Mike O'Connor
With the 10th Bowral Classic now just a few short weeks away, the event’s ambassadors explain why a decade of The Classics has created something much bigger than a single day on the bike.
Ten years is a significant milestone for any cycling event.
Since the inaugural Bowral Classic in 2016, the ride has grown into a major fixture on Australia’s gran fondo calendar, with riders returning year after year for the Southern Highlands roads, the challenge and the atmosphere that surrounds the event.
For our ambassadors, the event has been one that many have supported multiple times. Some have lost count of how many Classics they’ve ridden. Others have watched the event become a recurring date on their cycling calendar, bringing with it familiar faces, new friendships and the anticipation of another day riding through the Southern Highlands.
With the 10th anniversary edition coming up on 18 October 2026, we asked three more of our amazing ambassadors what the Bowral Classic means to them – and what they’re looking forward to most when the event celebrates its first decade.
Here, Anthony Nguyen, Dylan Robertson and Karen Norris talk community, suffering, pastries, training, friendship and why they keep coming back.
Oh, and if you wanted to read part one, you can find that right here.
Anthony Nguyen
Describe the Bowral Classic in three words.
Type 2 fun, aura-maxing, GOAT event.
Your Classics tally? What keeps you coming back?
5th Bowral, 2nd Mudgee!
Coming back for the vibes, and I’m determined to break the 100-attendance barrier for pastries.cc.
What’s your favourite climb, descent or stretch of road?
Certainly not Range Road, which the organisers have snuck up on people right after a particular feed station!
What’s your go-to training session?
Saturday pastries rides, since they’re over 100km and 1000vm – great training for Mount Gibraltar.
Still hate hill repeats though.
Finish this sentence: “The Bowral Classic is…”
…my favourite thing to do in Bowral, second to the Don Bradman Museum.
What first got you into cycling?
I wanted to see how long it would take me to ride to my favourite bakery.
When you’re not on the bike, what would we find you doing?
Locked in my house creating content or daydreaming about the next ride – or snowboarding Japan season.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
People might be surprised that I love snowboarding and table tennis just as much as cycling.
What are you most looking forward to this October?
Rolling up to the start line again and seeing the whole cycling community.
Always great to see so many friends and pastries members there.
What advice would you give first-time riders?
Pace yourself and save some energy for the last third!
Also, if you see any of the pastries kit out there, give us a high-five in exchange for a short tow.
Dylan Robertson
Describe the Bowral Classic in three words.
Best Event Ever.
Your Classics tally? What keeps you coming back?
This will be my 10th Bowral… have done every Classic except Noosa during Covid when we couldn’t cross borders… so my Classic tally is 20+.
And I keep coming back because they are hands down the best organised, run, and won community events of the year… the people, places, and thousands of happy faces!
What’s your favourite climb, descent or stretch of road?
The road through Kangaloon and climb up to Glenquarry is always a beautiful part of the world to ride your bike.
What’s your go-to training session?
Any session that involves pints, schooners, or bottles of wine!
Finish this sentence: “The Bowral Classic is…”
The Original, and The Best.
What first got you into cycling?
Had to ride my bike to get to school!
Even back then it was about riding with your mates…and it still is!
When you’re not on the bike, what would we find you doing?
Wishing I was on my bike, riding with my mates…or maybe sneaking in a cheeky training session.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
That we – as in Team BMC – all love James Yaffa, the Godfather of the Classics…we just love to take the mickey out of him because he doesn’t ride his bike much any more!!
What are you most looking forward to this October?
I’m looking forward to exactly the same things I look forward to every year in Bowral…when you’re on a winner with a cracker of an event, why would you want to change a thing!
What advice would you give first-time riders?
Rug up on the start line, get stuck into the beers in the village…and enjoy everything in between!
It’s a very special event.
Karen Norris
Describe the Bowral Classic in three words.
Challenging. Scenic. Rewarding.
Your Classics tally? What keeps you coming back?
I’ve completed 11 Classics events so far: five Bowral Classics, four Mudgee Classics, and two Snowy Classic events.
There’s something special about spending a day on the bike with thousands of people who are there for the same reason – to challenge themselves, enjoy the ride, and have some fun along the way.
Over the years I’ve made great memories, met some wonderful people, ridden roads I would never have otherwise discovered, and proven to myself more than once that I’m capable of more than I thought.
The Classics are never just about the finish line; they’re about the training rides, the post-ride stories, the bakery stops, and the shared suffering on the hills that somehow becomes fun when you’re doing it together.
What’s your favourite climb, descent or stretch of road?
Honestly, all the sections that don’t involve a hill!
There are too many great parts of the course to pick just one. I love riding through Wildes Meadow, the stretch around Kangaloon, and Range Road after you’ve conquered the climb.
The scenery is stunning, the roads are fantastic, and once the climbing is behind you, it’s much easier to appreciate just how beautiful the Southern Highlands are.
What’s your go-to training session?
If I’m being honest, I’m terrible at training specifically for the Bowral Classic.
Every year I convince myself I’ve got plenty of time, then somehow it’s October before I know it.
I must enjoy suffering because I keep signing up for events with hills in them. My biggest piece of advice is: don’t be like Karen.
Do a few hills before the event. You don’t need to live on a mountain, but a little hill training beforehand will make Bowral’s climbs much more enjoyable.
Future-you will be very grateful when the road starts pointing upwards!
Finish this sentence: “The Bowral Classic is…”
One of the best cycling events on the Australian calendar.
What first got you into cycling?
I grew up in the country, and cycling was how I got around, explored, and spent time with friends. It was always something I loved doing.
When I first moved to Sydney, I stopped riding for a while because the traffic felt a bit intimidating compared to country roads. But before long, I realised how much I missed it.
Cycling had always been a big part of my life, so I got back on the bike and haven’t looked back since.
When you’re not on the bike, what would we find you doing?
Probably out for a run or hunting down a new bakery to try.
I enjoy exploring new places, whether it’s on foot, on the bike, or in search of the perfect coffee and pastry. Long rides and long runs are great, but they’re made even better when there’s a bakery stop involved somewhere along the way.
At the moment, I’m also attempting to learn crochet. My current project is a crochet croissant, which is proving to be much harder than expected.
Between cycling, running, and everything else, I’m usually too tired to work on it for long, so it’s currently sitting proudly in my growing collection of half-started hobbies.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
When I was younger, I had severe scoliosis and underwent major spinal fusion surgery.
I still have some ongoing issues from it, and it can make cycling a bit challenging at times, especially when it comes to finding a comfortable position on the bike. There are definitely days when my back lets me know exactly how many kilometres I’ve ridden.
That said, I’ve never really let it stop me from doing the things I enjoy.
I’m never going to be the fastest rider or the strongest climber, but that’s never been what it’s about for me. I get far more enjoyment from being out there, challenging myself, and simply taking part.
For me, showing up and giving it a go is what matters most.
What are you most looking forward to this October?
Being part of the 10-year celebration, catching up with fellow riders, and experiencing the atmosphere that makes the Bowral Classic so special.
What advice would you give first-time riders?
Enjoy the day. Don’t focus solely on your finish time.
Take in the stunning scenery, pace yourself, and soak up the atmosphere that makes the Bowral Classic so special.
Stop at the rest stations, enjoy the treats, thank the volunteers, and have a chat with fellow riders along the way – it’s all part of the experience.
And one practical tip: make sure you include a few hills in your training. The course has its fair share of climbs, and spending some time on hills beforehand will make the day much more enjoyable.
The memories and friendships you make out on course will last much longer than what’s recorded on your ride stats.
Fancy joining them? The 2026 Bowral Classic is open for entries now.
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
