Every October, there is an extra special event on the CycleHub calendar: Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo.

This ride started with a tragedy

Amy’s Gran Fondo began in 2011 as a memorial. It exists because of Amy Gillett, a world-class cyclist and rower who was tragically killed by an out-of-control vehicle while training in Germany in 2005.

This ride is about honouring Amy, her family, and her teammates, as well as raising the flag for safer cycling. Over the years, it’s grown into one of the biggest closed-road bike rides in the country, but it hasn’t lost that feeling of being personal and heartfelt.

Amy Gillett was an Olympian in rowing before switching sports and quickly becoming one of Australia’s strongest female cyclists. She was a true talent.

After her death, her husband Simon, her friends, and the cycling community created the Amy Gillett Foundation, which championed the famous “A Metre Matters” campaign: drivers must give cyclists at least one metre when passing at low speeds, and 1.5 metres at higher speeds.

That might sound obvious today, but it took more than than a decade of campaigning to get all states and territories on board. Victoria was the last to make it law in 2021.

We don’t know how many lives the legislation has saved down under, but when the West Midlands in the UK enforced a similar programme, they slashed cyclist deaths and serious injuries by 20%. Even with the laws that Amy Gillett inspired, we still lose 45 cyclists every year on Australian roads, and more than 8,000 are seriously injured.

The course: What you’re up against

Amy’s Gran Fondo is one of the few mass-participation events in Australia for which the roads are entirely closed. You can take the racing line through corners, relax into the descents, and know that your safety is the top priority. For one day a year, those roads belong entirely to bikes.

That doesn’t mean the route is easy. The Gran Fondo’s 122-kilometre loop starts in the seaside town of Lorne, south-west of Melbourne. From the start line, the road heads up into the Otway Ranges, and you’ll know about it within the first five minutes.

This first climb is decisive if you are a fast rider and want to stick with a stronger group. If you fall behind here, it will be difficult to ever catch up. You reach the first peak after 11.2 kilometres and 445 metres of elevation.

Next comes a long stretch of rolling hills. Then you reach the second climb, this one to the top of Mount Sabine. The peak is 65.8 kilometers from the start and after 555 meters of elevation. After all the work you've already demanded of your legs, this climb will really test your endurance.

Then comes a thrilling, fast descent that will be the highlight of the day for many. The finale is 40 km of mostly flat coastal road that is one of the most beautiful stretches of scenery on earth.

In total, the 122-kilometre route comes with 1,869 metres of elevation gain.

How to prepare for Amy’s Gran Fondo

When it comes to training, coach Deborah Latouf at Spin Doctor Coaching gives this advice:

• Do the miles. You’ll need a solid endurance base, so get in regular 3–4 hour rides in the lead-up.
• Get used to climbing. Find a hill you can grind up for 20–30 minutes and make friends with it. Do repeats. You’ll thank yourself later.
• Practice fuelling. Aim for 60–90 grammes of carbs an hour. Test different foods and gels in training so your stomach isn’t in revolt halfway up the second climb.
• Intervals help. Throw in some threshold efforts during the week to raise your fitness ceiling.

And if all this sounds intimidating, remember that you don’t need to be a racer. Plenty of people roll in on e-bikes, and there are shorter ride options, including a 45-kilometer route and a 3-kilometer lapping family route.

The most important thing is to have fun, bathe in the beautiful surroundings, and enjoy the company of other cyclists.

Among the riders alongside you will be former cricketer Peter Siddle. Australian Olympic swimmer Mack Horton and his mountain climbing brother Chad will also be hitting the road with you for Amy's Gran Fondo in 2025.

“When I finished swimming,” said Mack, “it was just like, ‘This is going to be where I get my aerobic fix." He rides to work daily and goes for long jaunts on the weekend.

The Otways: More than just a backdrop

If you don’t know the Otway Ranges, here’s the quick tour. They’re a chain of lush, temperate rainforest hills that rise just inland from the Great Ocean Road. You'll see towering eucalyptus, tree ferns and mossy gullies. It feels completely different to the dry bush or open farmland you might ride elsewhere in Victoria.

For riders, that means two things: sustained climbing and shifting microclimates. One minute you’re sweating in the sun by the ocean, the next you’re rolling through cool mist in the hills. The temperature difference can be 10 degrees between Lorne and the forest tops.

And then there’s the wildlife. It’s not uncommon to spot koalas, kangaroos, or even echidnas along the way. Hopefully, you will have the energy to notice, because it’s all part of what makes this route unforgettable.

What you’ll want to know: A quick rider Q&A

How long are the routes?

The big one is 122 km with 1,869 metres of climbing. But there’s also a 45 km Medio Fondo, a family-friendly 3 km loop.

The Medio Fondo runs along the coast from Apollo Bay up to Lorne. There’s an aid station at 22.5 kilometres and a lot of tolling terrain, although only three hills break out past 30 meters in height and none reaches to 90 meters. The total elevation gain on the 45-kilometer Medio Fondo is 659 meters.

How hard is it?

It’s challenging, but achievable with proper training. The cut-off pace works out to about 17 km/h over the distance. With some preparation, just about every recreational rider can get it done.

What support is on course?

Everything you could want: aid stations, medical teams, moto scouts, mechanics, SAG wagons, timing chips, and, most importantly, closed roads. Aid stations are located at these kilometer marker: 23, 50, 67, and 100.

Do I have to race it?

Not at all. Some people go full gas, but most of us are there for the scenery and the satisfaction. Ride it your way. E-bikes are welcome.

What makes it different from other events?

The combination of Amy’s legacy, the Great Ocean Road, the Otways, and the closed roads makes it stand apart. There’s no other event in Australia that ticks all those boxes.

How do I get to Amy’s Gran Fondo?

Most riders drive down from Melbourne; it’s about a two-hour trip if traffic behaves. Lorne is a small seaside town. We recommend booking accommodation early and planning your arrival the day before to avoid the race-morning rush. If you’re flying in, Avalon Airport is the closest, with Melbourne Tullamarine a bigger option. From there, hire a car so you have flexibility for bikes, bags, and post-ride exploring.

What should I bring?

Think beyond your bike. Pack layers (the Otways can be 10°C cooler than the coast), a rain jacket, and gloves for the chilly descents. Bring at least two bottles, spares (tubes, CO₂, multi-tool), and a charger if you’re on electronic shifting. Don’t forget sunscreen, as the Great Ocean Road sun can be unforgiving, and a change of clothes for hanging out at the event village afterwards.

What foods should I take for the ride?

Amy’s is a long day out. Most riders aim for 60–90 grams of carbs per hour. That means a mix of gels, chews, bananas, or bars that you know sit well with your stomach. Coaches say not to experiment with new products on the big day. The event provides aid stations, but we the best strategy is always to bring your own.

What if I stay the whole weekend?

Do it. You won’t regret it. Lorne and the surrounding coast are worth lingering over. Off the bike, there are waterfalls in the Otways, cafés and bakeries in town, and beach walks to stretch the legs. Apollo Bay is just down the road, and the Twelve Apostles are a longer but iconic drive. It’s a festival atmosphere all weekend, so bring friends or family and make it a mini-holiday.

Andrea and Dave at CycleHub have done enough rides to know Amy's Gran Fondo is special. It’s a weekend that blends everything we love about the sport: the challenge, the scenery, the mateship, and the chance to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

This is a chance to remember Amy Gillett, celebrate how far we’ve come with cycling safety, and push our own limits on one of the most beautiful courses in the country.