The Inaugural Le Tour de Cygnet on Sunday February 14th, 2016

Une belle vue sur la rivière Huon avec un vélo – The Cygnet Coast Road is part of the route for Le Tour de Cygnet on Valentines Day, February 14.

It started as the mere germ of an idea or as the French would say ‘une petite idée.’

There are plenty of places around Cygnet that carry the names of famous French mariners and their ships from the 18th century like Bruny, Huon and d’Entrecasteaux, along with Recherche Bay and Esperance.

A small committee in the scenic southern Tasmanian town of Cygnet decided that it was time to celebrate the area’s French heritage. When Peter George, a recent arrival in Cygnet and a member of the committee, noticed the number of cyclists stopping in Cygnet on weekends to refresh themselves at the Lotus Eaters cafe, the Red Velvet Lounge and the School House cafe, he suddenly realised what was missing: Le Tour de Cygnet.

A self-confessed keen cyclist ‘on the flat’ (the Netherlands is his idea of perfect riding), Peter set out to establish the inaugural Le Tour de Cygnet to be held on Valentines Day, February 14, 2016.

“Thankfully, I ended up in the hands of Cycling Tasmania or instead of Le Tour de Cygnet we’d probably have ended up with ‘la petite catastrophe.’”

“I started out like a babe in the woods,” says Peter. “I simply thought we could let a few people like the police know we were going to hold a cycling event and then advertise it.”

In the end, it was decided that the inaugural Le Tour de Cygnet would be a social and family event with the possibility of adding on a full-scale race next year. “It’s not that anyone has blocked our plans, not at all,” Peter says. “It’s just that unless you’ve done this sort of thing before the process is daunting.” In particular, Peter would like to thank the Huon Valley Council, Department of State Growth and Tasmanian Police for their assistance.

The 2016 Le Tour de Cygnet event is broken into three sections being a 17 kilometre ride for families and those who enjoy a bit of a dawdle through beautiful scenery and an equally beautiful 38 kilometre ‘endurance’ ride for the more spirited along the Cygnet Coast Road, a designated cycling route.

An additional event is planned for the little ones where bike decoration and face painting will be part of the fun.

Despite the fact Le Tour de Cygnet is not a race, there will still be a chance to win prizes for those who enter. Bike Ride in Liverpool Street, Hobart, is sponsoring the ride and contributing prizes similar to the traditional yellow jerseys of Le Tour de France. Winners will be chosen at random – but there will be a better chance for anyone who looks the true French part – think Claudette of La Resistance or Bernard Hinault if you happen to be a Tour de France aficionado… or the man at the markets with a bike, string of onions and a beret!

The ABC’s Peter Gee will be on hand to present prizes.

For the kids, Cygnet’s lovely Burton’s Reserve will host a bike decoration and bike ride for children up to 12 years old who are not yet confident on a road. Volunteers will be on hand to help parents transform a true-blue Aussie bike into a truly red, white & blue French vélo. Some handle bar streamers in red, white and blue will be available along with French themed face painting. Parents will need to supervise their children at all times and are encouraged to add to the French flavour dressing their own children in character and using other adornments from their imagination.

The event goes hand in hand with a Cygnet-wide French celebration called Le Weekend @ Cygnet (The Cygnet Assn) with as much food and wine and family entertainment as a typical French fete de marché.

There will be French food and wine, of course, the French passion for petanque (the game of bowls played in almost every town in France), classic French cars, French films, beer and cider. Not forgetting baguettes and croissants. The ‘Lady Nelson’ will offer sailing from Cygnet with a French flavour. Check the websites for more information.

As for the man who gave birth to the idea, Peter George, he’ll be riding the route, too – on his motorcycle – helping ensure the event is both fun and safe.

“It’s my excuse,” he says, “For not having to pedal uphill.”

What is it? Le Tour de Cygnet – a family and social outing

Where is it? It starts in the Town Square (La Place), Cygnet

When is it? Sunday, February 14, 2016 (Valentines Day) 11.30am

How to enter? Register from 8.30am at the Bike Ride tent near the Town Hall

How much? Family event: $5 per head (max $20 per family); $20 per head Endurance ride.

What do I need? A bike, a helmet, sunscreen, some water and a bit of puff.

Lucaston Park Orchards is another local sponsor and will kindly provide some of their refreshing apple juice at the end.

A special thanks to the Bendigo Bank as the major sponsor of Le Tour de Cygnet.

What is the route?

Beginners Event: Burton’s Reserve – bottom (eastern) end of Cygnet from 10am to 2pm

Family event: Cygnet Town Square to Lymington & return on Lymington Road (17k)

Endurance event: Cygnet Town Square – to Cradoc – left on to Cygnet Coast Road – return via Lymington (38k)

More info:

http://www.cygnet.org.au

Email: mailto:leweekendcygnet@gmail.com