A new major cycling festival has been secured for Brisbane for three years, and is set to attract thousands of visitors, reports choosebrisbane.com.au.

The Brisbane Cycling Festival will run for three weeks from 26 March to 14 April 2019 and will include a range of professional, amateur and mass participation events, as well as the final of the ‘Six Day’ series; an international renowned series of events where international track cyclists will descend on the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane for the closing stage.

Minister for Tourism Industry Development Kate Jones said the event was a great win for Queensland.

“Cycling is quickly growing in popularity with almost four million Aussies regularly riding a bike.

“This together with the high calibre of Australian and international elite talent who will compete in the festival is sure to attract national and international participants to Queensland’s capital.”

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk echoed the Minister’s delight for the event, adding that the festival will further grow Brisbane’s reputation as a key cycling destination. The major draw card of the Anna Meares Velodrome plus 680km of biking infrastructure will ensure to showcase the facilities Brisbane has to offer.

“Brisbane has already demonstrated its ability to host world-class sporting events, and the Brisbane Cycling Festival will be the latest in the city’s major events calendar,” Cr Quirk said.

The events over the festival are predicted draw 20,000 participants and to provide an economic benefit of around $8 million per year into the economy.