Record numbers entered for this weekend’s 2021 Tour of Margaret River bike race

More than 1000 riders are set to hit the Lower South West this weekend for the biggest road race in Australia this year. The 2021 Tour of Margaret River will see an event record of 1055 riders from 175 teams battle it out across November 5 to 7. Using Nannup as the base for the event, entrants will cover 193km in two team time trials and two road races over three days through the closed roads of Nannup, Greenbushes and Balingup. Event director Brendon Morrison said the event, which had grown from 31 riders in 2009, sold out in mere weeks as COVID-19 had seen cycling “explode in popularity” in Western Australia. “We initially capped the event at 150 teams but that sold out in a few weeks, so we opened it up to 175,” he said. “Each year it has grown exponentially — next year we are looking at having 200 teams.” As overall numbers have risen for the event so has female participation, with the highest number of women competing in the event, including 21 all-female teams across three divisions and another 40 women riding in mixed divisions. Event co-ordinator Rebecca Cotton said there had been a conscious effort by organisers to attract more women to the race. “Encouraging more women to race is definitely a priority for us,” she said. “We offer an all female classification, so that women can essentially have their own tour within a tour. “We also encourage women to race in mixed teams in the open classification. “If you can ride 25km per hour average in a group, then we’re very keen to have you on tour with us. “We also love having the world’s top female international pros like Marianne Vos and Annemiek Van Vleuten involved; they lift everyone’s performance, but particularly that of the women. “We feel like there’s nothing we girls can’t do when we have their energy and experience in the race.” This year’s race will also see 2019 national road champion Michael Freiberg compete with the Unicorn Racing Team, while 2021 State time trial champion Kate Bonner will race with Velofit Australia Racing Team. The first stage of the tour is a team time trial which starts at 10am on Friday.