BY ASHLEY GEELAN in KINGLAKE
Damien Howson of Team Orica-Scott has won the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, describing the Kinglake course as “tough but a great challenge.”
Whilst previous winner of both the Herald Sun Tour and Tour de France, Chris Froome, got in front within three kilometres on the final lap Froome couldn’t catch Howson, later stating that “It [Kinglake] wasn’t as hard as Arthur’s Seat, but it was still a good day out and a good session out here, which is just as important,” with Froome finishing in sixth place overall.
“We hit them with everything we had today and they defended it really well,” said Froome of tour winner Howson and his Orica-Scott team.
Despite rain showers prior to and right on start of the race at 12:30pm it remained a rather humid 20 degrees throughout the day with occasional showers.
Race organisers placed sawdust at many corners, such as the Glenburn-Kinglake Rd intersection to prevent accidents.
Kinglake has never held an event of this size. As host to the final (fourth) stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Australia’s premier cycling race, Kinglake was transformed on Sunday with local and international media coverage and an estimated crowd of 5,000 people.
People were waving flags and ringing ‘cowbells,’ with local children on their pushbikes emulating the riders and waving to television cameras, showcasing Kinglake to the world.
Kinglake businesses were overwhelmed with customers with the Kinglake Pub needing 25 extra staff to cope with spectators and VIPs. It was nearly impossible to move in Kinglake’s main street.
Some Kinglake residents were not impressed with Sunday’s road closures and minor inconveniences.
“From a community devastated by Black Saturday, it’s great to see how the community has recovered and we [Kinglake residents] look forward now to moving on.”
“(We) Hope to get it (the tour) back next year.”
“With hats off to GTR Events for doing such a fantastic job at such short notice and congratulations to all the winners and competitors today,” Kinglake ward councillor for Murrindindi Shire, Leigh Dunscombe said.
It is anticipated that Kinglake will again host the fourth and final stage of the tour in 2018.
Jayco Herald Sun Tour gets underway. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews. 
Jayco Herald Sun Tour gets underway. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews. 
We’re off and racing. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews. 
Leading the pack out of the blocks on Kinglake’s Main Street. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews. 
Cyclists round the bend as they head down Kinglake’s Main St to Kinglake-Healesville Road as they pass the community centre. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews. 
The helicopter is on duty doing the filming for live TV. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews. 
The cyclists head off as they pass the Kinglake Ranges Community Centre. PHOTO: Ashley Geelan/VicNews.
Article first published in The Local Paper (print), February 8, 2017 and Kiinglake Ranges News, (online), February 5, 2017.
