Hopes high for big cycle race

Christopher O'Leary

20Oct07

HOPES are high that Alice Springs will host a major bike race next year.

The head of an adventure events company flew back to Melbourne this week, confident that sponsors for a seven-day mountain bike race will be in place by as early as next month. 

John Jacoby, of adventure group Rapid Ascent left, said: ``Alice Springs is not on the radar in terms of mountain biking, but it is totally different to southern events, which will be an attractive element for riders interstate.

``There's some good, diverse tracks, and that's what mountain bikers want.''

This week Rapid Ascent approached Northern Territory Major Events and the Alice Springs Town Council for financial support, and Jacoby believes they may have fixed sponsorship in place by November.

He said such an event would cost up to $400,000 to run, but potentially inject up to $1 million into the local economy.

Jacoby said: ``We need to pay the bills, and the groups we approached were pretty enthusiastic about it.

``If we get their support the event looks likely to go ahead.''

The event would replace the now-defunct Central Australian Bike Challenge.

The CABC attracted 170 riders in March last year, but was discontinued due to lack of government support and because race organiser Jack Oldfield wanted to get back into riding.

Northern Territory Major Events chief Paul Cattermole was cautiously optimistic about the concept after Jacoby approached him last Monday.