CDC founder and CEO Greg Boorer with Canberra road race cyclists Hayden Stevens and Lauren Bates at the launch of PSL’s CDC Tour of Canberra. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Australia’s elite road cycling league is locked in to return to Canberra for at least the next three years, and whoever wins stands a strong chance of becoming an Olympian.
It will literally be pedal to the metal for the Hertz ProVelo Super League’s (PSL) return from 26 to 28 February 2027, with the event to be known as the CDC Tour of Canberra.
CDC Data Centres founder and CEO Greg Boorer was once a competitive cyclist himself, and he used to come to Canberra every year as a teen to ride what was then known as the Milk Race (as it was sponsored by Canberra Milk).
“When the opportunity came along to breathe some life back into an absolutely iconic race, I didn’t need too much convincing,” he said.
“The opportunity to do something for the community here, and in a place that absolutely loves cycling … and to actually have kids being able to see the best cyclists in Australia, and increasingly from around the world, in their backyard [is incredible].
“This is a very, very small way of giving back to cycling, but also hopefully inspiring the next generation of Michael Rogers and Michael Matthews and Stephen Hodge to come out of Canberra.”
The CDC Tour of Canberra features a four-stage program over three days: an individual time trial at Black Mountain, a twilight street criterium in Canberra City, a circuit road race around the National Triangle, and a queen-stage road race at Stromlo Forest Park.
Former Olympic road cyclist Stephen Hodge first got noticed when he completed the original Canberra tours, and the last race led to his selection for the 1996 Atlanta Games.
“If you can make it in the Tour of Canberra, you’ve got real potential, and that’s what people overseas notice,” he said.
“Anyone who’s winning the Canberra Tour … next year could well be in the Olympics.”
Hertz ProVelo Super League co-founder Matt Wilson is involved in designing the course for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics road races (to be held on the Sunshine Coast).
He said bringing the event to Canberra was front of mind when he and Aaron Flanagan started the ProVelo Super League in 2025.
“I come from a professional cycling background so I, like every other young Australian cyclist, rode the Tour of Canberra and there’s just something hard about racing on these roads … the cream always came to the top,” Mr Wilson said.
“It’s just such a beautiful area to ride, and it’s just got such a strong club foundation.”
The final courses haven’t been finalised as there’s still some red tape and logistics to be sorted out, but they won’t be the same routes as during the Milk Race between 1989 and 1997.
But Mr Flanagan said the CDC Tour of Canberra would “set the bar” for the PSL’s other rounds on the calendar.
“We want to bring road cycling back to the communities – we’re about building a sports entertainment product, big screens, DJs, exciting racing,” he said.
“From the moment we launched the ProVelo Super League, there’s been this consistent and growing appetite to see elite road cycling return to Canberra.”
Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs (centre) with Hertz ProVelo Super League founders Matt Wilson and Aaron Flanagan. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Other items on the tour agenda include community bike rides and possibly incorporating Canberra’s Enlighten Festival into the program.
The tour will be broadcast live on SBS for 2027 and is expected to go global from 2028.
Mr Flanagan said he was also excited to showcase Canberra to the world.
“People watch the Tour de France just because they can enjoy the scenery,” he said.
“That’s what we intend on doing with the Tour of Canberra … the way we’re going to be able to showcase this city to Australia and to the rest of the world is going to be amazing.”
In a stroke of fortuitous timing, the Tour of Canberra aligns with Hands Across Canberra’s big yearly fundraiser, the Canberra Day Appeal.
Hands Across Canberra is the event’s official charity partner for three years.
CEO Genevieve Jacobs said the timing couldn’t have been better.
“One of the things that we want to do with the Canberra Day Appeal is reach a really broad audience of people … [as we all] set the course for how we want to live this next year in Canberra together,” she said.
“The partnership is a great opportunity to bring together the community, sport and business, while celebrating a wonderful Canberra pastime and doing good things together.”
Plus, it’s a chance for the next generation of Canberra cyclists to make their mark.
With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics just around the corner, it may be a chance to see history in the making.
Find out more about the upcoming CDC Tour of Canberra.