Jayco Herald Sun Tour set to attract four World Tour teams for return event

Victoria’s oldest cycling stage tour is back and race directors and Olympic Gold Medallists Scott McGrory and Grace Brown are confident world leading riders will come to battle Australia’s next generation of stars.

Race Directors and Gold Medallists, Grace Brown and Scott McGrory, with the Herald Sun Tour trophy. Picture: David Caird

Some of the best cyclists in the world will be heading to the Jayco Herald Sun Tour next year when it makes its triumphant return in Ballarat.

The event, announced on Tuesday, will be held after the Cadel Evans Great Ocean and be raced for the first time since 2020.

It’s been revived with the support of the Herald Sun, Jayco, the State Government through Visit Vitctoria and the City of Ballarat.

Olympic Gold medallists and former professional riders Scott McGrory and Grace Brown will be the race directors for the men’s and women’s events respectively.

McGrory said the event’s return had already attracted interest from some of the biggest cycling teams in the world.

Previously, Tour de France winners Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins have won the event, using it as a platform to have success overseas.

“(We’ll have) four (World Tour teams) to start at a minimum,” he said.

“It’s what we’ve had previously and that’s what we’ll start with.

“I’ve had a couple of team managers reach out showing their interest.

“Now they know it’s back we’ll be starting to talk to them a lot more.

“We might have to knock a couple back.”

McGrory returns as a race director after leading the event from 2019 to 2020 with Brown to be involved for the first time.

Grace Brown on the podium with her gold medal after winning the cycling time trial at last year’s Paris Olympics. Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images

It’s her first race director role after retiring last year following a decorated career which included an incredible 2024 where she won an Olympic Gold Medal and World Championship in the time trial.

Brown said the lure of the event as well as the equal billing for women and men got her involved.

Next year’s race will have equal prize money and stages for men and women.

“(It’s) one of the things that’s excited me about it,” she said,

“The fact that the race has equal prize money and equal stages is basically a first in Australia.

“There is no other event that does exactly that.

“It’s something I’m really passionate about so I’m happy to put my name to it.”

The course, expected to be released in the next few months, will cater to both sprinters and climbers.

The Jayco Herald Sun Tour will also be an important pathway for future Australian champions.

Race director Scott McGrory celebrates winning a Herald Sun Tour stage in 1997.

Jai Hindley, the last men’s winner in 2020, won the Giro D’Italia two years later after his success in the tour.

McGrory said the race next year would provide the same opportunity for other Aussies to make it to Europe.

“It is not to be understated how significant this event is,” he said.

“This is the one (event) that bridges the connection with our best domestic riders and the international world tour riders.

“Pretty much all the professionals racing in Europe for Australia came through this race at some stage.

“It’s truly a significant race for that pathway for our local riders to get on their way to Europe and become professionals.”

Originally published as Jayco Herald Sun Tour set to attract four World Tour teams for return event