Mike O'Connor
Few would deny that road racing in Australia has faced significant pressure in recent years. Participation is reportedly declining, club events are being dropped, and organisers are facing rising costs and logistical challenges when running races on public roads.
In response, AusCycling announced last week that it has set up a Road Taskforce to examine the state of road racing and develop recommendations aimed at sustaining the sport.
The Taskforce is being led by Shane Mattiske, a former president of the Randwick Botany Club, and will operate under the oversight of AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner and senior leadership.
It will also be supported by a steering group that will “guide progress and ensure alignment with organisational priorities,” the organisation says.
“Across the country, we are hearing that road racing participation is declining and fewer club races are being staged. At the same time, the cost and complexity of delivering safe events on public roads is rising quickly, driven by traffic management, permits, policing and insurance, alongside increasing compliance demands and the loss of traditional venues in some areas,” the organisation said.
“Add in volunteer fatigue, a crowded calendar and rider safety concerns, and it’s clear these aren’t isolated issues: they’re systemic pressures on the road cycling ecosystem.”
Perhaps not unexpectedly, the announcement of the Taskforce has prompted a mixed response on social media.
Some riders and club organisers have welcomed the initiative, while others have criticised it as “too little, too late,” noting that rising costs and volunteer fatigue continue to affect races.
A number of commentators have argued that AusCycling should be directly supporting clubs financially to run events, rather than relying on them to bear the growing operational burden.
One of the challenges the taskforce will also need to grapple with is that, while participation in ‘traditional’ racing is declining, there has been significant growth across Australia in Gran Fondo–style events. That trend is reflected in our own Classics’ series, which Bicycling Australia has been running successfully for a decade.
AusCycling says the Taskforce will explore the causes of the challenges, with a focus on participation trends, operational and financial pressures, regulatory requirements, volunteer workload, and broader factors such as calendar clashes, safety, and access to suitable venues.
Throughout this month and next, AusCycling says it plans a national survey and focus groups with clubs, riders, officials, and commercial organisers, alongside engagement with government and road agencies.
Its recommendations are expected to be submitted to the AusCycling Board in July 2026.
The taskforce announcement comes at the same time as AusCycling’s leadership is under pressure, with news last week confirming calls for a Special General Meeting (SGM) to push for changes in its leadership.
Regardless of how it all plays out, AusCycling faces a challenging few months in a rapidly changing climate.
