Eve Lamb
It may not yet be approved as a Commonwealth Games inclusion. But if mountain biking does get the official nod then Harcourt’s La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park should be the place to host it.
This is the case being strongly – and jointly – put by both the City of Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander Shire Council whose leading reps met there, Friday, to formally announce their hosting ambition.
“It makes so much sense to put it here,” Mount Alexander CEO Darren Fuzzard said on site Friday.
“La Larr Ba Gauwa has already hosted national-level competition.
“We have been working on this pitch for several weeks and when the Victorian Government opened the EOI process last week for additional sports to be considered, we were quick to submit La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park as the perfect venue to host mountain biking.”
The Union Cycliste Internationale, Commonwealth Games Federation and the state government first must agree to include mountain biking in the 2026 sports program – with a decision expected to be announced later this year.
But with both local councils strongly advocating for La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park to be the host venue, competitive mountain bikers like Taradale’s Owen Fletcher – who’s already notched up impressive results at national championship level – are more than hopeful of seeing the bid succeed.
“It’s steep, technical, rocky and good fun,” says Fletcher of the imposing local park.
“It would be really amazing getting the Games here and it might also encourage more locals to take up mountain biking.”
The Taradale mountain biker was among several talented local mountain bikers who hope to compete in the 2026 Games and who joined executives and mayors from both local councils on site for Friday’s joint announcement of the Games bid.
The application is also supported by Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung, with DJAARA CEO Rodney Carter stating that hosting competition at the park would be an opportunity to share Dja Dja Wurrung culture with the world.
