenes Creek | 10:30am – 11:30am |
| Gravel Fondo + Apollo Bay Family Fondo (Sunday 17th September) | ||
| Great Ocean Rd – Barham River Rd | Between Apollo Bay & Barham River Rd | 8:00am – 10:15am |
| Killala Rd, Apollo Bay | Between Killala Rd & Old Bay Rd | 8:45am – 10:45am |
| Binns Rd | Between Binns Rd & Turtons Track | 9:30am – 11:00am |
| Turtons Track | Between Turtons Track & Skenes Creek Rd | 10:15am – 1:30pm |
| Wild Dog Rd | Between Skenes Creek Rd & Great Ocean Rd | 11:00am – 2:45pm |
For more details of road closures, visit the website to download high quality version of the road closure map – amysgranfondo.org.au
