There is only one week to go until the 3rd edition of the Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival, with the main event being held on Sunday 8 September 2024.
“Everything is on track for another amazing event this year,” said Bade Stapleton, Festival Director.
“We have riders coming from every state and territory in Australia and from across the globe to visit and enjoy everything our region has to offer. The ride is just the perfect excuse to visit,” he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon announced that the Douglas Shire Council has secured the festival for another three years, taking us through until 2027.
Mayor Scomazzon said Council had no hesitation in continuing its support for the festival.
“The event is steadily growing and so too is our reputation as a tourism destination for cyclists and mountain bike riders. The combined economic benefit of the 2022/2023 events is more than $2.8 million and visitor numbers exceeding 4000,” she said.
“Gran Fondo is well organised, has wide appeal and is the ideal fit for the region’s existing bike culture. While the festival events along the Cook Highway will be especially memorable for the entrants, I am looking forward to the atmosphere of the criterium, the sprint and free family bike
ride in front of the marina. I am confident our community will turn out in force and cheer on those involved!”
“I would encourage entrants to share their experiences on social media – let us spread the word about Gran Fondo and our beautiful region,” said Mayor Scomazzon.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen welcomed the support for Port Douglas Gran Fondo to run another three years.
“Port Douglas Gran Fondo is part of a healthy Tropical North Queensland event calendar and over the past three years has broadened its reach bringing in more interstate visitors,” he said.
“This certainty will assist with marketing even further afield, especially in places like Japan where there is strong interest in participating in sporting events in the only place where the ancient rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef,” said Mr Olsen.
“The Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival is more than just a cycling event – it’s a unique celebration of our community’s vibrant spirit and the stunning natural beauty that makes our region unique,’ said Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden.
“Cairns Regional Council is proud to support an event that brings people together, promotes a healthy lifestyle and showcases the incredible landscape that makes Cairns and Port Douglas a world-class destination,” said Mayor Eden.
Festival Director Bade Stapleton said Tropical North Queensland residents could get $20 off their entry cost by using the code LOCALS when registering.
“The Great Barrier Reef Drive will be closed for half a day on Sunday September 8 with timed 136km and 100km return Gran Fondo rides from Port Douglas to Palm Cove, a 60km Semi Fondo ride from Port Douglas to Wangetti and back and a 48km one-way leisurely Medio Fondo ride from Palm Cove to Port Douglas,” he said.
A highlight for the weekend is the Choo Choos FREE Family Ride where each child participating will receive a FREE ice cream from Choo Choos Ice Creamery. “We expect to see everyone dressing up as we have some great prizes for best dressed family, best dressed individual and best dressed
bike,” said Mr Stapleton.
“The prizes include a trip for 4 people out to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef with Quicksilver for the best dressed family, a double pass on Silversonic for best dressed individual and a double pass on Wavedancer for best dressed bike,” he said.
The Festival kicks off on Saturday September 7 with the Hartley’s to Port 40km mountain bike race, starting from Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and finishing on Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas. This is followed by the Lexus of Cairns Criterium, a 2.2km lap circuit starting and finishing outside the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, the Choo Choos Free Family Ride and finally the Wharf Street Sprint Race, held under lights along the 250m Wharf Street straight while local live music plays and a DJ to build the excitement on Saturday night. A sponsors’ expo and official launch also will be among the festivities.
Registrations can be made at www.portdouglasgranfondo.com.au which also has accommodation and itinerary options suitable for cyclists and their families to stay longer for a holiday.
The 2024 Port Douglas Gran Fondo is proudly supported by Douglas Shire Council, Cairns Regional
Council, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.
The Australian and Queensland Governments are supporting the Port Douglas Gran Fondo through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper as part of the $29.15 million Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program. The Tourism Recovery
Package has enabled all levels of government to work with industry to help attract more visitors to Queensland’s Tropical North, also supporting other Cairns and Port Douglas events across 2024.
