On Sunday September 18, over 2,500 participants cycled on a fully closed 120km circuit of the Great Ocean Road and Otway Region in the first ever international Gran Fondo in Australia.

Presented by the Amy Gillett Foundation and Cycling Australia, riders competed for $20,000 in prize money while raising awareness about the Foundation and bicycling safety in Australia.

A crowd of over 5,000 people gathered at the Lorne Foreshore to watch or participate in the event that included over 600 additional riders that took part in the 14km Amy's Great Ocean Road community ride.

"It was pleasing for everyone involved to see thousands of cyclists take part in both the Gran Fondo and the Community Ride on the iconic course in support of the Foundation's fantastic work," said Cycling Australia CEO Graham Fredericks.

"The success of the inaugural event has proven our belief that this format will become one of the most popular cycling events throughout the country," said Fredericks.

CEO Tracey Gaudry, dual Olympian and former pro-cyclist, emphasised that the aim of Amy's Gran Fondo was to deliver a world class experience for riders of all ages and abilities in the safest possible way.

"We are proud to have achieved this today," said Gaudry. "It was a spectacular sight seeing over 2,500 riders lined up in the main street of Lorne.

"Proceeds from Amy's Gran Fondo will help expand our Remembering Amy for a Reason road safety program throughout Australian schools and we were also proud to present a cheque to Bike Safe to implement a major bike safety awareness campaign across the Bellarine, Surfcoast and Colac Otway regions throughout the summer," Gaudry added.

The vision to introduce an event for amateur riders of this kind to Australia was conceived by Amy's husband, Patron and Event Manager, Simon Gillett. Endorsed by event partner Cycling Australia, this style of 'big ride' is unique among the current landscape of cycling events in Australia and is certain to becoming an iconic event on the Australia cycling calendar.

Amy's Gran Fondo is also part of the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT), a a series of UCI-sanctioned races held all over the world, culminating in the UWCT Final, formerly the UCI Masters Road World Championships. Participants who finished in the top 25% of their age category at the weekend have now qualified to go to Belgium to compete for the World Championship rainbow jersey in the UWCT final in September 2012.

Participants in Amy's Gran Fondo included passionate cycling enthusiast and Network Ten identity, Charlie Pickering along with Australian Cycling Legend and Patron of The Amy Gillett Foundation, Phil Anderson.

At the finish line to present awards and prizes to competitors, Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty said events like Amy's Gran Fondo are a great way to bring people together; not only to share their love of cycling but to help raise awareness and funds towards safe cycling and driver awareness of cyclists.

That's why the Victorian Government is proud to support this event," said Mr Delahunty adding, "Congratulations to all competitors and the Amy Gillett Foundation for establishing such a fantastic initiative.

"If today's turn out is any indication Amy's Gran Fondo is set to become a permanent fixture in Victoria's road cycling calendar," Mr Delahunty said.

All results for Amy's Gran Fondo can be found by going to www.granfondo.org.au

The Amy Gillett Foundation was established in 2005 following the death of Amy Gillett while cycling with the Australian Women's Cycling Team in Germany, when a driver careered across the wrong side of the road into the riders.

The Amy Gillett Foundation's mission is safe bicycling in Australia. Its vision is zero bike-related fatalities.

Source: Cycling Australia