CYCLEUP: SkyHigh owner John Connellan near the finish line of the 2005 Jayco Herald Sun Tour.By TANIA MARTIN
RIDERS will have a view of Melbourne as they cross the finish line of the 2005 Jayco Herald Sun Tour in October at SkyHigh, Mount Dandenong
The tour is a cycling event that has been staged in Victoria for the last 54 years and attracts more than 160 riders from around the world.
Although the tour has passed through the Shire of Yarra Ranges in previous years, this year will be the first time events have been staged exclusively within the shire’s boundaries.
Two stages of the tour will be held in the shire, in both the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges.
The final leg of the tour will pass through the grounds of SkyHigh, 26 Observatory Road, Mt Dandenong.
The wellknown restaurant closed down more than eight years ago, but was taken over in June last year by Melbourne businessman John Connellan.
Mr Connellan said he was very excited about the upcoming tour, and that cycling tours were a huge draw card for tourism.
“Just look at the Tour De France, it is the greatest tour on the cycling circuit and is a worldwide tourism driver,” he said.
The finale of the ride will take place on Friday, 14 October.
On the morning of the race, there will be a 10kilometre sprint from Monbulk to SkyHigh, which will be a publicparticipation event called ‘Dash for Cash’.
Mr Connellan said he expected to see a crowd of more than 1500 people at SkyHigh during the race.
